What’s Your Go-To Tip for Making Guests Feel at Home?

[Rubab2]

Hi Everyone ,

I’ve just started my journey as a new Airbnb host and I’m really excited (and a little nervous too!). I keep wondering — what’s that one thing you always do to make guests feel welcome and comfortable?

Some people say it’s a warm greeting, others recommend small touches like local snacks or clear check-in instructions. For me, I’m still figuring it out and would love to learn from your experiences.

** I want to know if there’s a simple “quick check” method or habit you follow before each guest arrives that makes everything smoother.

💬 What’s your secret tip? A friendly message? A checklist? Or something unique that guests always remember?

Can’t wait to hear your ideas — I think this will help a lot of new hosts like me too

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[Elisa]

Hi @Rubab2 😊, 

Welcome to the community, and thank you for starting this interesting conversation!

Where are you hosting from?

I’m tagging a few hosts to see what they can share with you: @Patricia2526, @Marie8425, @Oksana127, @MaryJane8, @Stacey413 and @Bryon48. 

Thank you in advance, everyone! 

[Helen3]

Do link to your listing - your profile shows you're a guest and not a host @Rubab2 

[Marie8425]

@Rubab2 @Elisa 

I didn't see a listing?

I would say it varie depending on what market, families as opposed to single Guest will have different highlights desired.

[Elisa]

Hi @Marie8425 😊, 

Thank you for helping our host!

What was your last guest’s request for you?

[Oksana127]

Congrats on starting your Airbnb journey! That mix of excitement and nervousness is completely normal—you’re about to create wonderful experiences for your guests.

For me, there’s a quick “pre-arrival check” habit that works every time: I go through a short, mental checklist right before guests arrive:

Clean & organized space: Walk through each room quickly, make sure everything is spotless and in place.

Essentials ready: Towels, toiletries, clean sheets, and small touches like tea, coffee, or a local snack.

Check-in smooth: Make sure keys or lockbox instructions are correct, and I’ve sent the guest a friendly reminder message with all arrival info.

Welcome vibe: Light on, curtains drawn nicely, and maybe a small welcome note—sometimes just a “Welcome, we’re happy you’re here!” goes a long way.

The trick is consistency—doing this little routine for every guest makes things much smoother and creates that “wow” feeling.

Extra tip: I also try to imagine myself as the guest. If something feels confusing or missing, I fix it. Guests notice when the host has thought of their comfort.

Honestly, small thoughtful touches—like a friendly message, a little snack, or a clear guide—are remembered more than anything fancy.

[Jaime988]

I will join the group with welcoming you to the community. Airbnb can be a wonderful experience at least 99% of the time. lol. I have learned that sending a short greeting a few hours before a guest arrives to welcome them to the area and let them know to reach out to me if they have any questions or need anything has improved my ratings.. I also give them check-in instructions although I know they do receive them from Airbnb, but just to clarify for them. I try to keep it short and succinct, traveling can sometimes be overwhelming and they don’t need a huge list of information. My other tip is have good cleaners that you can communicate with back-and-forth and are willing to give you feedback and updates. This is invaluable. I am not always able to check my properties before visitors arrive so having this extra set of eyes is very helpful.

[Jill1585]

I live far from my rental and can’t afford a lot of add-ons for them right now.
But the number one thing my guests say is that our rental feels like a home—not a sterile Airbnb.

I decorated it like I live there. Live plants, brass woodland animals, vinyl records, books, and all the rest do the decor and art is warm and homey—not just boring generic art from Hobby Lobby. 

If it feels like home… they’ll want to come back!

[Jan16380]

Hi Rubab,

To be honest, I don’t believe there’s a single answer to your question—but I’m happy to share my perspective!

Hospitality is both a vast industry and, in many ways, a way of being. Personally, I really enjoy connecting with people, and I love my home, which I rent out through Airbnb—so it’s a true delight for me to bring the two together.

That said, not everyone wants to meet me, not everyone wants the homemade 5-star banana bread I often leave, and not everyone is looking for tips on what to see or do. I try to be discerning about when to offer “helpful input” and when to simply give guests their space. My goal is always to meet the unique needs of each guest—not to feel like a hotel, but to be part of a memorable experience that enhances their time in the beauty and wonder of Colorado.

There are also some great books on hospitality that you might enjoy: Unreasonable Hospitality, The Art of Hospitality, and Making Welcome are a few that come to mind.

I’d love to hear what’s worked best for you—and thanks so much for asking!

Best,
Jan