What should be included in a holiday rental?

If you’re setting up a holiday rental and preparing to welcome guests into your abode, you might be wondering what they expect to find when they get there. One of the draws of staying in a vacation home (rather than booking a hotel room) is the wider choice of amenities and facilities.

Remember, guests are coming to enjoy a well-earned break and they don’t want to bring half of their kitchen or lug bedding with them. So the more you provide in your holiday rental, the more appealing it will be to guests. 

In this article, we’ll share with you the essentials that should be included, as well as a few welcome extras. For more inspiration, you can check out some of the rental websites to get an idea of the apartments and houses you can book for holidays. For example, on listings at Rentola website you will see what unique things other property owners are providing for their stays. For some, it might be a few complimentary breakfast items while for others, it’s locally-made toiletries.

Kitchen

For many guests, it’s access to a kitchen that is the deciding factor between a vacation rental and a hotel room. Being able to self-cater during your holiday is particularly sought after by families with young children, budget travellers, and those with special dietary requirements. 

But there’s no use providing a kitchen without the tools and appliances to make it an enjoyable place to work. So at a minimum, you need to have an oven and stovetop, a refrigerator/freezer, plus appliances for making coffee and tea. 

Additionally, you want to stock your cupboards with enough saucepans and frying pans so that guests can make simple dishes, plus provide at least one chopping board and perhaps a microwave for reheating. You also want to include at least one plate and bowl for the maximum number of guests you can accommodate, as well as cutlery, glasses, and coffee/tea mugs. 

Unless you want to be left with a big mess to clean up at the end of each stay, provide your guests with everything they need to leave the kitchen spick and span. This means new/clean washcloths, a scourer/brush, and dishwashing detergent. If you have a dishwashing machine, all the better – just make sure you supply dishwashing tablets!

Stocking the pantry with a few essentials will also be welcomed by guests, so they don’t have to bring their own cooking oil, spices, and tea/coffee supplies. Want to take things a step further? Consider leaving a fresh loaf of bread, a bottle of milk, or a breakfast basket so guests have some staples when they arrive. 

Bathroom

While some guests prefer to stick to their own toiletries, others love the experience of trying new brands and scents while away. If you’re designing a high-end vacation rental, consider splurging on a luxury brand of shampoo, conditioner, and hand soap so guests can indulge a little. Most holiday rentals also provide bath, hand, and face towels for guests, with the offer to change them at set intervals (perhaps twice a week) during the stay. 

Having a laundry with a tumble dryer and washing machine is a big “plus”, particularly if many of your guests are staying a week or more. You also want to create a space where guests can hang their pool/beach towels out to dry and with pegs so they don’t get blown away by the wind. 

Bedrooms

Unless you’re creating a holiday rental at the budget end of the spectrum, guests will expect linen to be supplied and that beds are made up prior to their arrival. The quality of mattresses is a big talking point on holiday rental review sites, so this is something that is definitely worth investing in. Guests love slipping into luxury linen at the end of the day, with enough pillows so they can prop themselves up in bed and read.

Living room

The living room is where guests will spend most of their time and, like at home, is the social heart of any vacation rental. Consider whether or not you want to include a TV or encourage guests to converse and play games instead. If it’s the latter, provide some games/decks of cards to inspire them. If you are including a TV, decide whether you are only going to offer free-to-air channels or if you will connect it to streaming services. 

In this day and age, most guests will expect complimentary Wi-Fi as part of their stay. If you aren’t including this, either because of connection issues or to encourage a “digital detox”, be clear about this in your listing to avoid complaints later on. 

Adhere to local rules and regulations

Most jurisdictions will have features that are required by law before you can rent out a space as a holiday rental. These may include carbon monoxide alarms, natural gas detectors, and/or fire extinguishers. It’s essential that you understand and adhere to all local regulations so that your insurance policy will cover you in a worst-case scenario.