Local guide
A local guide that reads like advice from a friend.
Guests can find the top ten attractions on any map app. What they cannot find is your opinion: the bakery that sells out by ten, the walk that starts behind the house, the place to go when it rains.
Short answer
Group your tips (food, shops, things to do, rainy days, getting around), give each one a distance and a one-line reason, and keep each group to three to six places. Your own favourites beat a long list.
What to include
- Everyday basics. Nearest supermarket, pharmacy and cash machine, with opening hours.
- Food and drink. A café for breakfast, a casual dinner, one special place, and a takeaway that delivers.
- Things to do. A walk from the door, a beach or viewpoint, and one thing for children.
- Rainy days. A museum, a swimming pool, a cinema or a cosy pub.
- Getting around. Bus or train, a taxi number, and where to park in town.
How to write each tip
Every tip needs three things: the name, how far it is, and why you like it. Compare:
Less useful
Fjordstova restaurant.
More useful
Fjordstova, 10 minutes by car. Try the fish soup. Book at weekends.
This is how the tips read in the example guide in our editor:
- Coop Extra (groceries), 5 min drive, open 7 to 23
- Litlefjellet hike, 1.5 h round trip, starts behind the cabin
- Fjordstova restaurant: try the fish soup
- The jetty below the cabin is perfect for a swim
Keep it current
- Check opening hours each season. Many places close or shorten hours outside summer.
- Remove a place the day you hear it has closed.
- Ask guests what they found. The best new tips often come from them.
Airbnb guidebook or your own guide?
Airbnb has a free built-in guidebook for places and neighbourhood tips. It only helps guests who book through Airbnb. If you also take bookings elsewhere, or want your local tips next to Wi-Fi, check-in and house rules on one page, put them in your own guest guide too.
Questions hosts ask
How many recommendations should a local guide have?
Three to six per group is plenty. Guests want your favourites, not a directory.
Should I include links to maps?
Yes, where you can. A link or the full address saves guests from searching for the right place with a similar name.
Can I recommend friends’ businesses?
Of course, as long as you would recommend them anyway. If you get anything in return, it is fair to say so.