11 Simple things to make Airbnbs better

I’ve stayed in a lot of Airbnbs. Some short-term, some long-term. Some in the U.S. and some all over the world. They tend to focus on luxury items like a big flat-screen TV and 8 wine glasses, but completely miss the mark on a few necessities. Most of the items here are cheap (or even free) and will go a long way to making short-term rentals more comfortable.

1 Keys for each adult guest

Many times they only provide one set of keys, even when you’ve clearly stated there will two guests (and sometimes even paid extra for a second or third guest). This is the number one irritation because people shouldn’t have to always be together to come and go.

2 Water that isn’t too hot

It’s usually just a matter of adjusting the unit water heater so you don’t burn yourself every time you use the faucet.

3 Display how to call locally for an emergency.

Local people take things like dialing local area codes and knowing how to call for help for granted. One place nailed this perfectly by having a glow-in-the-dark sticker on the closet near the front door.

4 Clear instructions for waste

Most people don’t realize how cultural trash and recycling management is—country to country but even state to state in the U.S. Instructions should be very explicit: can paper and plastic be together? What types of plastic can be recycled? Is there composting? To what degree?

5 Soft, warm lighting

Photo by Reinaldo Kevin on Unsplash

Understandable to want energy-efficient and long-lasting bulbs, but lights are often too bright and too cool, giving the space a sterile, cold feeling. Check to make sure you have warm, dimmable lighting in the living, dining, and bedrooms. Nothing worse than a supermarket vibe when you’ve made a special dinner or the bedside lamp blinding you into oblivion if you have to get up in the night to pee.

6 A functioning hairdryer

Every place I’ve stayed has a hairdryer but many haven’t been tested (and I mean for more than just turned on and off real quick). I’ve had hairdryers make horrible burning smells or only turn on for 20-seconds at a time. Tough for people with thick or long hair. Recently the one I was using made a horrible grinding sound and before I could turn it off, it shot a piece of plastic at my head. Took four days to be replaced, which means I was walking around in the cold weather with wet hair which was no fun.

7 Great pillows

There are usually lots of throw pillows for decoration and four pillows per bed, but never one you’d actually want to sleep on. I don’t need a high-end mattress since I know they are a big investment, but buying fewer pillows (just need 1 per person) and using the money to buy nicer ones goes a long way to a good night's sleep.

8 A high-quality knife with a sharpener

Most places have more knives than necessary, but none of them have ever been sharpened. Add in poor knife handling from a variety of guests you’ve got yourself the most annoying thing about cooking in a strange kitchen. Three knives — serrated, chopping, and paring — are ideal along with a fool-proof knife sharpener (like $6 at Ikea). But I’d rather have one high-quality chopping knife that I can sharpen than all the kitchen gadgets in the world.

Fun fact: we have a compact knife sharpener and keep it with us for our trips, even when we are traveling light with one backpack each.

9 Oven mitts

It’s surprising how many places (especially in Europe) don’t have these. You never notice they are missing until it’s time for food to come out of the oven and all you can find is a thin, wet kitchen towel. They are so cheap, I usually buy them and leave them with the unit.

10 Metal tongs

Tossing salad, flipping meat, and getting toast out of the oven — a pair of metal tongs are my go-to kitchen utensil but most places have way too many spatulas, spoons, ladles, etc will never get used and crowd the space.

11 Stovetop & oven safe combo dish

Photo by Cooker King on Unsplash

I love to cook and I can make amazing things with just a few ingredients and some basic equipment. One big pot, a small pot, one fry pan, and one combo dish is the dream. I know it’s a splurge, but a dutch oven is the most versatile pot/pan in the kitchen and I’d feel so much more at home if I had one to make pasta, soups, roasts, and even bread.

Thanks for reading! I hope this list helps you make your Airbnb listing more comfortable and successful!