Forget the fancy extras. What guests actually need — and what they write about in reviews — comes down to a short, unglamorous list.
Fast, reliable WiFi. Test it before every checkout season. A single bad review mentioning slow internet will cost you bookings for months. Use Speedtest and make sure you're getting at least 50 Mbps down. Post the network name and password somewhere obvious — on the welcome card, on the fridge, in the digital guidebook.
A clean, well-stocked kitchen. Guests don't need a professional kitchen. They need: sharp knives, a non-stick pan that actually doesn't stick, a pot, a kettle, a coffee setup (pods or a proper grinder), dish soap, sponge, paper towels, salt and pepper, and enough plates and cutlery for the number of guests.
Quality bedding. We use stone-washed linen on every Aluna property. Not because it's cheap — it isn't — but because guests notice it, mention it, and come back partly because of it. Minimum thread count for cotton: 300. If you go the duvet route, buy hotel-grade inserts and wash them every month.
"The beds were so comfortable we didn't want to leave. Stayed an extra night."
— Guest review, Aluna property, 2024
Full-size toiletries, not hotel minis. A decent shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. Not dollar-store bottles. Guests notice the brands. We use Aesop or local equivalents — the scent becomes part of how guests remember the space.
A hairdryer that actually works. The single most-mentioned missing item in Airbnb reviews. It takes 30 seconds to check. Do it before every season.
Fresh towels in excess. Two bath towels per guest, one hand towel per bathroom, one face cloth per guest. Stack them neatly. A rolled-towel presentation takes 90 seconds and photographs beautifully.
A first-aid kit. Required in most short-term rental bylaws. Guests appreciate finding one and almost never need it.
Phone chargers — at least one USB-A and one USB-C. One of the most searched-for items in short-term rentals. A small multi-cable in the nightstand drawer earns outsized goodwill.
A clear trash and recycling system. Label the bins. Include a note about collection day. This prevents the single most common reason for deducted stars in otherwise positive reviews.
Local coffee from a neighbourhood roaster. One bag. It costs $18. It sets the tone for the whole stay better than almost anything else you can put in the kitchen.
Games, board games, books, streaming service accounts, welcome chocolate boxes from Amazon, branded throw pillows with your rental name on them. Guests want a clean, functional, beautiful space that respects their intelligence. Everything else is noise.
Published 2026 · Hosting · ← Back to Journal