Hi Rebecca – I came across your question, and if it’s okay, I’d like to offer a guest’s perspective.
Since I started using Airbnb about 10 years ago, I’ve taken 92 trips. And over the last 2.5 years of traveling full-time, I’ve stayed in many places for up to a month at a time, allowing me to experience the full spectrum of food and drink. Upon reading many of the host comments in the thread, I realize that there are restrictions based on location on what a host can provide in terms of food and drink. I also recognize that guests may have specific food preferences and/or food allergies, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Let me start by saying I don’t expect there to be food, but little things can go a long way for travelers, especially if they have been traveling long distances. For example, there have been times when I arrived in the evening and hadn’t eaten since lunch. For those seeking small but impactful gestures, items such as bottled water and snacks upon arrival, or a ‘starter kit’ that included coffee pods or tea for the next morning, were greatly appreciated. The most memorable experience I’ve had was with a host who reached out in advance to ask what I liked to eat, and she prepared a welcome basket and a bottle of wine from a local vineyard. I was incredibly grateful for her gesture, which motivated me to stay at her home on additional trips to that area.
That said, I realize a host might wonder, “How do I balance thoughtful hospitality with respecting guest privacy and preferences?” In my experience, welcome messages and local recommendations (e.g. cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, etc.) go a long way in helping a traveler get oriented. Again, I’ve experienced the full spectrum, from no local recommendations to in-app guides that a host has prepared, to full notebooks on the area.
One thing that may be on your mind is how this impacts a guest review. For me, the absence of food or drink is not something that would negatively affect my review, as I have had incredible hosts who were helpful and responsive throughout my stay without a welcome basket or starter kit. However, the gestures of hosts will factor into how much I highlight the host-guest experience. These thoughtful gestures may not be required, but they often make a place feel less like a rental and more like a temporary home.
Hope this helps!
Michael
