Accommodation
15 tips for being the best Airbnb host (from a superhost)
Wendy Gallina retired to the tiny Italian village of Sala Comacina five years ago to pursue the sweet life of running a bed and breakfast. Now a “superhost” on Airbnb with pages of glowing five-star reviews, here Wendy shares her top tips for being a great host.
- Respond immediately to all requests. They’ll come from all over the world at all times of the day and night, but it’s important to maintain a 100 per cent response rate.
- Tailor your response to their specific request. I will tailor my response to the guests’ specific requests for information and anticipate their needs such as details on the Lake, transport, specific sleeping arrangements, baby cot, and so on.
- Offer something extra for special occasions. Some guests advise me of specific celebrations that happen during their stay like attending a wedding or celebrating a birthday or anniversary. We like to acknowledge such with an appropriate gift.
- Confirm details with guests before they arrive. Closer to their arrival date make contact to confirm specific arrival details, where to park, bus, train and ferry timetable.
- Be flexible. With arrival and departure times, be flexible where you can.
- Make it easy for guests to find your place. Advise welcome point such as car park, bus stop and possible taxi booking.
- Offer assistance. Help guests with their luggage and settling in to your place.
- Welcome them to your home. Explain how to use the facilities such as wifi, heating, cooling, kitchen, washing machine and so on.
- Provide guest directory. I provide guests with tourist brochures, magazines and books.
- Put together a welcome basket on arrival. I provide supplies in the pantry and refrigerator: bottle of prosecco, milk, butter, jams, pasta, water, biscuits, coffee, tea and other little extras.
- Appreciate long-term guests. For long stay guests over seven days we confirm arrangements for change of linen.
- Show guests around the local area. We give a tour of the village highlighting and pointing out the ferry and bus stop, water taxi, bars and coffee shops, restaurants, baker/general store and butcher with introduction to locals along the way.
- Get to know your guests. If the guest has time I offer them a refreshment (we quite often run into them during their stay).
- Maintain contact through stay. During each stay be available by phone call, text or email message
- Offer the personal touch. During check-in coordinate their departure and always be there personally to say goodbye. And again assist with luggage and public transport.
To find more information about Wendy’s Airbnb located in Sala Comacina, Italy, please click here.
If you’re interested in learning more about hosting on Airbnb, click here.
Photo is a stock image and not of Wendy Gallina.
Related links:
How I use Airbnb to make money in retirement
Why hosting on Airbnb is great for ladies over-60 to earn extra money
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