Memories from Guests

[Guy991]

Sometimes, when guests check out, they graciously leave something behind as a thank you, so the host will remember them—not just cleaner tips or forgotten phone chargers, but real, meaningful mementos.

In my case, one guest, who was apparently a writer, left me her book with a personal dedication inside. The book was added to the house library, and whenever I host a guest who speaks Spanish, the language of the book, I present it to them.

Another time, a super funny family who drove all the way from France left me a full kit with instructions on how to prepare the perfect mojito, including a bottle of rum and a small mint plant to grow in the garden. We planted it, and since then we’ve called it by the guest’s name.

Please share your experiences! It would be lovely to hear more about the creative and generous ways guests have said thank you beyond words.

[Robin4]

@Guy991 

Great post Guy, nice to see some uplifting content! Love the book story, what a nice touch. 

Things like that are what sets hosts apart.

Yeah we get a considerable numbers of gifts left by guests, not quite as personal as that one of yours but mainly wine because it's easy for the guest. This was a recent one.....

But Guy, I look on it as a two way street, I like to remind guests that we enjoyed meeting them and having them here.

I have had a quantity of these greeting cards made up, I make a point of getting every overseas guest's postal address, and on the anniversary of every overseas guest's stay I send them one of these cards with a nice hand written 'How are you going' message inside........

I have taken liberties using the Airbnb logo but I don't feel that is something they would object to!

Sending a personal hand written card (a rarity these days) rather than a computer generated message  rekindles the friendship and the nice part about hosting, and it has lead to a few return visits.

Cheers........Rob

[Guy991]

@Robin4 

Thank you for the kind words, Rob. I’m sure it’s heartwarming to find a bottle and note like this. It’s not just about the bottle, but the effort a guest made during their stay to show appreciation to the host.

You mentioned letters, and I have another story about guests that I will be sharing in a few days at the Festival of Hospitality 2024. I hope you’ll find the time to read it and that you will enjoy it.

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

@Guy991 I am waiting to know more of your interesting experiences. I am holding back one of mine as well 😇

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Hi @Robin4 I'm saved with your note. I was thinking Airbnb was gonna ban me from hosting with the things that guests leave for me. Love to host as love and gratitude is indispensable. Happy hosting.

[Mohammed546]

She gave us a very positive 5-star recorded review with the permission to use it for marketing. 

[Greg2406]

@Guy991 

Great memories!

We also have had so many .   We had two beautifully crocheted cats that one of our Guests left.   Sometimes it will be a small bag of their favorite candy.    The best are when our Guests write in our book.   The compliments and kind words are really priceless and mean so much to us.  We realize that not only did we have fantastic Guests, but that we have made lasting friendships.    

[Monique1166]

After hosting for over 10 years, we have some stories about things guests have left behind.      The grossest thing someone left behind was their sex toys.  When we operated in Scottsdale, we had that a couple of times.  The nicest thing a guest left for us was when they accidentally broke a TV, they shipped a new one to us.  At our location in Stockton, CA, we had a guest break a toilet.  We still don't know how the toilet broke but they did send us a new toilet and reimbursed us for the installation.  The nicest thing was probably the earrings someone left for the cleaning crew.  

[Anna14038]

I had guests leaving me drawings of my airbnb, someone bought the book of short stories about animals because I wrote in my profile that I love animals. I was left bouquets of flowers a few different guests collected in the area, wine, chocolates and ice cream.  I love hosting, decorating my place for guests and love interaction with people. Unfortunately, but must say, very seldom, there are ones who I wish had never visited. It is maybe 2 % of my visitors.