Imagine this. A guest walks into your vacation rental after a long flight. The Wi-Fi connects automatically, and the bed feels like a cloud. The kitchen has everything they need to prepare a simple meal. At the end of their stay, you will get a glowing five-star review. You don’t even have to ask for it. How can you get such reviews for your rental property? Read on, and we will share how you can do it with smart amenities.
How Did Guest Preferences Evolve from Basic Essentials to Modern Conveniences?
Let’s rewind to not too long ago, when guests had basic expectations. If your place had a clean room, a functioning shower, and a comfortable bed, you were likely to get a good review. Simple times. Times have changed fast.
Today’s guests are savvier and more demanding than ever. They compare listings across platforms. They read all of your reviews. They scrutinize your listing photos. They want their vacation rental to feel as good as home or better.
Along with the pandemic, remote work accelerated this evolution even more. Once staying somewhere and working from anywhere became the norm during the pandemic, travelers stopped taking leisure trips. Now they work and travel. Guests expect high-speed internet, plenty of workspace, and reliable technology. A poor Wi-Fi signal or saggy mattress won’t earn them forgiveness. It’ll earn you a one-star review.
Social media hasn’t hurt either. Guests are proudly posting videos and pictures of their vacations online. That gorgeous kitchen you stocked? The comfy, bright bedroom they fell asleep in? It’s getting posted on Instagram for all of your competitors’ followers to see. Free advertising that could send more bookings your way than any paid marketing strategy.
While guest platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo were making reviews more important than ever, social media was quietly elevating guest expectations. One negative review about an amenity you don’t provide can suppress your ranking for months. Consistently pumping your listing with five-star reviews? Those gems will get you to the top of search.
Guests don’t see modern niceties as luxuries. They expect them. If you haven’t caught on to this new normal, you’re already behind.
Essential Amenities Every Vacation Rental Should Have
Rental amenities for travelers are part of their overall vacation experience. But what smart amenities should you have in your rental property? Let’s figure it out.
Wi-Fi and Backup Internet
High-speed Wi-Fi is one of the most essential amenities your guests expect from your rental unit.
Poor internet connectivity annoys guests more than anything else. Parents stream movies with their kids. Digital nomads need reliable video conferencing for work. Even guests who aren’t working or riding Netflix want access to social media, map apps, and news sites.
Make sure you:
- Install an internet plan with fast speeds (minimum 100 Mbps download)
- Use a mesh Wi-Fi router to cover every corner of your home
- Post the network name and password near your rental
- Have a backup option, like a mobile hotspot or second internet provider
Guests care about backup internet. Outages aren’t common, but they happen. Suddenly, your guests will be screaming at their laptops. Don’t make them hang themselves with a cable cord–buy a cheap hotspot and save yourself a headache (& a negative review).
Comfortable Bed Area
We all know sleep makes or breaks a trip. Good sleep = happy guests. Bad sleep =everyone knows when you haven’t slept.
Get the mattress and bedding basics right. A medium-firm mattress is universally popular. Pair that with nice, soft sheets. However, you should also look for bamboo or cotton blankets at 300-thread count or higher. Add a few extra pillows and an extra blanket so guests can customize their beds.
From there, remove distractions:
- Dark out curtains/blinds to keep outside light out
- White noise or earplugs if your rental is near a busy street
- A bedside lamp, an outlet phone charger, and a small nightstand
- Wash the linens between each stay! Guests will notice
Pro-tip: guests will take lots of pictures of your bed area. Keep it stylish.
All the Kitchen Essentials
Few amenities are as attractive to guests as a fully equipped kitchen. Kitchens let guests save money, eat at their own schedule, and settle in for long stays.
Supply all the kitchen basics so guests never need to leave for dinner:
- Coffee maker — I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.
- Pots, pans, and a knife set
- Plates/bowls/etc. for however many guests will stay
- Salt/pepper/oil for cooking, dish soap for cleanup
- Microwave, toaster, can opener
- Assortment of storage containers + zip-lock bags
You can also consider filling a small basket with coffee pods, tea bags, and some miscellaneous snacks. It doesn’t take much to impress guests, and they’ll mention it later.
Label your cabinet contents so guests can easily find what they need. Make your kitchen feel effortless to use, and they’ll sing your praises. You will have difficulties with restocking and managing the unit on your own. This is where a property manager can help. Work with a proactive Baltimore property management team to monitor reviews and select which amenities need an upgrade.
Parking and Accessibility Considerations
Did you know that guests care about parking? And if you don’t think they do…they will let you know in their review.
Don’t make guests hunt for parking. Include parking information in your listing. Is there dedicated parking? Street parking? Limited availability? Details can help guests know what to expect.
Thoughtful touches can help guests with accessibility needs:
- Step-free entrances or ramps
- Door handles that are easier to use than knobs
- Wide hallways and doors for wheelchair access
- Bedrooms on the first floor, whenever possible
It’s okay if your rental isn’t wheelchair accessible. But there are small changes you can make to welcome any guest. Little things go a long way in reviews.
Final Words
Smart amenities are not about spending more money. They are about spending it wisely. Make sure that your guests feel comfortable, connected, and cared for. This will eventually help your unit to attract 5-star reviews from every guest who stays.
