Food and pantry ammenities

[Mon0]

Hi all we have just started hosting. I wanted to get a sense of what the correct standard is in terms of providing guests with access to the pantry and things like olive oil, spices etc? Is this something that everyone does? 

Thanks,

Mon

[David-and-Fiona0]

Hi Mon. I think there is no 'standard'. We offer breakfast and some menu options (we are 30 minutes away from most of the restaurants). We don't allow guests to cook in our kitchen. I think you need to decide what you are willing to offer and the ROI. One suggestion is look at other listings in your area and see what other hosts (comparable) offer.

Happy hosting

D

[Tom-and-Jan0]

I have a guest asking if she can use the kitchen. I hadn't thought too much about it actually. for me this will be on a case by case basis.

[Dee9]

My ad says "Lite use of kitchen" (meaning microwave, toaster, putting a few things in fridge, and stovetop heat up). They are allowed to use dishes & utensils. But The only "groceries" I offer are coffee/tea/milk/sugar. My airbnb is for a simple stay though and stated in my ad as such.

I have a friend who is the extreme opposite. She sets her alarm to get up and make them an extravagant breakfast. She drives them around the town, gives them full use of her house and "well stocked kitchen" , entertains them with guitar and song, and even spends the day with some hanging out at the beach, art shows, etc. She offers them dinner with wine! All this for under 100 dollars a night.

So it depends on what your style is and what you can afford. And then make it gently clear in your ad. My ad is simple. My friends ad is written like a book and goes on & on about all the wonderful things you will experience at her house.

I prefer minimal interaction with guests, and because of the way my ad is written, I get guests who prefer minimal interaction with ME. Which is perfect for me!

My friend gets people who prefer to feel like family while they are there. Perfect for her!

I will say she always get 5star ratings.

My average is 4.

Good luck!

[Rosemary19]

Hi Mon, 

I provide tea, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper and oil. I also provide weetbix and some spreads. I also try to leave chocolate on the bed, if I remember. I personally find it impractical to provide milk or bread, as it's not practical for me to drop them off fresh on the morning of arrival. 

Cheers, 

Rosemary 

[Karen352]

I have just started hosting as well, I am going to provide a kettle, coffee, tea, sugar, milk and a few bottles of water and juice in the bar fridge. the cupboards have an assortment of glasses, cups, plates and utensils. There is no microwave or toaster.

My accommodation is an upstairs of my home retreat with a kitchenette, are the above items enough? does pantry items tickbox mean the above? I am picturing a motel style room amenitie fitout....

I don't want the guests to get a false understanding of their accommodation.

Karen

[Linette7]

We started a "Community Pantry".  I have a section of the kitchen that has glass doored cupboards.  I put a note on one of the doors that says something like "Community Pantry.  Take Some, Leave Some, Enjoy".

I make sure to remove any opened boxes (like cereal, pasta, etc) that people leave when I go in to clean after each guest.  People have left coffee, salt & pepper, various spices, snack sized cookies, paper plates, s'mores making items, microwave popcorn, etc.  I did start it off with some olive oil, salt & pepper shakers, sugar.  We have gotten a lot of great feedback from guests that they love the idea.  Many travel from long distances so I imagine it's nice to have something in the house to start with and then it makes guests happy to be able to leave whatever left overs they have rather than throw them away because they can't take them home on their flights. 

Guests also tend to leave condiments in the fridge and also beer.  I take out any alcohol that is left over because I don't want to risk that someone under 21 was supplied with alcohol.  I also keep things tidy in the fride and pantry.  I won't let anything get to be too full.  In the fridge I only leave anything that fits on the door which means mostly condiments and maybe some butter.

Sometimes if I think of it I will also leave a dozen fresh eggs from our chickens at home 🙂

Good Luck!

-Linette

Loon Lodge, Winslow, Maine - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20747780

Loon Loft , Winslow, Maine - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21551164