Do you upsell any extra services?

[Liv]

Hey everyone, 

A few Hosts have been experimenting with selling extra amenities and services to guests - apart from the stay itself. This got me thinking and I’m curious to know if any of you have ever tried or thought about doing something similar.

It could be an optional meal that you cook yourself, a ride to the airport that you charge for separately or perhaps some paintings made by a local artist.

Either way, I’d love to learn more about extras you might offer guests. Do you upsell anything in your listing? How do you advertise it to guests?

Thanks,

Liv

[Elaine754]

Hello everyone, I am an airbnb host and recently I applied to host an airbnb experience all trying to do things correctly by answering completely to offer a one hour yoga class during one’s stay. It was seen as a service and not an experience so it was not allowed.

Meanwhile our cottage guests get full access to kayaks and bikes and laundry with no additional fees.

[Linnea-Or-David0]

This year we are going to be offering our ice fishing shack as an extra.  We are a small city about 3 hours from Winnipeg, Manitoba and most of our guests are people staying for work, visiting family or here for kids sporting events.  We live about 20 mins from our Airbnb on a lake and happen to have two ice shacks.  Just thought it might be a nice thing to offer and make a little extra on the side.  Not sure yet what we'll charge... probably minimal.  But I imagine it will also have to include things like drilling the holes, lending fishing rods etc.  

(My Grandson helped paint lol)

[Ihsan13]

The production and sharing of local products is always considered normal in Turkey. I do my best to ensure that every guest can share their experiences at the highest level.

[Lynn174]

We have a little cottage in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. I bake one morning during  each guests stay, offering homemade (local) blueberry muffins, nut banana bread or health conscious protein oatmeal breakfast bars included in the price. I do have an ongoing rummage sale on most of the cottages decorative pieces ~ each piece numbered & a little book to lookup the cost and they just drop the $ in a ceramic salt box. Rainy day fun for the guests and a way for me to buy fun things & then sell them! I don’t make a lot of $ but some of the guests really enjoy it!

[Shelly222]

Because we live on an island that doesn’t have a grocery store or restaurant, we provide all breakfast food for free, which is within the apartment which has a full size kitchen.  If guests want to lounge around the pool for the day and don’t feel like driving into town for dinner, we have food for purchase available here in our freezer. We offer steaks and baked pototoes, hamburgers, hotdogs, macaroni and cheese. Quiche, and lasagna with garlic bread.  We also offer 5 different pies and ice cream for dessert.  Some guests love this and take advantage of it but it is the exception rather than the rule.  

[Lindsay410]

This is a great conversation, thanks! We have been thinking of doing some things, I am a yoga teacher, and the house is perfect for yoga privates. Also am a trained 'chef/cook' and have thought of offering breakfast. My partner is a photographer, also thought of putting his photos on the wall. He is also a ski/snowboard guide and is insured to take people to more remote locations and provide avalanche training.

Is there a way to add these services to our listing? Or just have them as a welcome package when they check in? 

Thanks!

[Linda3345]

Wow; the ski/snowboard guide near Whistler sounds like it would be especially successful. 

[Frank1211]

We charge extra for animals, $20 per day.   With the whole service dog thing we cannot deny them the ability to have their dog, but we can charge for it.  

there is always extra cleaning involved when it comes to animals so the fee is justified.

I have though about providing paddle boards, and or bikes for a daily fee, but I would have to get a liability release signed prior to renting. So that just seems like a pain, so we just direct our tenants up the street with a company that provides this to them.

[Elisabeth40]

I do charge an extra guest but not because I want to make more money, simple because I ended up having random people coming in and out of my home and sleeping here over. I just don’t feel good walking during night to my restroom and meeting people who are not booked with me. Also people who are randomly visiting my guests were never taking off their shoes. I also realized that many guests swipe on tinder and invite their dates to my place. I don’t want to be a tinder pad. I would rather host just one guest and not having more money as dealing with unknown people at my personal apartment. My extra charges definitely set as high so that it is getting expensive for the guest, that service the purpose. I also charge early and late check in and outs, that prevent people to move me around all day long and play with my plans. Sometimes I feel like guests think the host is all day long available for them like a babysitter, I have a job and being moved for 5h around is not good. All my extra charges just prevent people to push me around. And they service the purpose. Couple times I was at my apartment and random people who were not booked with me took showers at my place and walked in shoes and even didn’t said to me Hello, like I wouldn’t even exist. This is where I came up with the extra charges for extra guests. Also some men would bring women for sleep overs and those would scream like crazy. I just felt disrespected and put a break on it. 

[Marg11]

We charge $50 AUD a night for up to 2 guests in our self contained flat and $7 a night for up to 2 extras for linen, cleaning, hot water, bread, spreads, milk, cereal and seasonal fruit from our trees. All guests must be registered with Airbnb. This is for guests' convenience not profit. Occasionally when we had international guests we might offer a lift to the train, airport or visit a local tourist site with them if we wanted to go there. Otherwise, we advertise the best local eateries, beaches, day trips and places to visit. Now, most of our guests are rural visitors, we just give them bread, spreads, milk, cereal and seasonal fruit from our trees to save them shopping for breakfast after a long drive. 

[Jody141]

Interesting topic! I am going to offer something next summer- not sure if I will charge but I have literally hundreds of blackberry bushes here in the farm where the guests stay so I was thinking of allowing people to pick if they wish. 
I could offer lessons in jam making with the fresh berries but would only charge for the jars and sugar etc. 

[Jean-And-Dean0]

I do not upset anything.  I feel my guests come here to relax and enjoy the lake.  It's nice to just enjoy their visit and not promote anything to them.  It seems to me it would be against AIRBNB policies.

[Ken346]

I do offer convenience "cross sell" services only if the guest asks: such as airport pick ups and drop offs, and at times shopping for food or certain items if the guests are arriving late to may their stay as fluid as possible.

[Ana24204]

interesting topic to think about. I am new on Air BNB and still learning how it all works but I am curious to hear some new ideas from experienced hosts. 🙂

[Lynda307]

I sell hand painted batik silk scarves from my attached art studio at 1/2 price to guests. I just put a small notice in their room to let them know. I have offered classes to guests when they are interested.