Luxe Airbnb Welcome Guide - The Designed Stay

All the key elements to elevate your holiday rental and ensure your guests don't have to think about a thing.

Most Airbnb welcome guides tell guests what to do. I’ve developed a guide which is designed to shape how they feel.

Having specialised in luxury Airbnb and short-term rental properties, I’ve put together a considered, design-led tool kit that brings together everything needed to create a seamless, elevated guest experience.

Each element has been developed through real client work and real guest interaction - reflecting how people move through a space, what they notice (often subconsciously), and what transforms a stay from simply “nice” into something memorable.

Whether you are setting up your first property or refining an existing one, this collection allows you to present your space with clarity, ease, and quiet confidence. Part 1 explored the key elements of Space Planning and Part 2 dissected the fixtures and fittings to include to create the ultimate boutique spaces.

A design-led approach to preparing your property properly.

Now let’s look at the Guest Guide - beautifully structured welcome books are part of the secret to presenting your place. They provide all the key details, some interesting background and everything about the house and the neighbourhood with fabulous recommendations and more to ensure your guests really don’t have to think about a thing but just enjoy.

We’ve all stayed in places where there’s a scruffy binder of notes or a sticky clear folder with a few leaflets rammed in. One we visited in France recently had a ‘Welcome Book’ which read like a Sergeant Major’s List of Shame for all the things we, as guests, had to ensure we carried out before leaving the property for fear of court martial. We didn’t even attempt to make coffee nor put anything in the bin just in case we contravened one of the many commands - fortunately we were only there for one night!

If you’d like more than this overview, then a link to my fully customisable templates will be linked for Subscribers but here are the key pages to include in your Guest Guide.

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So they’ve made it, they’re through the door, the first 7 seconds - the key moment - has been exemplary - now let’s make the rest of their stay seamless…

Place the Guest Guide in an obvious spot - but not right next to the main entrance. Think about where their exploration of the property will start and place it accordingly - you can have it next to their Welcome Tray or leave that in the kitchen as a repeat reminder of the thoughtfully presented place which they have the pleasure of enjoying during their stay.

There’s obvious details to include but make it personal and welcome them with a personalised letter or include one in the Guide. We are inquisitive creatures and we all like to have a feel for whose property we’re enjoying and even the history to the place if it’s significant.

Include some photographs and historical details about the house too if that’s relevant - all small details but which will underline the specialness of the place they’re going to enjoy.

‘Enjoy Your Stay’ pages are all about the practical elements from how to change the heating, health and safety and local services.

And then let’s get to the heart of any guide - the recommendations - from local coffee spots, bar, restaurants and places to go - present these with a snapshot overview, contact details and opening times - and keep them up to date adding in some great new opening or deleting one that’s no longer operating.

Local Life from a Guest Guide

How about a page ‘Further Afield’ and also one for ‘Staying In’ with the greatest take out or delivery recommendations, and for the ultimate Guide, put together your ‘Perfect Day’ itinerary building in breakfast, exercise, sightseeing, shopping, R&R and a night on the tiles:

A Perfect Day Out and About

Think about ‘Local Services’, ‘Places to Visit’ and a ‘Fancy a Walk’ page. Who won’t want a bit of ‘Retail Therapy’ too - and make this a real stand out page with local artisans, independent retailers with some sports, past times, antiques and curio places included.

And finally, end on a positive note with some easy reminders for guests before they leave as you wish them a safe journey and invite them to visit again soon.

At every stage of your guests’ stay you want them to feel cared about with everything set up for them to experience a fabulous stay with all the little luxe extras and thoughtful inclusions which have elevated their stay and made it memorable.

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Here’s to the creation of a your own luxe Airbnb or

holiday rental and many happy guests!

Joan