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The Airbnb market has changed over the years! Did you know that Airbnb stands for Airbed and Breakfast, meaning you literally slept on an air mattress? The company has come a long way. In 2024, most Airbnb guests expect hotel-like accommodations.
What does that mean?
Essentially, it means that they want the space to be:
- safe
- clean
- comfortable
- have basic amenities
- not feel like someone else lives there
Before we dig in, let me introduce myself! I’m Sarah! I am a top-rated Airbnb superhost with several vacation rentals on 30A in the Florida panhandle. Here at Our Little Lifestyle, I share FREE tips and strategies to help other Airbnb hosts make the most of their investments.
So, stick around! If you are new here, my 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide is a great place to start. It’s perfect for current hosts and anyone just thinking about buying a short-term rental. You can also shop my Airbnb Buying Guides here and at the link below!
How To Make Your Airbnb Feel Like A Hotel
Today, I want to share some tips for making your Airbnb rental feel like a hotel. These basic steps set you apart from other listings and will help you earn those coveted 5-star reviews from your Airbnb guests.
If you are new here, we are a family of travel lovers! We spend a lot of time on the road, both here in the US and abroad. We are equal-opportunity travelers who stay in vacation rentals and hotels, depending on the situation.
READ: Should You Stay in An Airbnb or Hotel?
In this post, when I say “feel like a hotel,” I mean being able to walk in and find a clean, fresh space that doesn’t feel “lived in.” I like to have basic amenities for a short stay and easy-to-follow instructions and access.
This advice is specific to smaller short-term vacation rentals under 2000 sq feet or so. All of my condos on 30A are studios and one-bedrooms. However, the same advice should apply to most larger rental properties. The only exceptions would be unique accommodations such as treehouses, remote yurts, funky airstreams, and so on.
6 Ways To Make Your Rental Feel Like A Hotel
Here are some of the ways that you can make your short-term rental property feel like a hotel.
And you don’t have to completely avoid personality. Nobody likes a stark and bare vacation rental either. Paint colors, furniture, and wall decor are the best ways to add your own touch to your Airbnb. If you look at mine, they all look clean, welcoming, and quite different from one another, yet all of the points below still apply.
#1 A White, Crisp, Clean Airbnb Bed
First, the bed(s) are the single most important thing in your short-term rental. You must have a sturdy bed frame and comfortable mattress for your Airbnb.
After that, you want clean and crisp bedding. I firmly believe white bedding and a white duvet cover are the way to go. Not only does it make your place look better in your listing photos, but it also makes the bed feel fresh and clean upon arrival.
However, unlike hotels, I only recommend triple sheeting if you are washing the insert between every single guest. The sheets getting messed up and the insert being exposed is my biggest turn-off at hotels! I love the duvet insert + duvet cover setup best!
READ: Best Bedding For Your Airbnb
That said, you must ensure that you can keep your white linens white! We do replace linens as needed due to stains, which is why we don’t buy overly expensive linens for our vacation rentals.
If you want colored bedding, opt for a colored duvet cover or a solid, comfortable coverlet. Avoid patterns and too many blankets, which often give off a “lived-in” impression.
#2 Dedicated Luggage Solutions
You want to make sure your Airbnb has luggage racks available. The closet should also have plenty of hangers and an iron or garment steamer.
Click here to view my list of Airbnb closet essentials!
If space allows, you always want a nice solid dresser for guests to unpack in. Don’t skimp on a cheap or small dresser that doesn’t adequately fill your space.
#3 Ensure A Spotless Bathroom With Essentials
Your short-term rental bathroom should look like a hotel bathroom. There should be fresh towels—again, I prefer white! You should also have a fresh bath mat, an empty waste basket, etc.
Avoid putting decorations in the bathroom at your short-term rental property. However, make sure to include a makeup mirror and makeup washcloths, plenty of hooks, and the basic Airbnb amenities that I will discuss next.
READ: Airbnb Bathroom Essentials Every Host Needs
#4 Starter Sets of Consumables
On that note, these days, most Airbnb guests appreciate and quite often expect a starter set of consumables. This approach makes for a much cleaner and fresher look than having multiple half-used items in the kitchen and bathroom.
The key is making sure that your guests know what to expect. In my Airbnb House Manual, I list exactly what starter amenities are available upon arrival. These days, most Airbnb guests know to bring their own additional personal items or order them upon arrival with their groceries.
Here are the single-use consumables that we include in our Airbnb rentals.
- small shampoo & conditioner
- bar of body soap
- bar of hand soap
- two rolls of wrapped toilet paper
- small dish soap
- wrapped sponge
- 2 Keurig K-Cups
- single-use coffee
- sugar and creamer packets
- roll of paper towels
I also like to include a large roll of trash bags under the sink. As ridiculous as it sounds, these get stolen more than any other item. I guess people assume that because they stay there, they get to take the entire roll home.
All of the above products are linked in the Airbnb Shopping Lists on my Amazon Storefront.
#5 Easy To Follow Instructions
Your house manual or check-in instructions should clearly list basic important information such as Wi-Fi passwords, quiet hours, pool codes, amenity hours, etc.
I personally like to keep all of this information digitally in my House Manual as it changes from time to time. My House Manual includes everything they may need to know and is a great resource. I am often surprised when we stay at an Airbnb without that section filled out. We are often left guessing how appliances work or where to find things.
#6 Safe Locks & Easy Access
Your Airbnb should feel as safe as a hotel. It is vital that you use smart locks and change the door codes between guests. This makes them feel safer and is on par with a hotel key card. Nowadays, nobody wants to fidget with a regular key and lockbox. Plus, those are easily lost!
Guests also like to have an inner secondary lock mechanism like this one. Make sure to provide one inside the main door.
More FREE Airbnb Hosting Resources
And that’s it! Those are my top 6 ways to make your Airbnb feel like a hotel. Remember, you are doing that to help ensure a top-notch guest experience, 5-star reviews, and return guests.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure to browse all of my Airbnb Hosting Blog Posts. They are full of valuable first-hand information for current and future Airbnb hosts. And the best part is that it’s all FREE!
Also, I invite you to join my 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Group on Facebook. It’s full of wonderful new and seasoned hosts and great conversation. Plus, it’s the best way to connect with me one-on-one.
Happy Hosting!
PIN: Ways To Make Your Airbnb Feel Like A Hotel
