30 Tips to Provide the Best Airbnb Guest Experience

How Do I Provide A Memorable Guest Experience for My Airbnb?

Airbnb hosting is a customer-centric business that relies heavily on guest experience and reviews. For your short-term rental to get repeat bookings and provide regular cashflow, you need to delight your customers, so they can provide good reviews, attract more business, and help you become an Airbnb superhost!
But with 7.7+ million Airbnb listings, how do you make your property stand out? We’ve listed 30 things you can do to elevate your guest experience for five-star reviews that will get you more bookings.

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30 Tips To Level Up Your Airbnb's Guest Experience

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1. Communicate Fast. Communicate Well.

The last thing any tired traveler wants is to have no one to help them when they encounter a problem in an unknown place. This is why timely and helpful guest support is crucial in providing a positive guest experience.
Communicating clearly and responding quickly should be the standard when it comes to hosting. Certain problems and circumstances are beyond your control as a host, but the least you can do is be prepared to respond and provide good solutions to your guests’ problems.  
This doesn’t just mean being available 24/7 to respond to your customers; it means providing relevant answers and solutions to their concerns to help make their situation better. This is what sets mediocre Airbnb’s apart from good ones.

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2. Set Realistic & Accurate Expectations.

No one wants to be let down, especially when you’ve traveled for hours and see a space that looks much better in photos than it does in real life. While it’s important to market your property on Airbnb for maximum reach and bookings, this doesn’t mean providing inaccurate details and images that mislead customers.
While exaggerating things for your Airbnb may sound like a good idea to get bookings, this method is sure to backfire on you when your guests arrive at your property and become disappointed because the reality does not meet their expectations. Then, they’ll leave negative reviews for your listing, discouraging other guests from booking your place.
That’s why it’s best to be honest. You want to be as realistic as possible. Highlight everything your property has to offer without exaggeration, and post photos that accurately represent your property to set your guests’ expectations.

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3. Easy check-in, easy check-out.

No one likes delays, especially when trying to check in or check out from a vacation rental property. With modern technology and good communication, it’s never been easier to make checking in and checking out a seamless process for guests.  
Be clear on check-in and check-out times, provide clear directions to your place, offer self-check-ins, and provide clear and easy-to-follow instructions through a manual or guidebook.
Should you offer self-check-in, consider installing an Airbnb-compatible smart lock in your property and connecting it to the Airbnb listing. This sends automated emails to guests right after they book, giving them a unique code and instructions for self-check-in along with their reservation details.

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4. Make it convenient.

When traveling, convenience is key to a good guest experience. That’s why you want to always simplify processes. This includes communicating through an easy-to-use platform like Airbnb’s app, SMS, or email depending on your guest’s preference. You should also opt for easy-to-use smart locks for self-check-ins and check-outs; Yale Assure, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, and Eufy Smart locks are great choices in 2024. In terms of locating your place, you want to have a clear path, place signs when necessary, or provide a detailed map for convenience.
There are many other ways to prioritize convenience in your Airbnb, such as being timely in cleaning and maintenance, providing toiletries, and offering local guides or recommending local activities to help make your guest’s stay more enjoyable. Ultimately, making things convenient is an art form, so don’t be afraid to get creative!

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5. Stay on top of maintenance.

Everyone likes convenience and knowing they’re getting what they paid for. Encountering broken amenities and devices is the total opposite of that. That’s why it makes a huge difference in terms of guest experience that you keep your property in tip-top shape, with all furnishings, appliances, and tools not only functional but also well-kept.
Conduct regular checks of appliances and amenities to prevent untimely breakdowns that can lead to accidents, reduce service quality, or disrupt operations. When you stay on top of maintenance, you ensure the safety, comfort, and convenience of your guests.

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6. Keep it clean.

Did you know that cleanliness is the number one factor that leads to positive reviews on Airbnb? Regardless of your price point, target market, location, or even property type, you should keep your property clean as this is a bare minimum when it comes to providing a good guest experience. A clean property makes your guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe to relax and enjoy themselves!

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7. Housekeep on time.

Always maintain cleanliness in your property by offering regular, timely, and good housekeeping. This means wiping things down, emptying the trashcans, doing the laundry, clearing the dishwasher, changing the bedding, and replacing the toiletries between every stay. Doing so makes guests feel safe and comfortable, and most importantly, satisfied and ready to give you a positive review on Airbnb!

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8. Work with good housekeeping & cleaning services.

The best way to ensure the cleanliness of your property is to hire professionals to do it fast and do it well. You can find trusted, professional Airbnb cleaning services by asking other local Airbnb hosts or using platforms like TurnoverBnB and TIDY to help you find and manage cleaners.

When selecting a cleaner, you want someone who can:

- make your beds

- clean and put away dishes

- wash your bathroom

- empty your trash and recycling cans  

- sweep, mop, and vacuum

- wipe down surfaces

You may also want to find someone who can do deep cleans, wash linens, help with property management, and take stock of inventory.

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9. Be flexible.

There are many unpredictable factors when it comes to travel and vacation rentals that it’s inevitable to encounter unexpected incidents in your Airbnb business. And the best you can do in those situations is to adapt and be flexible.
This means giving guests the opportunity to cancel their booking while offering refunds. It also means having no minimum length of stay and allowing same-day bookings to attract more business.

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10. Provide WiFi.

In 2024, almost everyone relies on good internet connection to get things done so much that Wi-Fi has become an indispensable tool for travelers. That’s why you want to offer WiFi and list that in your Airbnb amenities. Moreover, invest in good internet to provide solid Wi-Fi throughout the property. With good Wi-Fi connection speed comes perceived quality, which means your guests are likely to be happier with a fast internet connection.

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11. Provide hot water.

While not necessary according to Airbnb, hot water is something that many take for granted and will greatly miss when asked to do without. As an Airbnb host, you want to make your guests feel at home, and that means providing them amenities like hot water which most rentals and accommodations provide. Though providing hot water is unlikely to get you great feedback, not having it is likely to come up as a negative on your guest reviews.

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12. Keep it safe.

Guests want to stay in a safe place. So, one of the ways you can elevate guest experience is to make your Airbnb rental not only safe, but also accommodating and comfortable. You do this by keeping your space clean, doing regular maintenance, and providing guidelines on what is safe and unsafe to do in your space and around your area.

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13. Maintain an inviting outdoor space.

Don’t just stop at making the interior of your property comfortable, if your property has an outdoor area, make it cozy! This could be as simple as adding comfortable seating, outdoor lighting, or a small fire pit. By making your patio, backyard, or rooftop into inviting spaces, guests have the option of a private outdoor retreat for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening drink, enhancing the overall guest experience.

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14. Offer non-stop service.

Similar to 24/7 customer service, you want to support your guests non-stop in other ways, like sending them local tips and guides, providing optional add-on services such as dog walking, grocery and food delivery, babysitting, and so on.
The goal is to maintain a customer-first attitude all throughout your guest’s stay – anticipating their needs, doing whatever you can to make them comfortable, and helping them whenever they need it. You can also explore Airbnb experiences and offer guests and other travelers unique activities that help set your business apart from others in the area.

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15. Provide good toiletries.

Every good Airbnb provides basic toiletries to save travelers the hassle of bringing their own. These usually include shampoo, soap, lotions, toothpaste, and aftershave. The reason you want to provide guests with these is to make them feel comfortable and well-taken care of. How well you maintain these toiletries contributes to the overall sense of cleanliness of your property, which directly impacts guest experience.

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16. Provide entertainment.

No one likes to be bored in their vacation rental. Besides keeping guests entertained with good Wi-Fi, you should also consider providing a television, with subscriptions to popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, or Apple TV.
You can also go above and beyond, which is what we recommend, and provide books and magazines, board games, local entertainment guides, or even a record player and records. These are small touches that can mean a huge deal for the right guests, so they’re worth trying!

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17. Give the local experience.

A good way to leave a lasting, positive impression on guests is to offer a local experience that they can’t get anywhere else. While some travelers only need a place to stay, there are others who are looking for an opportunity to become a part of local life and to connect to a place and its people. Your objective here is to give a taste of local culture. And you can do this in two ways: Offer an Airbnb experience or provide guided tours. Both options allow you to share your knowledge of the place and culture, ensuring an impossible-to-replicate experience that will set your property apart from the rest.

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18. Make it personal.

Personalization does not stop with addressing your guests by name during communication. It extends to small touches that make them feel special. Some examples include leaving a welcome note on the table for guests to see when they check in or providing complimentary snacks or local treats to welcome guests. These gestures are thoughtful and can make your service and property stand out!

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19. Make their stay customizable.

Everyone loves to do things their way. When you allow your guests to personalize their stay by offering a range of customizable options, you show that you care about their comfort a tad bit more than others. A way you can do this is by offering different pillow types (soft, medium, firm) or a selection of coffee and tea choices. Guests can choose their preferences before arrival, making them feel more at home.

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20. Give a unique experience.

One way to delight guests is novelty. Try to be unique – whether it's to make a unique home, provide personalization, give a local experience, or any combination of these, you’re giving yourself a better chance at making your guests feel at home!

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21. Go eco-friendly.

With climate change, more guests are environmentally conscious. By incorporating eco-friendly practices and amenities into your Airbnb, you appeal to environmentally conscious travelers. This could mean providing reusable water bottles, offering recycling bins, using biodegradable cleaning products, and installing energy-efficient lighting. You can also share your commitment to sustainability in your listing description, which can attract guests who prioritize eco-friendly travel. Not only does this enhance the guest experience, but it also contributes to a positive impact on the environment.

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22. Make it memorable.

Comfort is important, but that can hardly make you Superhost. You want to make things as memorable as possible in a good way for your guests. This can mean making a long-lasting impression in terms of your service, toiletries, cleanliness, or customer service. Whichever way you choose, you want to give them a five-star treatment, and make them feel like rockstars to make their stay a memorable one that’s worth sharing and writing home about.

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23. Collect Feedback.

If you’re getting good feedback but your reviews and bookings just aren’t reflecting that, it’s time to go to the source – ask your guests what you can do better. This gives you insights into what they expect, how they’re experiencing your space and service, and what they think will make things better. Such information is gold because chances are, they know more than you do about what can take your Airbnb business to the next level. So don’t be afraid to ask, and when you do, listen!

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24. Small details, big impact.

Ever heard of the saying, “The devil is in the details?” Oftentimes, we try to make huge changes in trying to elevate our Airbnb business. But sometimes, you should just examine what you’re already doing, look at the place you already have, and make improvements that may seem small to you, but have a huge impact on the quality of your guests’ stay.
These can be minor details like the volume of water in the shower or the type of fabric softener used on the linens. It can also be the way you address your guests when answering their questions, or how well you provide directions to your location. Remember, a big change does not always equal a huge impact.

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25. Accommodate Pets, Children, Elderly.

While not all Airbnb rentals have the same target market, having accommodations that are accessible to a wider market can only ever work in your favor. With a bigger pool of guests to cater to, chances are you can get more bookings, and isn’t that what we’re all about in Airbnb?
Common accessibility to consider in your rental property are provisions for pets, children, and the elderly. Since pet-friendly is one of the most in-demand features, you should consider allowing pets in your space, even if it does present some risks. Meanwhile, you want to also make your space child-friendly by installing safety gates, anchoring furniture, installing outlet covers, putting smoke alarms, etc. And to accommodate the elderly, consider installing a ramp or grab bars, make sure the flooring isn’t slippery, and reduce stairs or steps that can cause people to trip.
These upgrades will be noticed by the right market, and they will be delighted. Moreover, these allow you to label your property as safe for pets, children, and/or elderly, potentially increasing the number of bookings you’re getting.

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26. Automate tasks.

A lot of the tasks involved in running an Airbnb business are routine. This means that they can be done by machine. As a host, you can automate tasks by using Airbnb management tools like HostAi, Hostaway, and Hospitable. These will free up your plate to focus on more important matters, such as giving your guests tailored service for a unique and memorable guest experience!

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27. Hire help.

In Airbnb, there are tasks you can automate, but there are also tasks that you can’t. To go above and beyond in delighting your customers, a human touch is necessary. But it doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Especially when you have multiple Airbnb properties, doing so can be impossible. That’s why you shouldn’t shy away from hiring help. With many services like HostKudo’s Airbnb property management offering full-service virtual concierge, you can have your guest management, housekeeping, cleaning, and maintenance coordination, as well as listing management done for you!

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28. Get a co-host.

Similar to hiring a virtual concierge who can assist you in managing your short-term rental properties, you can find a co-host who can share your burden of overseeing the upkeep of your rental properties. A co-host may or may not be a third-party service provider, ultimately, the goal is to have someone else help you get things done in terms of operating your Airbnb business. You can give your co-host permission to access and manage your listings, so they can optimize your Airbnb listing for maximum bookings and the best guest satisfaction.

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29. Don’t underestimate beauty.

While other tips mentioned earlier included making your place clean and functional to provide guests convenience, you shouldn’t neglect the aesthetic of your space either as this is a great tool to wow your guests. You can go all out when it comes to decor, but the goal is to create a great ambiance. This way, guests can feel relaxed in your space.

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30. Avoid bad guests.

You can do all the steps outlined in this guest management guide, and you can still end up with a nightmare when you have a bad guest. Let’s admit it, not all guests are equal and sometimes, you just end up with a bad one that can never be pleased, will trash your place, or will avoid paying for rent.
The best way to solve this problem is to avoid bad guests altogether. Find ways to vet your guests, such as hiring virtual assistants or a virtual concierge to do a background check on your guests before letting them stay on your property.

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Hosting on Airbnb and providing the best guest experience shouldn’t be a pain. At HostKudo, we understand the ins and outs of Airbnb hosting, and we’re the experts when it comes to taking care of Airbnb guests, giving them the best experience from booking to check-out, so that you’ll have great reviews on Airbnb and get more bookings!