How to make your vacation rental guests want to return
Have you ever been on vacation and everything has just been perfect? A magical place where you felt wanted and special and could truly relax? I can count on one hand the number of places that made me feel that way. Those are the vacations I still talk about to this day. Those are the trips that will stay in my memory forever.
The places that really make it special are the places that know how to keep their guests happy, from check-in until check-out. They may not be the most luxurious or extravagant, have magazine worthy interiors or have 5 star amenities, but they know how important the little things are. So, what can you do to make your Colorado vacation rental stand out from the crowd? Read on for our favorite tips.
1. Provide refreshments. It might seen so basic, but having some complimentary bottled water/non-alcoholic drinks is a sure fire way to get on the good side of your guests. They may have been traveling all day and just want to relax for a while before exploring - not having to worry about going to get a drink is such a relief. A coffee machine and some tea is also always appreciated.
2. Make sure your place is clean! And by clean, I mean CLEAN. Your guests should not be able to find a stray hair, speck of dust or stained sheets anywhere. One way to really turn off someone from visiting again or recommending your place to others is if it appears lived in by somebody else. Yes, we all know that many, many people stay in vacation rentals/hotels/B&Bs, but we don’t want to be reminded of that when we stay in one. An extra tip - put a mattress protector on the bed, and use pillow protectors under your pillow cases. Make sure to price your vacation rental high enough to ensure that you can replace sheets/towels when they are worn or damaged.
3. Snacks! Ok, this goes hand-in-hand with tip one. I don’t know about you guys, but I like to snack. Have a little basket or bowl with some local food. This doesn’t have to be expensive - think some chips, dried fruit, granola bars, chocolate, popcorn etc. Ask your guests before they arrive if they have any allergies or dislikes so that you can tailor the snack basket to their personal taste. Something that is wonderful about vacation rentals compared to hotels is the personal touch that you can provide.
4. Create an ambience. How do you do this? I hear you, it can be tricky. Something as simple as some fresh flowers or plants can brighten up a room immediately. Another great thing to add is dimmable light bulbs, or lamps that cast a softer light for relaxing evenings. Personally, I would stay away from candles due to the fire risk. Another great way to add ambience in a room is through mixing textiles - if everything is very smooth in a room, it can feel sterile. Having a textured blanket on the arm of a sofa, or some hand woven throw pillows, can really create dimension and character in a room.
5. Recommend local places. One of the things I love about staying in a vacation rental is that the host usually knows the best places to visit that aren’t centered around tourist attractions. Think about your favorite local coffee shops, restaurants, stores, hikes, activities and include them in a binder or book for your guests to browse through. Bonus points if you can add a few local restaurants that can cater to allergies/preferences such as gluten or dairy allergies or people who are vegetarian or vegan. When you just arrive at a place, trying to find a restaurant that caters to allergies/preferences at the last minute can be challenging.
Think about trips that you’ve taken where you’ve fallen in love with the location - what made it so special for you? What did the hotel/vacation rental do to make you feel this way? Try to implement those things into your space and think about how you can make your guests feel at home.