Expectations Have Changed
Most vacation rentals provide, at least, the basic amenities. However, these days, guests are expecting more. What extras can you provide that guests will love and won’t break the bank?
The Basic Vacation Rental Amenities
First, let’s discuss what items are considered “the basics”.
- Towels, hand towels, and wash cloths
- Blankets, Sheets, pillow cases, and pillows
- Kitchen cookware
- Kitchen utensils
- Small kitchen appliances
- Dishes, plates, silverware, glasses and wine glasses
- Toilet paper, paper towels, and trash bags (at least a starter pack)
- Hand soaps, dish washing liquid, dishwasher detergent
How’d you do with that list? If you aren’t providing some of those items, have you received any complaints or reviews that mentioned they weren’t provided?
Take note of your reviews as a sign that maybe you’re leaving some items off your basic list of amenities.
Extras Vacation Rental Guests Love
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1. Shampoos, Conditioners & Soaps
As much as we want our vacation rental to be different than a hotel, guests expect to have (at least) a one day supply of shampoo, conditioner and soap.
Most economy brand hotel size bottles are around $.30-$.50 per bottle. Hotel size bar soaps are around $.10-$.30.
What’s it cost? 2 bathrooms x 200 turns per year = $520 or $2.60 per booking.
I also like to provide nice liquid pump hand soap. In fact, I have received a few compliments on this little extra and a couple of guests have ask me where to buy it.
2. Coffee, K-Cups, and Teas
Some discussions on this topic have been very controversial. The nay-sayers mention that everyone has their own preference for coffee. Others say K-cups are the ruination of the environment. Both statements may be true.
A bulk container of regular and decaf coffee and some k-cups would be plenty. The containers are around $6 and k-cups vary. I like this flavored variety.
We provide all of the above in one of our vacation rentals. We do not provide teas at our second property, not yet anyway.
The Extra Mile
For our newest property, we even went the extra mile with building a coffee bar. I couldn’t begin to count all of the comments and compliments we have received about it. Guests absolutely love it.
I was worried they would be greedy and wipe me out of all the extras. But surprisingly, I have not had anyone who used or took more than was reasonable.
Our coffee bar is also stocked with powder creamers (regular & hazelnut), sugar and artificial sweetener packets, honey straws, flavored hot cocoas, a variety of tea bags, loose teas, loose tea utensils, regular coffee, decaf coffee, regular/decaf & flavored k-cups…yeah, it’s a coffee drinkers delight!
Pictures are below. Ernie made it. 🙂
I cut out the white vinyl inlays on my Cricut machine. The coffee cups are hanging on old spoons that have been flattened and bent into hooks. The chalkboard is made from an old window that was painted with chalkboard paint. I change the message each season.
The feedback from our guests is an overwhelming thumbs up.
3. Magazines and Books
Guests look forward to relaxing while they are on vacation. What better way to do that than to take some “me” time and read a good book or lazily flip through a magazine.
Pick up some gently used books at yard sales or thrift stores. They are literally a dime a dozen. Choose a variety of genre that would appeal to different ages.
The next time you visit your vacation rental, bring some of your past issues of magazines. A season or two old is still appropriate. Make sure the covers aren’t warn or pages torn. Toss those out your next trip and replace with the next few issues.
4. Bonus Extra – A Charging Station
Guests need a convenient place to charge their phones, tablets, computers and whatever other gadget they decide to bring with them on vacation.
A charging station, such as this one, is a big added bonus. Many times guests forget to bring their charger cords or the plug-in. The charging station is quite a relief when their battery is in critical need of a charge.
I think it is mostly destination area dependent on what items are expected. But don’t be surprised if guests start getting needier and expecting more and more comfort items.
The vacation rental industry is getting some competition and to stay in the running, sometimes we need to step it up a pace.
Comment below and let me know what extras you’re providing or tell me something I’ve left off the list of “basics”. I’d love to know your thoughts on this topic.
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