If you manage a holiday apartment, you will know that first impressions are everything.
It does not matter how beautiful the property is or how new the sheets are: what guests remember is how they felt when they arrived.
That is where welcome details come in.
Because those small gestures, such as a cold bottle of water, a personalised note or coffee waiting for them, completely change how the stay is perceived.
And when this is done well, it translates into:
- 5-star reviews
- And, better still, repeat bookings.
Would you like to know which welcome details work best?
Here is a list of the most important ones…
Why Welcome Details Matter for the Guest Experience
Put yourself in a guest’s shoes for a moment…
You have just arrived at the accommodation with your suitcase in one hand, the bottle of water you bought at the airport almost empty, and you are still a little disorientated after the flight.
Then you open the door and, before you even have time to put down your luggage, you see a basket with cold water, capsules for your favourite coffee and a note welcoming you by name.
Would you not love to feel looked after like that?
That is the power of a simple welcome detail in the apartment.
Why does it work so well? Very simple:
- It sets you apart from the competition in a split second.
- It justifies charging a little more per night without feeling guilty.
- It reduces check-in complaints to a minimum.
- And it increases the chances of a 5-star review… and of guests coming back.
In other words, a good welcome kit for a holiday apartment is more powerful marketing than any paid advert.
And the best part: you can put one together for under EUR 10 per stay. In the next section, we explain how.
Essentials: The Basics That Should Never Be Missing
If we had to summarise what someone who has just travelled needs in 3 ideas, they would be:
- Water
- A quick energy boost
- And orientation
That is why a holiday apartment welcome kit should always include:
- Fresh mineral water, at least one bottle per person.
- Coffee and tea with sugar or sweetener.
- A simple snack that will not expire quickly: biscuits or nuts.
- The Wi-Fi code clearly visible and a local map with your recommendations.
It costs little, but it prevents two important things: questions you have to answer and the feeling of being abandoned, which is even worse…
But be careful: you cannot stop at the basics. You need to go further, because your competition already does this.
Personalisation: Where the Wow Begins
This is where the magic happens and where the so-called wow effect really appears: when the person feels you have not just thought about any guest, but about them, their partner or their whole family.
So what can you do?
Easy. Do not offer the same thing to everyone.
Adapt the apartment welcome detail to the profile arriving:
- Families with little ones? Add juices, a couple of crayons and a small notebook.
- A romantic couple? Swap the snack for chocolates and add an LED candle, or leave the TV on with a crackling fireplace scene.
- Digital nomads? Extra coffee capsules and a list of cafes with good Wi-Fi.
- Pets on board? A bowl, a dog treat and a small bag with their name on it.
Is it more expensive? No. It is simply a better strategy.
Believe us: when a guest opens the door and finds a detail prepared specifically for them, they mention it in reviews, on social media or to friends and family.
And you already know what that means. Exactly: more bookings.
Property Guide: Your Best Anti-Stress Tool
Want to go one step further? Do not let guests get lost trying to work out how the hob works, where the rubbish goes or how to switch on the router.
Prepare a clear, short and friendly guide. It does not need to be a book; 3 or 4 well-presented pages can include:
- Basic house rules
- Appliance instructions
- Emergency phone number
- How to check out.
Also, if you use an electronic lock, add a mini tutorial with photos.
This will not only help guests get settled in the property quickly, it will also prevent late-night calls or WhatsApp messages and, once again, earn you points as a host.
Local Recommendations: Turn Them into Almost-Locals
They may not say it, but your guests love feeling that they know the destination beyond the tourist leaflets, because they most likely want a memorable experience they can talk about.
So make it easy for them and place a map with your favourites next to the holiday apartment welcome kit.
But not with the attractions everyone already knows by heart.
Instead, make it a map that is 100% yours, with:
- The cafe where you have breakfast.
- The sunset viewpoint that is not on TripAdvisor.
- Or that fish restaurant where the neighbours eat.
These places will add local flavour to their stay and, even if they want to visit the tourist attractions, they will also take away a more authentic experience that they will surely thank you for.
Complimentary Products: Small, Affordable Luxuries
If everything above gets you a 9 out of 10, what we are about to look at next is what earns top marks.
For example, if you are a little ambitious and want to attract guests with higher spending power, you can combine luxury with something typical of the area.
Here are a few ideas, which you should adapt to your holiday property and location:
- An artisan aloe-scented soap
- A local jam or honey
- A small bottle of wine or cava
- A few well-presented tins of preserves
- A basket with breakfast rolls if you know they are arriving very early
These are small nods to the place and, without question, they improve the experience.
Cleaning and Presentation: The Foundation of Everything
Before thinking about any of the above, make sure the apartment shines and is in perfect condition, because if the essentials fail, no gift will fix it.
So, if you will allow us one piece of advice, pay as much attention as possible to cleaning, to making sure everything works and to keeping everything tidy. Also spend a little time choosing a soft, fresh scent for the property and making sure the temperature is right when they arrive.
Then, if you like, present your holiday apartment welcome kit in a nice basket with a handwritten note. Of course.
But without cleanliness, as we say, it will not work.
Technology and Comfort: Details That Add Value
Do not forget to include a few extras that are highly valued when available and heavily criticised when missing.
What do we mean?
- A universal charger
- An international adaptor
- A smart TV with Netflix already logged in
- Pillows with different firmness levels
- A soft blanket on the sofa…
Why do we suggest these details?
Because they are simple gestures that turn the stay into a home, rather than just another accommodation.
Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Measure So You Can Get It Right
People say that what is not measured cannot be improved.
So if you are serious and want to go even further, you can do the following:
- Leave a QR code next to the note: ‘Tell us what you thought of the welcome kit’.
- Review feedback looking for words such as ‘welcome’ or ‘kit’.
- Try changing one detail each season and see what happens.
If reviews start appearing more often and with a positive tone, you are on the right track.
Would You Like Us to Do All This for You?
At Home2Book we are different from other holiday let companies: we care about every detail and about turning your holiday property into a real home.
Here are a few facts so you can get to know us better:
- We manage more than 600 properties in Spain.
- We have professionals specialising in customer service, revenue management and marketing.
- And we take care of cleaning, key handover and even repairs so you do not have to worry about anything.
So if you need help, you can contact us through this form and we will be happy to help with anything you need.
