As a host, providing the right Airbnb essentials for your vacation rental can make a huge difference when it comes to attracting new guests. The best Airbnb ideas include targeting customer needs and offering a few luxury items that enhance the guest experience.
Being an Airbnb host isn’t just about providing a place to sleep–you have to consider the full experience. These days, hosts compete with over 7 million listings, so it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.
What’s the best way to do this? As well as ensuring your hospitality and customer service are unrivaled, our advice is to offer all the Airbnb essentials to guarantee even the fussiest of guests feel at home.
Loading your short-term rental with a full range of Airbnb amenities will make for a great all-around experience and help you receive more five-star reviews in the process. Download this vacation rental amenities checklist to wow your guests and make your property stand out:
Don’t see the form to download our Airbnb amenities checklist? Click here.
Airbnb essentials to ensure a homey stay
When listing your vacation rental on Airbnb, the platform makes it easy for each host to clearly state what it does and doesn’t have. This article will look at the 125 essential amenities in the Airbnb host checklist to help attract guests and maximize their vacation experience!
The basics: Airbnb must-haves
No matter whether you’re offering a private room or a castle, all hosts should aim to provide these Airbnb must-haves:
- Freshly laundered bed linen on each bed
- Sufficient pillows for each guest
- Extra pillows and blankets – “just in case”
- Plenty of clothes hangers
- Clean and fresh towels for each guest
- Iron and ironing board
- Fully-furnished kitchen so guests can cook their own meals
- Washer/dryer and detergent
- Hot water
- Air conditioning and/or heating if/when necessary
- TV (with cable or Netflix etc.)
- Wireless internet (Wi-Fi)
- Private entrance to the home
Airbnb bedroom ideas
Now, let’s look at specific areas of your rental, starting with the bedrooms.
Some of these items were already included in the above Airbnb must-have list. That’s because even if your rental is a studio and doesn’t technically have bedrooms, these items (like bedding) are Airbnb necessities. However, if your Airbnb does have a separate bedroom (or multiple), there are additional items you can include to make this space a special guest retreat.
That being said, here are all of our Airbnb ideas for bedrooms:
- Freshly laundered bed linen on each bed
- Sufficient pillows for each guest
- Extra pillows and blankets (“just in case”)
- Plenty of clothes hangers
- Dresser
- Luggage stand
- Night tables with lamps
- Cozy rug
- TV for late-night watching before bed
Airbnb bathroom essentials checklist
Next up: Airbnb bathroom ideas. For any vacation rental, it’s a good idea to follow a cleaning checklist and provide all the necessary Airbnb bathroom essentials:
- Bathroom toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo, and hand soap
- Fresh towels
- Toilet paper (a few rolls in each bathroom at least)
- Towel hooks
- Hairdryer
- Floor mat
Cooking up a storm: List of Airbnb kitchen essentials
For many vacation rental guests, part of the appeal of staying in an Airbnb over a traditional hotel is being able to cook hearty meals at the end of a long day visiting a new part of the world.
Help guests make their favorite recipes in their “home away from home” with:
- Cooking basics like pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper, and other long-life, versatile herbs and spices such as basil, oregano, cilantro, paprika
- Dishware and silverware (enough for at least the maximum number of guests)
- Stove
- Fridge freezer
- Oven/grill
- Microwave
- Kettle
- Coffee maker
- Tea and coffee
- Sugar and sweeteners
- Sponges, scourers, and dishwashing soap
- Dishwasher
- Garbage bags
Additional kitchen supplies
- Blender
- Smoothie maker or juicer
- Disinfectant
- Bleach
- Tupperware
- Ice cube tray
The great outdoors: open-air amenities
Keep guests entertained in your Airbnb’s outdoor space, especially if you own a glamping business, by including some of the following:
- Durable outdoor furniture
- Clean, working BBQ or grill
- Gas or coal and firelighters
- Tidy garden or backyard with mowed lawns
- Neat balcony or patio
- Potted plants
- Outdoor blankets
Outdoor extras
- Porch swing
- Hammock
- Kids’ play area
- Garden games
- Hot tub or Jacuzzi
- Fire pit
Access all areas: Airbnb amenities for disabled travelers
Everyone deserves to enjoy an amazing vacation experience. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your vacation rental is suitable for wheelchair users and travelers with other mobility issues. Ensure these guests consider your place for their vacation by installing as many of the following as you can:
- Wide hallway clearance for easy wheelchair access (at least 36 inches wide on the ground floor)
- Step-free access to the home
- An elevator that’s at least 32 inches wide
- Wet-room style bathroom
- Roll-in shower with chair
- Bathtub with shower chair
- Hand-held shower head
- Grab rails in the bathroom (even if removable)
- Accessible-height toilet
- Accessible-height bed
- Wide clearance to bed
- Well-lit path to the entrance
- Wide doorway (at least 32 inches)
- Flat smooth pathway to the front door (with little to no slope for ease of access)
- Disabled or wide parking spot
Accessible additions
- Accessible pool/hot tub entrance
- Braille signage
- Lowered closet bars and shelving
- Accessible power outlets
- Door hardware usable with one hand
- Faucets usable with one hand (or automatic)
Family-friendly features: Airbnb amenities for kids
Don’t miss out on appealing to families with little ones. Make the family vacation a memorable experience to be repeated when you include Airbnb necessities that will make vacationing easier for parents.
Think about adding these kid-friendly amenities to your Airbnb supply list:
- Baby bath
- Bathtub
- Baby monitor
- Changing table
- Kids’ books and toys
- Plastic dinnerware
- High chair
- Stair gates
- Crib
- Fireplace guards
- Childproof electrical outlet covers
- Table corner guards
- Window guards
- Game console
- Babysitter recommendations
Extra vacation rental amenities for toddlers
- Bibs
- Bottle warmer
- Portable changing mat
Game night edition: ideas for Airbnb games
Games may not initially seem like a must-have on your Airbnb amenities list, but they’re actually one of the best (and most affordable) amenities to make your Airbnb stand out! Especially for Airbnbs in areas with rainy weather or few nighttime attractions, games can provide your guests with a pleasant way to spend the evening.
Some of the best games for Airbnb include:
- Cards
- Checkers
- Chess
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Settlers of Catan
- Risk
- Carcassonne
- Ticket to Ride
- Codenames
- Pictionary
Staying safe: Airbnb host essentials to avoid danger
Whether traveling alone or in a group, peace of mind is an important part of vacationing. Make sure your guests feel safe and secure when your amenities include:
- Fire extinguisher
- Fire blanket
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Smoke detector
- First aid kit
- Window safety locks
Location highlights
When selecting amenities for your Airbnb listing, there is a section dedicated to your property’s location. Entice indecisive guests by ticking the box that applies to your vacation rental from the list below:
- Beachfront
- Lake access
- Ski-in/Ski-out
- Waterfront
Logistically speaking
There are some features of vacation rentals that guests appreciate knowing beforehand as it can save them from inconveniences down the line.
Be sure to mention:
- Luggage drop-off restrictions: Can guests leave their luggage somewhere safe in the case of early arrivals or late departures?
- Long-term stays (i.e., one month or more): if they are allowed
- If any pets live on the property
- If guests are required to carry out any cleaning tasks before departure
The special extras: high-end Airbnb amenities you can charge for!
Not all hosts will be able to offer these amenities, but those who can will really be able to maximize the guest experience—not to mention, reflect these luxury extras in their prices!
So, for those of you who are trying to attract luxury travelers, consider including these unique Airbnb amenities ideas:
- Breakfast included
- Private or shared community pool
- Free parking on the premises
- Electric vehicle charger
- Gym facilities (either in the building or nearby)
- Hot tub
- Single-level home (no stairs)
- Beach essentials such as towels, parasol, cool box, picnic blanket
- Weather essentials such as umbrellas, waterproof ponchos, and wellington boots!
Download the free Airbnb amenities checklist
Our Airbnb essentials list is only the beginning. Depending on your vacation rental’s location, you might need different Airbnb ideas for guests. Do some market research and check out what other short-term rentals in your area offer. You can also read guest reviews and note any amenities or ideas they highlight so that you can add them to your property.
As well as downloading our Airbnb amenities checklist below, why not prepare a welcome pack or a welcome book to impress your guests right from the beginning?
Don’t see the form to download our Airbnb amenities checklist? Click here.
