How to Make the Best Airbnb Welcome Book

As an Airbnb host, you want to ensure your guests feel right at home when they stay in your property. One of the best ways to ensure this happens is by supplying your guests with an Airbnb welcome book to peruse upon arrival. An Airbnb welcome book should offer guests so much more than a list of rules and dos and don’ts. Airbnb hosts can make their welcome book a little more special for their guests to feel extra welcome.

In this guide to Aribnb welcome books, we’ll go through the essential components of a welcome book, some ideas that you can use to make your welcome book truly unique, and some design ideas to make your Airbnb welcome book stand out. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the perfect Airbnb welcome book for any guest. 

What is an Airbnb welcome book?

Airbnb welcome books typically have a welcome message for guests, inviting them to enjoy the space and the amenities the property offers. Hosts often print out welcome books and leave them in an obvious place within the property so guests can easily find them. 

The purpose of an Airbnb welcome book is to orient your guests about the property and the surrounding area. As well as welcoming messages, an Airbnb welcome book will also have information about how to operate specific equipment in the property, nearby restaurants, grocery shops, and perhaps information about meal times, should the Airbnb hosts provide food. 

Why do you need an Airbnb welcome book?

For hosts, an Airbnb welcome book is a platform that lets them communicate certain pieces of information to guests. It’s also essential to make your guests feel welcome on the property. When speaking to your guests before they arrive, it can be challenging to relay all the information they need to make their stay as comfortable as possible. 

Having an Airbnb welcome book allows hosts to write down all the essential information that will help guests to enjoy their stay even more. It’s also an excellent way to communicate specific rules for the property, such as the right time to turn off loud music or instructions for appliances and other amenities. 

8 essential components of an Airbnb welcome book

The information you choose to include in your Airbnb welcome book depends on the features and facilities, either on the property itself or the surrounding areas. For the best Airbnb welcome book, make sure you include pieces of information such as the ones listed below: 

A welcome message

For your guests to feel welcome, hosts should include a personal welcome message expressing delight in having guests stay at your property and best wishes for enjoying their stay. Although some hosts prefer a separate welcome letter, including a welcome message in the Airbnb welcome book is also perfectly acceptable. A welcome message can also contain trivial information about the area and some history to pique your guest’s interest. 

Table of contents

Although hosts take the time to create beautifully crafted Airbnb welcome books, the reality is that not all guests will have the time to read the whole thing. For this reason, it’s essential for hosts to include a table of contents at the beginning of the welcome book. This should clearly highlight where guests can find specific information in the book and direct guests to the correct pages. 

Arrival and Departure times

Guests need to know when they need to leave the property so that hosts have enough time to prepare the property for the next guest. Although guests probably would have arrived by the time they get to see the welcome book, it’s essential to include the check-in and check-out times. This is especially important if you decide to go the digital welcome book route to send guests before they arrive.

Activities to do in the area

The last thing you want is for your guests to be bored, especially if there are many fun activities in the area. Ensure your guests get out and about by suggesting some of the top attractions and fun things to do during their stay at your Airbnb. If the area has notable art galleries, museums, or landmarks, mention them in your Airbnb welcome book.

A guide to local restaurants

Referring guests to restaurants is a critical aspect of the Airbnb welcome book, especially if you do not offer meals to your guests. If you run a self-catering unit, you can also direct your guests to local shops to make their own food. Local recommendations go a long way, but make sure that you include suggestions to suit any budget.

Information about the property’s features

If your property has features like a pool, hot tub, or fireplace, provide detailed instructions on how to use these safely and without inflicting damage. You should also stipulate whether or not guests can use the towels provided for the pool and the shower, and whether or not they are expected to provide their own wood for fire facilities. Of course, not every property is the same, but special property features require special mentions.

Instructions for appliances and electronics

As a host, you don’t want your guests to accidentally damage something simply by misusing it. It’s, therefore, an excellent idea to provide detailed instructions for using appliances such as stoves and washing machines and electronics such as televisions, air conditioning, and sound systems.

Contact information

Ensure your contact information is clearly visible in the Airbnb welcome book. This is particularly important in the event of an emergency. Some Airbnb hosts also like to put the contact details of local authorities or medical centers in the welcome book should someone fall ill or require assistance. As an Airbnb host, you should be around to provide guests with service. 

How to make your Airbnb welcome book standout

Hosts need to take pride in their welcome books as they say a lot about what the property means to you and why you want guests to enjoy it so much.

For this reason, you need to make your welcome book stand out to guests. It’s one of the home features they will likely remember if time and effort have gone into the design. 

If you are going to the printed Airbnb welcome book option, make sure you use a design that’s personal to the home and echoes the experience you want your guests to have. A unique design will go a long way and make your Airbnb welcome book stand out. 

For luxury stays, some hosts prefer to have their Airbnb welcome book properly bound to appear as a coffee table book. Going this route gives an extra bit of flair to the overall guest experience and is definitely something your guests will remember. 

There is also the option to go the digital welcome book route. Hosts can send their guests a welcome book via email before their arrival, but this doesn’t mean they should not put effort into the design of the email. Effective graphics and attractive, easy-to-read fonts are great ways to make your digital Airbnb welcome book stand out.