Airbnb welcome book checklist: what to include

Write directions from the point where navigation becomes confusing: the correct driveway, building entrance, parking space or apartment floor. Include check-in time and what to do if arrival plans change. Explain steps, narrow paths or other access limitations accurately rather than calling a home accessible without checking.

Keep access credentials separate. A public example can say “Your entry instructions arrive in your booking message”; it should not contain a working lock code, precise security setup or photos that expose a key location.

Place connectivity near the top. In the guest version, use the exact network name and password, preserving capital letters and punctuation. Test them on a device that is not already connected. If you publish a public sample, use placeholders instead of real credentials.

Add answers to the first-night questions: where to find towels, drinking glasses, spare bedding and the thermostat. If internet access fails, give a safe next step and your contact method; avoid asking guests to reset equipment they should not touch.

Use short bullets for smoking, pets, visitors, noise, shared areas and parking restrictions, where applicable. Rules should agree with the information guests saw before booking. Do not use the welcome book to introduce unexpected fees or obligations.

Explain a rule when the reason helps: “Please keep the shared gate closed so neighboring pets stay inside” is more useful than an unexplained prohibition. Only include rules that actually apply to your property.

Focus on anything a first-time visitor would struggle with: heating and cooling, the shower, TV input, coffee machine, washing machine, rubbish and recycling. Use a short sequence of actions, with a labeled photo when a control is unusual.

Separate routine instructions from safety warnings. For fireplaces, hot tubs and similar equipment, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your local requirements. Do not improvise safety advice or ask guests to repair faults.

Start with a nearby grocery shop, a convenient meal and one or two activities you can genuinely recommend. Add why each place is useful: good for families, a quick breakfast or an option for a rainy day. A short, considered list is easier to act on than dozens of unexplained pins.

Check names, addresses and links. Opening hours, availability and prices can change; link to the business’s own page when appropriate rather than presenting an unchecked schedule as fact. Be clear about any relationship with a recommended business.

Make the host’s preferred contact method easy to find, and explain the difference between a stay-related question and an emergency. Add verified local emergency numbers, the property address for emergency responders, and the location of relevant safety equipment.

Use information appropriate to the property’s location, not a number copied from an overseas template. Do not promise response times you cannot meet. Keep medical and emergency guidance factual, and have any property-specific safety instructions checked where needed.

State checkout time clearly, then list only the departure tasks guests actually need to complete. Explain where keys go, whether to lock up, and any rubbish instructions. Keep this consistent with your booking information and avoid turning departure into an unexpected cleaning job.

A practical format is: “Check out by [time]. Please [agreed task], return keys to [location communicated securely] and message us if anything needs attention.” Replace those placeholders with your real arrangements.