What should you include in a welcome pack for your holiday let?

A great holiday let should be a home away from home for your guests. Making them feel comfortable and settled will be a priority for any holiday let landlord.

One way to make a great first impression is to leave a welcome pack that makes things simple for your guests and gets their stay off to a great start.

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What is a welcome pack?

A holiday let welcome pack (or guest book) is a document you make for guests at your property to make sure they’ve got all the information they need for their stay.

It usually contains important details, such as emergency contact information and the location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits. But it has personal tips as well, such as advice on public transport or good restaurants in the area.

The welcome pack will usually be placed somewhere noticeable like the kitchen table, so your guests can read it shortly after arriving to get familiar with their new surroundings.

Why do you need a guest book?

A great guest book can make the holidaymaker’s stay more comfortable and your life easier.

Having crucial information for your holiday let in one place means that guests have something to refer to if they have any questions. But it also means that landlords don’t have to spend unnecessary time explaining property details that could be covered in a guest book.

It’s also a way of connecting with your guests. It’s an introduction to you, your property, and the surrounding area.

What to include in your welcome pack

Introduce yourself

A lot of people choose holiday lets instead of hotels for the personal touch. So even if you’ve already communicated with the guests, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself and the property.

Share a bit about yourself and why you own a property in the area. It doesn’t need to be long, but it’s important for guests to understand more about whose property they’re staying in.

For example, if your holiday let is a countryside cottage, you can share something about its history and how you happen to own it.

If the property is an urban apartment, you could share some background information about the area and what attracted you to it.

You might even leave a personal handwritten message wishing them a nice stay to go with the welcome pack.

Emergency information

This is a crucial part of the welcome pack as some guests won’t be familiar with who to contact or where to go in case of an emergency. But it’s also important to list other types of contacts to make sure all potential scenarios are covered.

Emergency information to include:

• emergency services number
• your personal number
• your maintenance person’s number (or a local tradesperson)
• nearest hospital
• local doctor and dentist
• nearby veterinarian (if you allow pets)
• location of fire extinguishers
• location of first aid kit

House rules

Most guests will hopefully treat your property with the respect they would their own home, but it can be beneficial to outline any rules your guests need to follow.

House rules are unique to each property but these are some things to consider:

• rules related to the area – these could be about respecting neighbours or saying where to park a car

• rules related to the property – mention any part of the property where you’d like your guests to take extra care like on a new carpet or with furniture. It’s also important to be clear about the consequences of any damage to the property
• rules that are unique to your property – holiday lets sometimes have features that you won’t find in most homes. Whether that’s a swimming pool or a pool table, make it clear how you expect these things to be treated

Whatever the rules, it’s useful for them to be outlined clearly in the welcome pack so everybody is on the same page.

How to use appliances

You know how to use the appliances in your property so it’s easy to forget that they might be tricky to use for those unfamiliar with them.

Consider explaining how to use appliances like:

• the television
• wifi
• the washing machine and tumble dryer
• the oven and microwave
• coffeemakers
• central heating
• water heaters

It’s also worth mentioning how to use anything that might not be common in a regular home, such as a swimming pool or sports equipment.

Local transport

Guidance about the best ways to get around the surrounding area saves your guests researching it themselves.

All you need to do is point out the nearest bus stops and train stations and give the numbers for reliable local taxi services.

Local amenities

Sharing your local knowledge of the area can be a great way to make your guest’s stay more personal and enjoyable. Lots of holiday lets leave leaflets for local attractions, but making a list that feels more in-depth is often more useful to your guests.

Think about including:

• local supermarkets – make sure you give a good variety that suits every budget
• restaurants – share your favourite places to eat with your guests and it’s best to include places that are suitable for both families and couples
• local attractions – give your guests some guidance around what makes the area they’re visiting so special. Share your favourite attractions and give advice about travel and how to make the most of them

FAQs and index

The purpose of a welcome pack is to make your guests feel welcome and to also make sure they have all the information they need.

Having an index or contents page at the beginning of your guest book and an FAQ page at the end are ways of making the information more accessible. This means your guests can get the guidance they’re looking for quickly.

Once you have the welcome pack ready, make a note of the questions guests ask because it could mean that you’ve missed something. Then you can add the answers to these questions to your welcome pack in the future.

Leave a welcome gift

Going the extra mile as a landlord can turn the guest’s experience from good to great. Accompanying your welcome pack with a gift will help make your guests feel at home.

It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant or expensive – a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine, or a local souvenir are all thoughtful ideas.

Or you could put together a welcome hamper of household essentials like bread, milk, tea, and coffee, as well as treats like chocolates and biscuits. This is inexpensive but shows a level of thoughtfulness that will mean a lot to your guests.

Is there anything you would include that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below.