15 tips to giving your guests what they want 15 tips to giving your
15 tips to giving your guests what they want Wake up to booking.yeah
While renting out your home to earn a little extra income may sound like an awesome idea, it can be hard to know exactly what your guests will expect from the experience. Should you just throw them the key and leave them to it? Should you put posh toiletries in the shower? Make a folder of nearby restaurants? Buy flowers? One thing is for sure, it’s often the little, and sometimes forgotten, things that make all the difference.
Check out the following tips to put your vacation rental in pole position for great reviews and repeat bookings.
01
Bathroom essentials
02
It’s estimated that 20% of travelers will forget to pack toiletries. Come on, we’ve all been there. So providing an emergency supply is likely to earn you a few extra brownie points. But what to offer? Well few people don’t make use of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel while on their travels so there’s your perfect starting point.
Remember to make guests aware of the items that are there for the taking too and try to avoid products with pungent smells. As hard as it might be to believe, shampoo infused with sweet white strawberries and ‘mood-boosting’ mint might not be to everyone’s taste.
Tip 1: Leave spare toiletries in the bathroom and invite guests to use them. Perhaps add a couple of sentences to the welcome pack or stick a note on the products. Tip 2: Don’t choose toiletries with pungent smells. Those of the unfragranced variety are by far your safest bet. Tip 3: Let your guests know that they are welcome to take whatever they don’t use back home with them.
Bring on the toilet paper! Well… we did say it was the little things.
But seriously, the chances are your guests will arrive at your property after a long journey. Perhaps they’ve been driving all night or maybe they’ve just got off a long-haul flight. What’s the first thing they’re likely to do upon arrival? You’ve got it, make a beeline for the nearest bathroom. But imagine their horror when they reach for the toilet paper holder and it’s … empty! Don’t let your guests suffer in this way by always remembering to keep supplies flowing.
Tip 4: If you have more than one bathroom, make sure each one has toilet paper. Tip 5: Leave a few extra rolls to see your guests through their entire stay. Tip 6: Avoid choosing toilet paper in garish colours or jazzy patterns. It might clash with the rest of your décor and ruin an otherwise tasteful look.
03
The way to anyone’s heart...
03 04
Save tired and hungry guests from having to head out to the local supermarket store for foodfor and food drink and the drink minute the minute they arrive theyby arrive leaving by leaving them a few them a few staple staple items.items. Whether it’s a bottle cartonof ofmilk milkin inthe thefridge, fridge,sachets sachets of coffee, tea and hot chocolate by the kettle, or a loaf of fresh bread in the tin, these are the kind of gestures that will really help to show that you have gone the extra mile.
Or if you want to go all out, you won’t go far wrong by leaving a chocolate on someone’s pillow or a chilled bottle of chilledofprosecco bottle wine in the in the fridge. fridge.
Tip 7: Ask ahead about food allergies and preferences to really bring a personal touch to the mix. Tip 8: Remember not everyone is a caffeine caffeine-fiend fiend so offer herbal tea as a thoughtful alternative. Tip 9: Save your guests from having to root through cupboards and lay out some side plates, spoons and mugs before they arrive.
Never forget about the Wi-Fi
05
Tip 10: Include the Wi-Fi password in your guests’ welcome pack and make sure it’s somewhere prominent. Tip 11: Be sure to make guests aware of any patchy network issues in certain rooms. If they know what to expect, they’re less likely to have an issue with it. Tip 12: Share information about local pubs, restaurants and cafes that offer free Wi-Fi – it’ll save them having to Google it.
Whatever the age or gender of your guests, it’s highly likely they’ll be on the hunt for a Wi-Fi password the second they walk through the door. Whether they’re looking to Skype with friends and family back home or simply check their work email, a high-speed Wi-Fi connection is no good to anyone without a password.
Keep it clean
06
This is a bit of an unwritten rule but the reality is, most guests will expect your accommodation to be fully kitted out with towels, bed linen and even face flannels to help make their stay a clean and comfortable one. You might want to consider leaving some sachets of laundry detergent and fabric softener by the washing machine too – just in case the extra supplies don’t cover it.
Tip 13: Provide two bath towels, two hand towels, and one face flannel for every guest. Tip 14: Leave out some spare bed linen in case the sheets need to be changed. Tip 15: In the event it gets cold at night, guests will always appreciate an extra blanket or two to help keep them snug.
Remember to make your vacation rental card-friendly When you’ve set your rates and you’re ready to open your vacation rental to guests, there’s payment acceptance to consider. Cards are the one payment method that work around the world. So, to make sure that you can offer all your guests the convenience of credit and debit card payments at your property, we’re partnering with Square. Square makes it simple to accept card payments from guests with your mobile device. You can take all major credit major cards - Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express - with a free magstripe reader and the free point-of-sale app. And, with a $49 contactless and chip reader, guests can also use Apple Pay® and Android Pay. When you sign up for Square, you’ll receive free processing on up to $5,000 in transactions. After that, you pay 2.75% per tap, dip, or swipe payment, or 3.5% + 15¢ per keyed-in payment. Funds are deposited to your bank account in one to two business days. And Square provides up to $250 in chargeback protection a month.
Deciding on your vacation rental rates is one thing, but thanks to Square, you now have an easy way to accept payments on-site. After you sign up, you’ll receive your reader in the mail. Just download the app, plug your reader into your phone or tablet, and start accepting payments.
If your property generates over $250,000 in annual revenue, then a Square stand reader and custom pricing may be a better fit for you. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
07
Earn money from your home, your way There’s more to renting out your home than earning a little extra income. That’s important of course, but you also want guests to enjoy their stay and say positive things about it. As the world’s number one vacation rental partner, our easy-to-use platform gives you the tools to provide superior guest experiences, the support to increase your bookings and the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. You’ll also benefit from global exposure to travelers all around the world, tools and insights to price and promote your property, and the ability to manage bookings and guests your own way. We offer a 24/7 service for our customers via dedicated partner account managers as well, enabling you to live a hassle-free life.
So, if you’re ready to start earning money from your home, your way, then it’s time to sign up to booking.com
Join us today Open your holiday rental to the world today and register your property with Booking.com now.
Sign up here
Accept credit and debit card payments from guests with
While renting out your home to earn a little extra income may sound like an awesome idea, it can be hard to know exactly what your guests will expect from the experience. Should you just throw them the key and leave them to it? Should you put posh toiletries in the shower? Make a folder of nearby restaurants? Buy flowers? One thing is for sure, it’s often the little, and sometimes forgotten, things that make all the difference.
Check out the following tips to put your vacation rental in pole position for great reviews and repeat bookings.
01
Bathroom essentials
02
It’s estimated that 20% of travelers will forget to pack toiletries. Come on, we’ve all been there. So providing an emergency supply is likely to earn you a few extra brownie points. But what to offer? Well few people don’t make use of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel while on their travels so there’s your perfect starting point.
Remember to make guests aware of the items that are there for the taking too and try to avoid products with pungent smells. As hard as it might be to believe, shampoo infused with sweet white strawberries and ‘mood-boosting’ mint might not be to everyone’s taste.
Tip 1: Leave spare toiletries in the bathroom and invite guests to use them. Perhaps add a couple of sentences to the welcome pack or stick a note on the products. Tip 2: Don’t choose toiletries with pungent smells. Those of the unfragranced variety are by far your safest bet. Tip 3: Let your guests know that they are welcome to take whatever they don’t use back home with them.
Bring on the toilet paper! Well… we did say it was the little things.
But seriously, the chances are your guests will arrive at your property after a long journey. Perhaps they’ve been driving all night or maybe they’ve just got off a long-haul flight. What’s the first thing they’re likely to do upon arrival? You’ve got it, make a beeline for the nearest bathroom. But imagine their horror when they reach for the toilet paper holder and it’s … empty! Don’t let your guests suffer in this way by always remembering to keep supplies flowing.
Tip 4: If you have more than one bathroom, make sure each one has toilet paper. Tip 5: Leave a few extra rolls to see your guests through their entire stay. Tip 6: Avoid choosing toilet paper in garish colours or jazzy patterns. It might clash with the rest of your décor and ruin an otherwise tasteful look.
03
The way to anyone’s heart...
03 04
Save tired and hungry guests from having to head out to the local supermarket store for foodfor and food drink and the drink minute the minute they arrive theyby arrive leaving by leaving them a few them a few staple staple items.items. Whether it’s a bottle cartonof ofmilk milkin inthe thefridge, fridge,sachets sachets of coffee, tea and hot chocolate by the kettle, or a loaf of fresh bread in the tin, these are the kind of gestures that will really help to show that you have gone the extra mile.
Or if you want to go all out, you won’t go far wrong by leaving a chocolate on someone’s pillow or a chilled bottle of chilledofprosecco bottle wine in the in the fridge. fridge.
Tip 7: Ask ahead about food allergies and preferences to really bring a personal touch to the mix. Tip 8: Remember not everyone is a caffeine caffeine-fiend fiend so offer herbal tea as a thoughtful alternative. Tip 9: Save your guests from having to root through cupboards and lay out some side plates, spoons and mugs before they arrive.
Never forget about the Wi-Fi
05
Tip 10: Include the Wi-Fi password in your guests’ welcome pack and make sure it’s somewhere prominent. Tip 11: Be sure to make guests aware of any patchy network issues in certain rooms. If they know what to expect, they’re less likely to have an issue with it. Tip 12: Share information about local pubs, restaurants and cafes that offer free Wi-Fi – it’ll save them having to Google it.
Whatever the age or gender of your guests, it’s highly likely they’ll be on the hunt for a Wi-Fi password the second they walk through the door. Whether they’re looking to Skype with friends and family back home or simply check their work email, a high-speed Wi-Fi connection is no good to anyone without a password.
Keep it clean
06
This is a bit of an unwritten rule but the reality is, most guests will expect your accommodation to be fully kitted out with towels, bed linen and even face flannels to help make their stay a clean and comfortable one. You might want to consider leaving some sachets of laundry detergent and fabric softener by the washing machine too – just in case the extra supplies don’t cover it.
Tip 13: Provide two bath towels, two hand towels, and one face flannel for every guest. Tip 14: Leave out some spare bed linen in case the sheets need to be changed. Tip 15: In the event it gets cold at night, guests will always appreciate an extra blanket or two to help keep them snug.
Remember to make your vacation rental card-friendly When you’ve set your rates and you’re ready to open your vacation rental to guests, there’s payment acceptance to consider. Cards are the one payment method that work around the world. So, to make sure that you can offer all your guests the convenience of credit and debit card payments at your property, we’re partnering with Square. Square makes it simple to accept card payments from guests with your mobile device. You can take all major credit major cards - Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express - with a free magstripe reader and the free point-of-sale app. And, with a $49 contactless and chip reader, guests can also use Apple Pay® and Android Pay. When you sign up for Square, you’ll receive free processing on up to $5,000 in transactions. After that, you pay 2.75% per tap, dip, or swipe payment, or 3.5% + 15¢ per keyed-in payment. Funds are deposited to your bank account in one to two business days. And Square provides up to $250 in chargeback protection a month.
Deciding on your vacation rental rates is one thing, but thanks to Square, you now have an easy way to accept payments on-site. After you sign up, you’ll receive your reader in the mail. Just download the app, plug your reader into your phone or tablet, and start accepting payments.
If your property generates over $250,000 in annual revenue, then a Square stand reader and custom pricing may be a better fit for you. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
07
Earn money from your home, your way There’s more to renting out your home than earning a little extra income. That’s important of course, but you also want guests to enjoy their stay and say positive things about it. As the world’s number one vacation rental partner, our easy-to-use platform gives you the tools to provide superior guest experiences, the support to increase your bookings and the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. You’ll also benefit from global exposure to travelers all around the world, tools and insights to price and promote your property, and the ability to manage bookings and guests your own way. We offer a 24/7 service for our customers via dedicated partner account managers as well, enabling you to live a hassle-free life.
So, if you’re ready to start earning money from your home, your way, then it’s time to sign up to booking.com
Join us today Open your holiday rental to the world today and register your property with Booking.com now.
Sign up here
Accept credit and debit card payments from guests with
