How to create a welcome book for your holiday home
What are airbnb welcome books and what you should include in one
June 2025
A welcome book is the perfect way to greet your guests when they arrive at your holiday rental. This guide contains how to make an Airbnb welcome book, including what you should include and some welcome book examples.
What is a welcome book in a holiday rental?
A welcome book offers all the information that your guests might want or need. This includes practical matters, like the rules of your property and emergency contact details, as well as fun things, such as a list of local attractions and recommended restaurants.
Traditionally, welcome books were always physical. However, more and more holiday home owners are producing digital Airbnb welcome books nowadays. These have the advantage of being quick and easy to edit, and they won’t need replacing if they get dirty or torn.
How to make an Airbnb welcome book
First of all, consider what you want to include in your welcome book. This may include the following:
A welcome note
Short but sweet, a welcome note is your personal message to guests. Thank them for choosing to rent your holiday apartment, and express that you hope they will enjoy their stay. You should also explain what the welcome book is, what it contains, and why they should read through it. Make sure to sign it yourself — it’s a little touch that will make your holiday rental feel more personal than a cold, corporate hotel.
Your holiday rental rules
Your guests may have seen these already, as many holiday home owners like to email them in advance. However, it’s worth putting the rules of your holiday home in the book as a reminder. If your property has a pool, make sure to list the rules for it separately. Mark them very clearly, surrounding them with a border to ensure they stand out.
Check-in and check-out instructions
These should be very clear — what time is check-out? Do you want guests to do any cleaning before they leave? Will you come and meet them personally, or should they leave the key somewhere specific?
A guide to appliances in your home
You’ll need to give guests the password to your Wi-Fi, as well as other instructions for appliances like the washing machine, dishwasher, air conditioner, cooker, and so on. Add any extra information if your house has any unusual quirks that guests should know about, for example let them know about a door or window that doesn’t close properly.
A list of nearby attractions
Guests may already have an idea of where they want to spend their free time, but new suggestions are always welcome. Add a list of some of the most popular attractions in the area. If your holiday home is in a place that you personally know well, you may also want to include your favourite hidden gems. Again, this is a superb way to add more of a personal touch to your welcome book.
Restaurant recommendations
In particular, you might want to focus on restaurants that serve the local cuisine of the area, but be sure to include a few more generic options, too. This way, you can please all the different tastes of your guests. Additionally, you may want to include recommendations for bars and nightlife as well.
Cross-selling promotions
If you have deals with local businesses, include them in your welcome book. For example, you may have a partnership with a tour guide, a masseuse or a restaurant. Add a page of details, along with attractive photos that will encourage your guests to book. Include booking and contact information.
Emergency contacts
These should include your own contact details, as well as any local emergency services, such as the police station or fire department. If you are not in the area, include the details of your manager or another trusted person that guests can contact.
Transport information
Give details of public transport and connections to places of interest, as well as the airport or major public transport stations. Some holiday rentals also offer their own transport services, which you can include here.
A request for feedback
Finally, you may also want to include a page that asks guests for feedback about their stay. You can add a QR code that brings guests to a review website or to a form where you take their feedback to improve your services.
Tips for making the perfect welcome book
You’ll find lots of free Airbnb welcome book examples online to look at. These can provide you with inspiration, but ultimately, your welcome book should be unique. Here’s how to ensure that yours is just right:
Think about your customers
The information in your welcome book should be tailored to your target audience. For example, if your guests are mostly businessmen, then there’s no need to spend pages and pages focussing on theme parks and family-friendly restaurants.
Make sure it matches your brand
Think of your welcome book as an extension of your holiday rental website. It should use the same voice and the same branding. Guests who search for a sophisticated, luxury experience on a holiday rental portal will be surprised to find a welcome book written in Comic Sans font. Your welcome book should set the tone for the guest experience.
Don’t be afraid to ask the pros
If you’re not a great graphic designer, then reach out to someone for help. You can easily find freelancers online. Show them some welcome book examples that you like, and ask them to design one that fits your brand.
Struggling to think of content? Try using an AI tool like ChatGPT for assistance. Don’t just copy and paste the results, as they may not be quite what you’re looking for, but they’re often a great starting point.
Don’t make it too long
Finally, remember your guests are here to enjoy their holiday, not spend hours reading your welcome book. Keep it short and sweet, with clear headings and simple text. Your guests may not have English as a first language, so the wording should all be easy enough for them to read. Proofread before you finalise it — the writing should all be of a professional standard.
The perfect welcome book is a wonderful addition to your holiday rental. It’s particularly important if you’re not going to be around to see your guests — for example, if you have installed an automatic check-in system. This is your way of setting the mood, developing your brand, and encouraging your guests to enjoy their stay. Put some thought into it, and it might just become one of the best tools to advertise your holiday home to repeat customers.