Hosting in rural areas — what are your tips?

[Lizzie]

Hello everyone,

We’re looking for tips from hosts with listings outside of urban areas. Rural travel is becoming more and more popular to guests who are looking for unique, authentic experiences, or maybe just some peace and quiet.

Hosting off the beaten path however, does have its challenges, such as providing WiFi connectivity (or not), transportation and logistics, and the availability of amenities like grocery stores.

What’s your key advice to others hosting outside of urban areas? How do you attract guests, overcome the unique challenges of rural hosting, and use your location to your best advantage?

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Sarah977]

@John1080   It's actually really strange, and I've read articles on this, that dirty diapers are acceptable in a landfill. No other human waste is considered to be acceptable to throw in a landfill. Hospitals have to incinerate human wastes. It's quite dangerous- apparently babies who have received live polio vaccine will have that polio virus in their poo. Babies and young children can contract Hepatitis A and show no symptoms, but the virus can be live in their fecal matter for up to a year.

I was lucky when my kids were babies- there was a diaper service where I lived, so cloth diapers all the way. But I know that's impractical when traveling.

[John1080]

@Sarah977 Interesting facts and I hadn't thought about it but that does sound correct! This particular couple is adopting a baby and staying in my cabin with it until they get the all clear to go back to their home state. Both sets of their parents are also in the area in Rvs, so I also suggested maybe they could put the diapers in the bear-proof bins where they're staying. 

I just hate having an issue unresolved like that, so it looks like expensive animal-proof bin, here we come! 

[Susan1028]

Wow on the flushing issues!  I provide tisses bedside and by the toilet, and so far, no problems.

Trash is everyone's concern.  I do my best to use recycled paper products and buy good, eco-soap in bulk to reduce packaging, most of which is NOT recycled by the garbage processors touting "budget sortfalls" (on paper at least.  I swear they're floating out the light stuff and selling what's more valuable to wholesalers). 

I  don't charge extra for trash, because it's part of the infrastructure, but I do build it into the cost of stay and provide a reasonable solution to aviod having to pick through.

My observation is 2 guests produce 2-3x as much waste in half a week as the two of us who live here all week.  99% can be recycled/reused/composted depending on the local laws. Our trash is hauled once a week, by subscription.

I have 3 lableled, lined bins under the kitchen sink for organic waste/recycling/returnables, with backups underneath in the bins for easy replacement and have separate baskets in the bath and bedrooms, which are barley used. I ask guests to separate their trash and put each kind in our main color-coded collection bins every second-third morning so it's included in the weekly haul. If they're only there for a short stay, it's moot.  So far, so good. I've only had 3-4 guests in all not separate. 

If you don't have yours hauled, you can still provide the means and ask for it to be separated so you can dispose of it as your own without having to pick through it.

[Patti4]

@John1080  I think ultimately the bear proof garbage containers will give you the most peace of mind. But I would also ask your current guests how it worked out and how they feel about dropping off garbage and paying for it themselves, before they check out. If that’s possible. 

 Here in Tompkins County, New York, recycling is compulsory. Some of my guests are unfamiliar with it. But since I’m on site I’m able to sort things out and take care of it. I’m also a big fan of encouraging reducing waste, but gusers can’t just flush it away, either 😉 

Patti

[Patti4]

Guests, not “gusers!”

[John1080]

@Patti4 Yes, good idea on asking. The first man didn’t seem to mind, and the current guests have thanked me so far for helping them out with it but I’ll see what they think later. 

[Melissa-and-Jason0]

We’re just outside a very small town in Missouri. When we were referred to Airbnb  our first thought was “no one is going to come out here to stay”, but we’re adventurous and wanted to give it a try. We have been shocked! Most people in our tiny town had never even heard of Airbnb so we set out to educate them in how it can bring outside business to our small community. Everyone seemed to love the idea, and now that we’ve been going pretty steady for over a year we have their full support. 

To help our guests we’ve linked to a local cafe, and have a menu available in their room. We’ve also gathered pamphlets from local historical sites and set out our state travel magazine as well.

Our internet was extremely spotty so we switched to a hotspot based system and everything is now wireless. Shockingly we can provide a 5g/LTE connection.

We make ourselves available 24 hours a day for any questions they may have. We have a second refrigerator for their use, have basic otc medications available and provide all the toiletries we can think of since a quick trip to the pharmacy or store means a minimum 25-45 minute drive depending on the time of day.

We also have a breakfast/snack bar set out 24/7 filled with fresh fruit, energy and snack bars, complete with coffee and various kinds of tea. Running to town for a quick bite isn’t so quick.

[Susan1028]

Kudos @Melissa0 on good communication and creating community support during times when many localities are becoming divided over short-term rentals.  I'm not as far out as you, but I provide all of those amenities and a kitchen so folks can completely relax and enjoy this place without having to leave hungry in search of food.  I also provide literature and good, local independent food, activities, and shopping and have received thanks from the proprietors for the extra business.

This can be a win-win for everyone when approached with a larger lens, especially in smaller or more rural communities.

[Nancy555]

Melissa & Jason,

It was so nice to hear about your experience. You gave me a few extra ideas on things I can provide to my guests. 

Like you, I'm in a very rural of Mississippi. We are 30-45 minutes from casino action, attractions & dining on the Gulf Coast. But I've enjoyed being able to promote our small local businesses near me. 🙂

I'd like to hear more about how you solved your interenet issues. I have the same trouble. I've got internet service through AT&T. It's "supposed" to be the best available in the area, but it's still pretty sad. How did you get a hotspot?

Thanks & keep up the great work!

Nancy

[Melissa-and-Jason0]

It's my understanding our internet is provided by AT&T also. It's works like a prepaid cell phone in that we pay a monthly rate for unlimited data. It doesn't make calls, it's just a hotspot. We run all our devices off it, TV's, laptops, phones, ipads, everything. Before we weren't able to even search google most of time, now we can stream movies from several devices at the same time.

[Nancy555]

Thank you! That's great info. I'll see if I can do that as well. 🙂

Nancy

[Mike-And-Helen0]

I recently received only 4 stars for location because our listing is not closer to Barnstaple in Devon. 

It has been the same distance from there since 1750 and probably hasn't moved more than a couple of cm since then.

What the guest really meant was

"I struggled to drive on country roads and realising I was lacking in the driving department challenged my view of myself".

[Susan1028]

Exactly...I keep asking them to remove that category.  It's not like we can puick up and move our homes, there are maps and descriptions provided that show the location before booking, and there's something called a written review where a guest can comment on misrepresented listings, which we can also respond to.

The more hists who make it known this category is not of any actual positive use, the more likely ABB is to consider eliminating it...if it were up to logic and business sense instead of algorhythms...lol...

[John1080]

I'd like to revive this thread with regards to trash removal in our remotely hosted cabin and welcome any advice or input. I have reread what several of us discussed back over the summer, but our trash issue has arisen again. This is really an issue related to our cleaners, as our space is in a very rural area and there aren't many cleaners. We are very satisfied with the ones we have and could not conduct our business without them, so want to also maintain them.

Hauling away the trash has been a part of their service since we began with them last year. They now say that the trash is becoming excessive and they also put it in their own dumpster, which they say is filling space in their dumpster. They have recommended that I get a dumpster from the local trash service so guests can dump the trash into it, but of course, this is another cost added to our bottom line. 

The options are:

1) Attempt to maintain the current arrangement whereby the cleaners haul away trash.

2) Get a dumpster if it is cost and logistically feasible - not sure they can even get up the driveway but will check on both issues Monday.

3) Ask all guests to haul away their own trash, highlighting reasons revolving around the fact that it is a cabin - bears, bugs, etc. I really do not like the thought of that, as it would cost them $3 per bag, but at the same time, it would probably encourage them to use less trash and I already do mention to long-term guests with detailed directions and a map how to get to the dump. 

I would like to ask each of you how you would feel if the policy is that all trash must be removed. How do you think this would impact your thinking with regards to renting the space? How do you think it would impact my pricing? If I go that route, any suggestions on how to properly market it to potential guests? 

[Helen427]

Fantastic topic that all those who are considering and intending to spend time away from the  city must read before their adventures.

In these everchanging times, we all need to take a step back and remember that all the world was once upon a time Rural and Countryside.

We should all take a pause, reflect and think about how we go about our ordinary day to day lives, each and every time we do things as simple as go to the toilet or make purchases and where those things all end up.

Thanks @Lizzie @Holly312 @Mike-And-Helen0 @Susan1028 @John1080

@Nancy555 @Melissa-and-Jason0 @Patti4 

and all the others who have contributed to this Must Read topic

Perhaps @Brian @Catherine-Powell @Liv @Nick @Lizzie @Stephanie @Katie @Anna and other Admins this topic should be included in a Host News and most definitely in a Media release for ABB to ensure we all look after the Planet, animals, water and land and Mother Nature when we go about our lives.

It's important that current and future generations are educated on how the world as a whole has evolved, go back to the basic lifestyle practices in the world away from the Instant this and that lack of thought where things end up after they are used.

People need to pause where all their rubbish ends up before they purchase things and definitely before they dispose of them in a plastic Garbage bin.

With people no longer lighting fires to dispose of their trash and the demise of rats which used to eat food scraps which cats chased and ate for it's survival human beings have made a mess of the food chain, ecological systems and animal kingdom.

Remember the days when most people had cats freely on their properties in the cities for companionship and to catch the mice and rats?
How many times do we see these animals now in our city areas?

How many people have never ever seen Farm animals?

@Mary996 @M199 @Dale711 @Helen350 @Kath9 

@Max144 @Ria16 @Laura2584 

@Jessica-And-Henry1 @Jessica-and-Henry0 @Rural27 @Ruralica0 @CasaRural2 @RuralAroma0 @CasaRural1 @Country0 @Countryside0 @COUNTRY-Idyll0 @Bear-Country0 @North-Country0 @Wild-Country0