10 Essential Things in Your Airbnb Welcome Book

Your Airbnb welcome book is the main communication tool between you and your guests. Get it right, and you'll see fewer messages, better reviews, and happier visitors. Get it wrong -- or skip it entirely -- and you're leaving five-star reviews on the table while drowning in repetitive questions about the Wi-Fi password.

We looked at what top-rated Airbnb hosts include in their welcome books and narrowed it down to 10 key elements. These aren't nice-to-haves. They're the sections that every well-performing welcome book contains. Whether you're building your first welcome book or tightening up an existing one, treat this as your checklist.

1. A Warm, Personal Welcome Message

First impressions matter, and your welcome message sets the tone for the entire stay. This isn't the place for a dry list of rules -- it's your shot at making guests feel genuinely welcomed.

What works well here: a personal greeting (use the guest's name if your platform supports it -- "Welcome to our home in Austin!" goes a long way), a quick couple of sentences about the property or why you love the area, and a note telling guests how to reach you if they need anything.

Keep it to 100-150 words. Warm and personal, but short enough that people actually read it. The goal? Make the guest feel like a friend visiting your home, not a customer checking into a hotel.

2. Check-In and Check-Out Instructions

This is the section guests read most carefully, and getting it wrong creates the most friction. Your check-in instructions should be clear enough that a first-time Airbnb guest can follow them without messaging you.

For check-in, cover:

• Exact check-in time and any early check-in options
• Step-by-step directions from the nearest major landmark or highway exit
• Parking instructions (where to park, permits, garage codes)
• Building access (gate codes, lockbox location and code, smart lock steps)
• Unit access (floor number, door code, which key on the keyring)
• Troubleshooting (lockbox jammed? Code not working? What to do)

For check-out: Exact time, what to do before leaving (strip beds? start dishwasher? take out trash?), where to leave keys, how to lock up, and whether late check-out is an option.

Pro tip: include photos of the lockbox location, the front door, and anything tricky. A photo captioned "turn this handle to the left" beats a paragraph of description every time. With a digital welcome book, you can even embed a short video walkthrough.

3. Wi-Fi Network and Password

It seems small, but Wi-Fi info is the number one thing guests look for in a welcome book. Remote workers, families streaming movies, travelers posting on Instagram -- everyone needs the password, and they want it fast.

List the network name exactly as it appears (capitalization and special characters matter), the password in exact characters, and any useful notes about speed, coverage, or dead spots. Something like: "Signal is strongest in the living room and bedroom. The patio coverage is weak." If your area has unreliable internet, mention a nearby cafe with good Wi-Fi as backup.

Many hosts also put a dedicated Wi-Fi card near the router or on the fridge. With a digital welcome book through LivretAccueil, the Wi-Fi section can include a one-tap copy button for the password. Small touch, but guests notice it.

4. House Rules

Nobody loves rules. But clear expectations prevent conflicts and protect your property. The trick is presenting them in a friendly, reasonable tone -- not a list of threats. People are more likely to follow rules when they understand the reasoning.

Cover the basics: quiet hours (with specific times), smoking policy, pet policy, maximum occupancy, shoe preferences indoors, and trash/recycling instructions (which bins, where they go, collection days). Add any property-specific rules -- no shoes on the white couch, close the skylights before leaving, etc.

And watch your phrasing. "NO PARTIES OR LOUD MUSIC" sets a hostile tone. "To respect our wonderful neighbors, we ask that you keep noise to a conversational level after 10 PM" says the same thing but feels entirely different.

5. Appliance and Equipment Instructions

Every property has at least one confusing appliance. The espresso machine with seven buttons. The smart TV that needs three remotes. The shower dial that turns backwards. If guests can't figure out your equipment, they'll either message you at a bad time or mention it in their review.

Focus on the items that trip people up most: coffee machine, dishwasher (which cycle, where the tablet goes), thermostat, AC remote, TV setup and streaming logins, washer/dryer settings, and anything unusual -- hot tub, BBQ, EV charger, pool equipment.

For anything complex, photos with annotated arrows work wonders. In a digital welcome book, short video tutorials are even better. This is honestly one area where digital crushes paper -- showing someone a 15-second video of the espresso machine beats a written explanation every time.

6. Emergency Information and Safety

You hope guests never need this section. But when they do, it needs to be thorough and immediately findable.

Start with the basics: emergency number (911 in the US, 112 in Europe, 999 in the UK -- international guests may not know), your phone number, and a backup contact who can help if you're unreachable. Then add the nearest hospital and urgent care (with address and directions or a map link), locations of safety equipment (fire extinguisher, first aid kit, smoke detectors), any property-specific hazards (steep stairs, uneven ground, unfenced pool), and gas/water shut-off locations.

One detail that gets overlooked: put the full property address -- with zip code and unit number -- at the very top of the emergency section. In a stressful moment, guests may not remember where they are. That address could be the most important piece of information in your entire welcome book.

7. Local Restaurant and Dining Recommendations

"Where should we eat?" might be the question guests ask most. And here's the thing -- they trust your recommendations more than they trust Yelp or TripAdvisor. You live here. That carries weight.

Organize by meal type and situation: the best coffee spot within walking distance, solid lunch options, a range of dinner picks (from budget-friendly to "we're celebrating"), reliable takeout and delivery (mention which apps work best locally), nearest grocery stores, and bars or nightlife if it fits your guest profile.

For each pick, include the name, how far it is, what they're known for, rough price range, and hours. In a digital welcome book, link directly to their Google Maps listing or website.

What makes this section really land? Your personal voice. "The truffle pasta at Giovanni's is the best meal I've had this year" is way more compelling than "Giovanni's -- Italian restaurant, 0.5 miles." That enthusiasm is the reason guests read your recommendations instead of just googling.

8. Transportation and Getting Around

How do your guests get from your property to... anywhere? Especially international visitors, this section removes a lot of confusion.

Cover parking first (street rules, garage options, permits, costs). Then public transit -- nearest stops, how to buy tickets, which routes hit the major attractions. Mention which ride-sharing apps work locally. Note any bike or scooter rental options nearby. Include airport transfer details: best route, approximate cost, how long it takes.

And don't skip the walking info. What's within 10 minutes on foot? What about 20? A quick list of destinations with estimated walk times is surprisingly useful for guests who don't want to think about transit at all.

A simple map showing the property relative to transit stops, parking, and key landmarks helps a lot. Digital welcome books can embed interactive maps that guests can zoom and pan -- much more practical than a static image.

9. Things to Do and Local Attractions

This is the section that turns your welcome book from a house manual into a genuine travel guide. Guests who take your activity suggestions tend to have better stays -- and leave better reviews as a result.

Think about different types of guests: must-see attractions for first-timers, family-friendly spots (parks, museums, kid-friendly beaches), outdoor activities (trails, water sports, cycling routes), cultural options (galleries, theaters, live music), rainy day backups, and seasonal highlights.

For each recommendation, add the practical details -- address, approximate cost, best time to visit, whether reservations are needed. But what really sets your welcome book apart from a tourism website is your personal take. "The sunrise hike at Eagle Point takes 45 minutes and the view at the top will genuinely blow your mind" -- that's the kind of recommendation guests remember and act on.

If you use a platform like LivretAccueil, you can integrate local experiences directly, giving guests one-tap access to book activities. That's also a smart way to generate additional revenue through partnership commissions.

10. Your Contact Information and Communication Preferences

Last on the list, but this one prevents more anxiety than you'd think -- on both sides.

Tell guests how to reach you (Airbnb messaging? WhatsApp? Phone?), your typical response time ("I usually reply within 30 minutes during the day, a couple hours in the evening"), your phone number for urgent matters, and a backup contact if you're unreachable.

The part most hosts skip: telling guests when to contact you versus when to handle it themselves. Something like "Blown light bulb? Spare bulbs are in the hall closet. Anything involving water, heating, or security? Call me right away." It empowers guests to solve small things and flags the stuff you actually need to know about.

Be honest about your availability. "I'm usually available until 9 PM" -- then actually responding fast during those hours -- earns more trust than claiming 24/7 availability and taking hours to reply.

Putting It All Together

Now that you have the 10 items, here's how to assemble them into something guests will actually use.

Order matters. Time-sensitive info goes first (check-in, Wi-Fi, house rules), reference material second (restaurants, attractions, transportation). Your welcome book should flow naturally from "I just arrived" to "what should we do tomorrow."

Make it scannable. Nobody reads a welcome book front to back. They look for whatever they need right now. Clear headings, bullet points, bold for key info. Each section should work on its own.

Keep it fresh. Set a monthly reminder to review your content. A closed restaurant or wrong Wi-Fi password actively damages trust. Digital platforms make updates fast, but you still need to actually do them.

Test it for real. Have a friend "check in" using only the welcome book. Watch where they get stuck, what questions they still ask, and what they skip. You know your property too well to spot the gaps on your own -- a fresh pair of eyes catches things you'd never notice.

Looking for the right tool to build yours? Here's our roundup of the best free Airbnb welcome book tools.

The One Most Hosts Get Wrong

Of everything on this list, the emergency section (#6) is the one that gets the least attention -- and it's arguably the most important. Most hosts nail the Wi-Fi and restaurant picks but skip the property address, the gas shut-off, or the nearest hospital. Take 10 minutes to fill that section out properly. It's the one thing you'll be grateful you did if it's ever needed.