Trying to get 5-star Airbnb B Reviews at any stay, let alone one that is focused on outdoor hospitality, is not always as easy as you wish it were.
You can think that everything went fine, only to get that dreaded 3-star review because the wifi was slower than they expected. If you’ve been in the game for a while, you may have a system in place to remedy that 3-star review up to the 5-star review that it actually is. However, if you are just getting into the short-term rental game or just want to brush up on your skills, this guide will give you 40 tips on how to get more of those desirable 5-star Airbnb reviews.
1.) Handwritten Note
The first way to show that you care about your guests’ stay is to leave a handwritten note. A simple blank greeting card will run you about $0.30 a piece and 5 minutes of your time. However, the impression of showing that you care from the moment that they walk in is nearly priceless.
2.) Asking For A 5 Star Review
This may sound silly, but sometimes all you need to do is ask for a 5-star review. There are two ways you can go about this. First, just outright ask them for a 5-star review in your communication with them. However, make it about them, as if you make it about you, it can come across as self-seeking.
Explain to them how you want to provide them with a 5-star experience, and that if anything falls short of that standard, you will address the issues they are having promptly.
The second way is to make your asking a bit more subtle. In your handwritten note, explain that you want to ensure that everything about their stay is worthy of a 5-star experience.
3.) Personalizations
Learn about why your guests are staying at your Airbnb. Is it for a graduation? Give a small gift for their graduation. Is it to visit a sick family member in the hospital? Give clear directions on where they can park at the hospital.
Not sure what they are into? Take a look at their Airbnb profile to get some ideas. Their profile says they like the outdoors, so offer up your favorite hiking trail —bonus points if you include some trail mix to take along.
4.) Check Out List
Creating a check-out list is a great way to remind your guests to collect all their belongings and complete any necessary tasks before leaving the Airbnb. Common items people add to this list include where the trash should go, instructions for dishwashing, and what should be done with the bed linen. We recommend that the last step always be leaving a 5-star review.
5.) Write The Review
Some people would love to leave a 5-star review, but let’s be honest, Airbnb wants you to give a lot of information about your stay. Yet some people feel they are not “word-smiths” or cannot convey what they want to say.
So why not write it for them? In your checkout message, ask for a 5-star review and say something like: “Not sure what to say? Just copy and paste the following and leave it with a 5-star review.”
You get a 5-star review, they have an enjoyable stay from start to finish, and they don’t have to worry about finding the “right words”.
If you are worried about guests saying things that are too similar, use ChatGPT to generate variations of what to say and to highlight the features your guest enjoyed most.
6.) Give a heads-up about The Flaws
Let’s be honest, even with the most ideal settings, there are still quirks with every home that has ever been built. So why not call out some of those charming characteristics that might get taken as a bit of a flaw?
Maybe the front door sticks when it gets humid.
Maybe, off in the distance, a cargo train runs in the middle of the night.
Or it could be a change in the community that wasn’t present during the time of booking.
There may be a burn ban due to a drought.
An Iconic restaurant is closed for renovations.
Whatever the case, call these things out. It lets your guests know that you pay attention to what is going on in the community. It also allows them to adjust their plans if anything that they were planning to do would be affected by these changes
7.) Detailed Guest Book
You may think that guests don’t care what you have to say about your town, but can we give you a hint? They really do! Your guest book might be the only local they “talk to” about what is worthwhile during their stay. And don’t just tell them the basics, they can find on a Google review, give them that local inside scoop.
The locals may know that an amusement park has discounted tickets at a certain point of the day. That’s something worth noting for families on a budget!
OR
Maybe a local winery has a partnership with a brewery/cider house on certain days. That knowledge can create the perfect evening of relaxing for a couple on a romantic weekend getaway.
These details are what take your guests’ experience from not thinking of giving you a review to leaving you the 5-star review you desire.
8.) Reimburse Inconveniences
Let’s face it, inconveniences happen. Someone parks in your guest’s assigned spot. The cable company knocks the internet down. Your neighbor starts a yard work project early in the morning. All of these things make up for your guests’ perceived experience. If you know that any of these things occur during your stay, compensate them for it.
Honestly, offering your guests a small gesture, like a $30 Cracker Barrel gift card for breakfast, can be a cost-effective way to make up for an inconvenience. If it helps earn a five-star review, it can boost your ranking in Airbnb’s listing algorithm and attract more future bookings.
Simply put $30 now can lead to $314 from another guest booking in the future.
9.) Forgot Something Box
We’ve all thought we had everything packed for our trip, only to realize an hour into the drive that we forgot a toothbrush and a swim diaper for your two-year-old. Instantly, your trip is off to a rocky start.
However, what if you set your guests up for an unreasonably great experience? At your property, you can provide your guest with a “Forgot Something Box”. This box can be as elaborate or simple as you would like.
Choose to go all out and have baby wipes and a few diapers, a phone charger, aloe, Q-tips, and earplugs available for those inevitable forgotten items.
Or you can choose to offer the basics, like a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand lotion.
10.) Outdoor Space
You would be surprised how much people care bout the outdoor accommodations of their stay. So even if all you have is a small patio, make it comfortable. Provide some warm string lights, a cozy chair, and a small fire pit if it fits. Even if the majority of your guests choose not to use it, for the few that do decide to use it, you have created an experience that they can’t help but talk about.
11.) Customize The Experience
Customizing your guests’ experiences can be tricky, but it is so worth it if you can make it happen. Let’s walk through a few potential scenarios.
The Music Lover:
Your guests tell you that they are staying at your Airbnb to see their favorite artist. To make their welcome as perfect and customized as possible, you could have your smart speaker play their favorite artist when they walk in. Mention in your welcome note that you hope they enjoy the show, offer some parking advice if you’ve been to the venue, and for a bonus, have a little $15 of their favorite artist.
The Family Get Away
Let’s say that you see your guest is booking your stay for 2 adults and 3 children and
plan to be there for a week. It seems pretty obvious that your guests are coming for a
family vacation. To help this family get started on a great vacation, write your welcome
card to them and include a $20 gift card to your favorite local pizza shop and let them
know that access to streaming services is already set up, and you hope they can enjoy
a family pizza and movie night while they stay with you. Now, on their first night, they
don’t have to worry about getting groceries or dinner, and you’ve acknowledged that you
want to create a 5-star experience from the beginning.
The Romantic Getaway
Let’s be honest, a romantic getaway welcome gift used to feel pretty easy to do. A quick
trip to Aldi and you create a small charcuterie board, and you have a slam dunk.
However, this feels almost standard now. So, how do you make a personalized
experience for a romantic getaway?
You have to communicate with your guest a bit more prior to arrival.
Ask your guest if this is for a certain marriage milestone or simply a weekend away from
the kids, and tailor your personalization for each accordingly. If it is a Marriage Milestone,
find the gift associated with that year of marriage. If it is for a weekend away from the
kids, offer an option.
Perhaps they would love the charcuterie board as they plan to take
time relax and unwind with a movie marathon, and go out to try some new
Restaurant. On the other hand, maybe they are really into the outdoors and are
planning to hike a famous trail, you can order a small Christmas ornament of the trail
allowing the weekend to be personal and memorable.
All of these feel extremely personalized to their needs, and it probably only took you 15 minutes to make it happen. This is what helps set you apart from the rest of the listing and will help you get those coveted 5 star reviews.
12.) Complete a Test Run
In the classic movie, “A Few Good Men,” we get the quote “ You can’t handle the truth!” . But if you want to get the 5-star Airbnb reviews, especially if you are in the outdoor hospitality space, you need to handle the truth.
To get the truth, do a dry run with 1-3 friends who think pointing out the negatives is a special skill.
All jokes aside, having someone come in and point out the areas that feel weak will allow you to get your rental in tip-top shape before you release it to the market. To do this, we recommend that you have your first guest stay, make improvements that they suggest, and then move on to the subsequent guests.
By the end of your truth-telling, you should be more than ready to go with your Airbnb listing.
13.) Make Small Problems Big
Let’s face it, even when you prepare for your Airbnb guests, not everything is going to go according to plan. Remote control batteries die, the Wi-Fi gets slow, and the feature that makes you known for your outdoor hospitality is less than stellar. What you can do, though, is turn these inconveniences into a huge deal in the way you respond.
“I am so sorry those batteries died in the remote. If you go to the center drawer in the kitchen, you will find batteries to replace them. I am so sorry that happened.”
“I can not believe that the wifi is slow. I have called our provider to let them know that this is unacceptable. As soon as I get word that they have fixed the issue, I will let you know.”
“I am so sorry that the dock was being repaired during the first day of your time with us. We know that we can’t get you that fishing time back, but to make it up to you, please enjoy using the kayaks for the rest of your time, free of charge.”
As Alex Hermozi points out : “Two people can’t be mad about the same thing at the same time.“
Making your client feel that you are on their side and want them to have a 5-star experience, despite the inconveniences, makes them that much more likely to give you the 5-star rating.
14.) Over-Communicate (But Not in An Annoying Way)
Something that can set your stay apart from your guests is to over-communicate
with them. We don’t mean to tell them every detail of your life or message them every day, but if something significant is happening, let them know.
For example, if you know they are planning to go into the city for a featured restaurant, but there is an accident on the main access route, let them know. Your guests are “new in town”, so knowing how a local would get there with that kind of information would be helpful.
15.) Show Them the Door (In The Instructions)
Generally speaking, if your Airbnb is a part of the outdoor hospitality space, it can be a little confusing to find the front door.
So, as a part of your check-in instructions, show them where the front door is. Maybe when they arrive at your home, they have to walk across a bridge to get to the door. Show that and explain it in the check-in process.
It’s a little detail that may not feel needed, but if they are checking in late at night, this can be a great way to help them get in easily.
Take a look at the video above and see how a client of Zook Cabins used the A-Frame Park Model to create a 5-star Airbnb experience that capitalizes on outdoor hospitality.
16.) Offer Discounted Stays
One way to get a 5-star review is to offer a discounted stay to your guest. Let’s say that
the day before or the day after your guests book, there is a vacancy for your unit. Offer
that day to your guests at a discounted rate.
Maybe your typical stay is $300 a night, offer them that day for $150 for the night. You get some additional cash for a night that would typically be empty, and your guest feels like they are “winning” for getting a night at a lower rate.
If you are worried about how your outdoor hospitality space will cash flow, take a look at
the video above, and see how successful they really can be.
17.) Give recommendations for Airbnb experiences and Services
As Airbnb continues to grow they now offer experiences and services in your local market. If you have the chance, contact the people in your area who offer experience and services. Learn about what they offer, and what makes them a good fit for a potential guest. This gives you a leg up on your competition and helps someone in your local community increase their business and Airbnb rating.
(It’s also a great way to get referrals back to your listing).
18.) Discounts With Local Businesses
The only thing better than having a great vacation is getting some unexpected perks
along the way. As the host, you can contact local businesses and see if they have
coupons that they are willing to share with your guests exclusively. Even a small
discount can go a long way with your guests, and the proposition of getting business from
some new clients is always welcome news.
19.) Make it overly clean
Cleanliness is no joke when it comes to Airbnbs. An unpleasant smell or some hair in the tub isn’t just an “oops,” it’s a big failure in this industry. We recommend that you create a checklist for your cleaners that is not compromised on. If you want to take it a step further, have an inspector check in on the home prior to the guests arriving (more on that later).
20.) Offer To Get The Groceries
When you are on vacation, you always need some groceries at home, even if you don’t plan on doing any cooking. So why not offer your guests to have them ready for you at the house? As a host, you can ask them what their grocery staples are and ensure that they are at the house when they arrive. This is an added feature that you can choose to charge for or make it a complimentary service.
21.) Offer Cleaning Supplies
When your guests stay, they will likely want to clean up a bit at the end of the day. Not because it’s dirty, but because after a day of walking in and out of the house, you just create a bit of dirt. Offering some simple cleaning supplies, like a dust pan and broom, paper towels, and dish soap, is a great way to make sure that your guests have a clean stay the entire time they are there.
22.) Don’t Charge For Broken Items
Everyone hates having to admit when they broke something. No matter if it is something small, like a beach chair or a plate. Let alone something larger, like breaking a deck board or breaking a bed frame. When you are the owner of the property, you get the chance to wield the power over what you do and do not charge for.
What if you were known as the gracious host? Maybe you can let it slide if you have the budget for it.
We’re not saying let people come in and trash the place, but if it was a genuine mistake, extend some grace. In tune, you can get a 5-star Airbnb review, and you just may have made a guest that comes back year after year, or at the very least tells all their friends how great you were as a guest.
23.) Inspection Process
To have a sure-fire experience of success, have an inspection process for your rental. If you have several properties in your outdoor hospitality portfolio, you may need to rely on others to help you get the experience ready. You can’t be everywhere, but your processes can be, and creating an inspection list for your employees or yourself can make sure that all of your “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” are dotted.
24.) Remember, You are a “Luxury”
When people are staying with you, they are viewing you as a luxury. In the current economy and rental landscape, hotels are seen as the budget-friendly option for vacationing. So if you are welcoming guests into your rental, make sure that you are providing a luxury experience, or you are setting yourself up to be disappointed by not having a 5-star review.
25.) Ensure Safety
Ensuring your Airbnb is safe is of the utmost importance. Not just because you don’t want to get sued, but because you want people to enjoy their time. However, safety can take further steps.
Maybe you know that one of your outdoor hospitality spaces is especially popular with young families, but you know there are a lot of stairs. Having baby gates, door knob covers, and outlet covers is a great way to add extra safety for these young families.
Safe families are happy families, happy families leave happy 5-star reviews. A win for them and a win for you.
26.) Ensure Outdoor Amenities are Working
While we have already mentioned inspections for the house cleaning, it is sometimes easy to overlook that the outdoor amenities are working.
Make sure that the pool has been vacuumed and skimmed. Make sure that the hot tub is actually hot. Ensure that you have enough life jackets for your kayaks. Make sure you have a clean fire pit and that the firewood is stacked and ready to use with a lighter in close reach or directions on where to find them.
When your Airbnb is focused on creating a space for people to enjoy the outdoors, these components can not be overlooked.
27.) Check your “listing issues”
Did you know that AirBnb is watching you? We don’t just mean that they are watching your reviews but also your private conversations. Airbnb is taking your private conversations and your reviews to create aggregate data for what guests are truly experiencing. Airbnb then places you in a warning system.
The good news? You can show Airbnb that you have fixed the issues that occurred and get back on track to becoming a successful Airbnb Host.
28.) Check AirDNA
Airbnb is just like any other search engine; the higher the engagement, the better the rankings of a result, in this case, the rental is the result. So if you are curious to see why your competitors are getting better bookings, use AirDNA. Here you can see what they charge, what they offer, and what guests like.
The best news?
AirDNA does not boost your competitors’ search results. It’s like having a secret agent that helps you be better than the competition without them knowing that you are looking at them.
29.) Learn From The Pros
We all learn from professionals when we are getting started in anything. Airbnb is no different so why not learn from the pros in th Airbnb space? In our opinion some of the best people that you can learn from in the Airbnb space are, Airbnb Hosting and Short-Term Rental Tips, Living Off Rentals, and John Hildebrand. Another person who really understands that an outdoor hospitality space is Isaac French.
30.) Clear the Air
When you clean the house, your home should smell clean. To add an extra touch, some people like to have an essential oil diffuser or reed diffuser to freshen the air. Here’s the deal, though: what might be enjoyed by some people is not liked by all, especially if they have allergies or sensitivities to fragrance. Or worse yet, they may think that you are trying to hide something.
To create an excellent experience for your guests, ask them if they have any sensitivities. Or go a step further and use an air purifier to truly clean the air, rather than just making it smell nice.
31.) Check in After The First Night
The old saying goes “no news is good news”. But that is not how you stay ahead if you want to get Airbnb reviews for your outdoor hospitality venture. A small but sure-fire way to go the extra mile is to send a simple message to your guest the night after their first stay.
For example: “ I hope you enjoyed your first night with us. Is there anything that you noticed that was out of place? Is there anything that you were expecting to be there that is not currently available?”
If everything is going smoothly, you likely won’t hear anything, or ideally, you’ll just hear that everything is perfect. At the same time, this gives you the chance to get ahead of the concerns they have so that they do not turn into serious complaints.
Think of it this way: a quick 10-minute trip to the local grocery store for some K-cups can make a big difference in how your guests feel about the care and attention you put into their stay.
32.) Ask For Feedback
Along the same lines as sending a morning-after message is asking for feedback. Let’s face it, you probably think everything is perfectly set up in your Airbnb space, but even after having a dry-run with your truth teller, things can get missed. So ask your guests for feedback on their stay. If you see something that keeps coming up, this is probably an area to address. On the other hand, you may have a guest suggest something no one has ever thought of before, and it might just be the thing that helps you turn your stay into one that is constantly booked.
33.) Respond To Reviews Publicly
When someone leaves a review on your Airbnb stay, make sure to respond publicly. This does two things. First, it lets your potential guests know that you are involved in your Airbnb experience. Second, if you have a bad review, it lets others see that you take them seriously and that you want to improve things, so all of your guests have a 5-star stay.
34.) Offer Early Check-in Or Late Check-out For Free
Most Airbnbs have a check-in of 3 pm and a check-out of 11 am, and truth be told, your guests are paying $300 or more for less than 24 hours of a stay. So why not offer early check-in or late check-out for free when you can? This feels like a real value add, and most of the time your unit will be ready before your advertised check-in time anyway.
35.) Keep Your Listing Photos Up To Date
Keeping your photo listings up to date is of top-notch importance, especially if you have had some substantial changes to your property. Now, if you’ve changed some plates or the linens are a different color, most guests won’t be too upset. But if you have made changes like making a soaking tub a walk-in shower or the hot tub has been removed, updating your listing photos as soon as possible will avoid confusion and low ratings.
36.) Offer Mid Stay Cleaning
Outdoor hospitality has a notoriety for being a little dirty. Let’s face it, even if you are spending every day water skiing, there is still a chance to bring some dirt into the house. To help your guests enjoy their time, offer a basic mid-week cleaning service.
This doesn’t need to go to the extent of getting ready for the next guest, but a quick wipe-down of the bathroom and vacuuming every room is often greatly appreciated. And if you are worried about it interfering with their stay, ask if there is an evening when they plan to go out and enjoy some of the local attractions, and complete this refresh then.
37.) Quality Furnishings
Quality furnishings make or break the way you get reviews on your Airbnb. Think about how many reviews you have read that mention a comfortable mattress for a good night’s sleep or the perfect fire pit and chairs for outdoor lounging. So when you are looking for a space to save money at your listing, choose cheaper plates, not furniture.
38.) Luxury Features
Having luxury features at your Airbnb is becoming synonymous with how to get a 5-star review, mainly when you specialize in being an outdoor hospitality stay. Take a look at the Airbnb above, they have everything you could want to do for an outdoor stay, a fire pit, a sauna and a hot tub. These luxury features set it apart from the competition not just because they are available but because they are of quality.
39.) Explain what a 5-star review is
Explain to your guest what a five-star review is. Some people will think that you will only get a 5-star review if it was the same experience that they would expect at an all-inclusive resort. However, that is not what Airbnb is all about. So, a gentle reminder, like a magnet or a sign of, is a great way to set expectations.
40.) Automations
Automations are a way for you to set up a system that asks your guests for a 5 star review at different points throughout their stay. If it is one night it may be difficult to have multiple touch points on this. To do this you can utilize the “scheduled messages” setting.
41.) Have a Show Stopping Building
At Zook Cabins, we have multiple buildings that will allow you to create an opportunity for a 5-star Airbnb rating based on just looks alone. Whether you want an A-Frame park model or are looking for a log cabin lodge, we have what it takes.
Conclusion…
Airbnb is the epitome of luxury, fun, and uniqueness, especially when it comes to creating an unforgettable outdoor hospitality stay. At Zook Cabins, we are here to help you make your dreams of building a stay like this a reality. Whether you want a single tiny home for occasional guests on your property or a log cabin that you can use for your family and rent out on the side, contact us. We would love to help.