5 Things Your Airbnb Hosts Wish You Wouldn’t Do (and 2 They Wish You Would!)

It’s never anyone’s goal to upset their Airbnb host. Most of us want to follow the rules and be good guests! Are you one of those people? (Of course you are!) Then you’re going to want to read this before your next vacation. We spoke with a few Airbnb hosts to find out the things they really wish guests wouldn’t do. And they even shared a few things that make them smile. Take note and you’re guaranteed to earn yourself a repeat stay. 

You just stepped on the remote for the fan and it cracked. It might be your first instinct to hide it so you aren’t charged, but really that just makes life tougher for everyone. “All hosts have insurance, so it’s not about the money, but we want to make sure that the next guest has that item,” says Janine, a host in Cape Coral, Florida. 

Another Florida-based Airbnb owner agreed, noting that most hosts expect things to happen with general wear and tear, so it’s no big deal unless guests somehow make it one. “I had one guest who broke a plate and hid it in the back of a desk drawer,” Candace says. “All I could think was, What if we didn’t see this, and the next guest reached into the drawer and cut themselves?” Letting your Airbnb host know is the polite thing to do, and the right move for their future guests. 

Your Airbnb host wants you to have a good time, so if there’s anything on the property (or missing from the property) that’s making your stay less enjoyable, tell them right away. Letting them know during your stay is a win-win — it can make your trip better and lead to a better review for the host.

Even if the problems are just minor, share those too! “The private feedback you leave a host can be helpful if you genuinely had a great stay but would like to suggest something in the future, like having additional towels on hand or something like that,” Candace says. 

It may seem tempting to shove 12 people in a house made for eight to save money, but hosts include those limits for your safety and comfort. You’re much more likely to have a good experience if you follow the home’s suggestions here, so everyone has enough room to enjoy their stay.

Hosts don’t choose an arbitrary check-out time just so they can kick you out — it’s so they can prep for their next guests. “We have an obligation to the next renter to clean the house to the same condition you had it,” host Janine says. “Check-out time is check-out time — it’s clearly listed!”

Some hosts will have rules you don’t agree with, and if that’s the case, don’t book that space. Hosts note that too often, guests won’t read over the house rules and then get upset when something isn’t to their liking. “I recently got a scathing review from a guy who complained about the lack of TV or microwave,” says Nicole, a host in Portland, Oregon. “The listing clearly states that I don’t have those.” 

If you had a great time, leave your host a nice review! “Reviews can truly make or break a host,” Candice says. “If you had a nice experience, leaving a positive review is a game-changer for getting additional bookings.” 

Your hosts know the area well and would love to share their restaurant picks and activity ideas with you. Feel free to reach out to them in advance for their opinions. “When people send me questions before their stay, it gives me time to help make sure they enjoy their time at the house,” Janine says. 

Do you have anything to add to either of these lists? Leave your two cents in the comments below!