After reading all the reviews and endlessly scrolling through options, you’ve found the perfect Airbnb to top off your travel plans.
While it’s important for a host to prepare a hospitable environment for guests, it’s also just as important for guests to do their parts. After all, hosts leave guests reviews, too! Here are a few tips to be a five-star guest.
Follow the host’s house rules
Remember, Airbnb hosts are opening up their homes or spaces to you. Sometimes, hosts live in the home too, or if they don’t live there, then they might pop in regularly to check on the space. They’ll have certain expectations of you as a guest, which you can find on the Airbnb app or on the website in their listing under “House Rules.” House rules include whether or not additional guests that aren’t listed are allowed, curfews, smoking standards, and more (these are all important to keep in mind!).
Communicate with your Airbnb host
Effective communication is key to having a good stay. You’ll want to get in contact with your host or hostess before your arrival and even during your stay (it never hurts to be personable!). While you don’t need to give them a specific rundown of your plans, it still helps to share details like your arrival and departure time and how often you’ll be going in and out during your stay.
Stick to your commitments
Once you’ve communicated with them about your trip plans, stick to those plans. If you say you’re arriving between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., then don’t arrive at 8 p.m. Of course, if circumstances out of your control affect your travel plans, that is perfectly OK. Refer back to tip number two and remember to communicate!
Clean up after yourself
Treat your stay as if you were renting a car — you want to return it in the same condition as you found it in. While it isn’t necessary to clean things that were there before your arrival, if you make a mess, then clean it up! Don’t leave stains, damages, or spills for your host to find after you leave.
Leave an honest review
Airbnb is a hospitality community. Your host will attract future guests based on honest and good reviews. Did you like that your host offered directions and recommended local hotspots? Be sure to leave that in the review. Plus, hosts can leave you a review, which helps future hosts get a better understanding of who you are as a guest the next time you book an Airbnb. And, of course, if the experience was bad, be sure to express that in your review as well.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
