I knew it would be controversial, maybe take it in the manner it was offered - things that are annoying to some guests.
I have visited over 80 countries and stayed in over 100 Airbnbâs in the past 5 years and they vary incredibly all over the world, so I feel I am qualified to make a comment. I have also been thanked in person and in reviews for suggestions I have made to hosts from a guest point of view.
I only stay in entire homes because that is the type of place I am looking for, I donât want the home stay experience. I also try to book the self check in places to avoid the meet and greet, when you are travelling in a strange country and you have to meet someone at a specific time it is stressful.
I get 5* as a guest and I have been a super host every quarter for the last 4 years, I leave every place immaculate without so much as a teaspoon in the sink or a drink ring on a table. And obviously I donât do the things on my list in the villas I manage as I know what guests want. Usually the first thing they want to do when they arrive is use the bathroom, but hosts donât seem to get that as they go on and on about where you can find the cutlery - put it in writing, clearly and plainly.
I manage Airbnbs that have a turnover each of about $10,000 a month, every month of the year even in the off season, e.g. in the winter, and no they arenât in the mountains, they are close to beaches and it is freezing. I can manage this from the other side of the world while my guests are blissfully unaware that I am not around the corner.
All that is needed is very thorough, clearly written instructions with headings given to them in 3 places - message form, in their itinerary and in a Welcome Kit in the villa.
I constantly update these with better ways of writing them, and often with ideas and wordings I pick up from this forum, so thank you. I combine this with a fast response to queries through the Airbnb message platform - this is the only way I communicate with guests (80% are 1 night stays).
When you travel for months and months on end (I am regularly travelling for 6 - 8 months), moving every couple of nights or so the same hosts mistakes are annoying and glaringly obvious.
I am aware that this forum is top heavy with live-at-home, share hosts, so you have a very different hosting experience to me. The few times I have tried a home stay as a guest it wasnât a good experience.
The majority of listings need major work on their photos and descriptions, when you are choosing from 100,000âs of listing every couple of days you get very quick at making a decision.
I also have a great list of all the weird and wonderful things guests have asked for, said and done but that is for another time.
Cheers!