Welcome book checklist
What to put in your welcome book, section by section.
A good welcome book answers the questions guests would otherwise message you about. Here is every section worth including, what to write in it, and an example you can adapt.
Short answer
Start with the things guests need in the first hour: Wi-Fi, check-in steps, your phone number and the address. Then add house rules, check-out, how the heating and kitchen work, rubbish sorting, local tips and emergency information. Leave out anything guests will never ask about.
Put these on the first page
Guests open the welcome book when they arrive, tired, often in the evening. Put these five things where they see them first:
- Wi-Fi name and password. The most asked question in any holiday home. A QR code that joins the network saves typing.
- Check-in and check-out times. Two times, nothing else.
- Your name and phone number. Say whether you prefer a call or a message.
- The full address. Guests need it for taxis and food deliveries.
- A short welcome. Two sentences. Who you are and that you hope they enjoy the stay.
Every section worth including
These are the sections in the Welcomefold editor. Few places need all of them. Pick the ones that matter for your home and skip the rest.
Check-in
Where the keys are, the door or key-box code, and what to do if you arrive late or in the dark. Write the steps in the order guests do them.
Check-out
The time, and a short list of what to do before leaving: keys back, windows shut, heating down. Keep it to a few light tasks.
House rules
Smoking, parties, quiet hours, pets and guest numbers. Repeat what your listing says; do not add new rules here.
Directions
The last few hundred metres that map apps get wrong: which gate, which door, a landmark to look for.
Parking
Where to park, how many cars fit, permits, and electric car charging if you have it.
Getting around
Nearest bus stop or station, a taxi number that answers, and the best way to the airport.
Heating and cooling
How to work the heat pump, radiators, fireplace or air conditioning, with the setting you recommend.
Kitchen
Coffee machine, oven, hob, where the dishwasher tablets live, and what guests are welcome to use.
Appliances
Washing machine, dryer, TV and streaming, hot water. One line each is often enough.
Rubbish and recycling
How to sort, where the bins are and when they are collected. Local sorting rules confuse almost everyone.
Pool, hot tub or sauna
How to use them, opening hours if any, and the safety rules, especially for children.
Pets
Whether pets are welcome, where dogs can walk and anything they must stay off.
Children
Cot, high chair, stair gates, and child-friendly places nearby.
Shops
Nearest supermarket and pharmacy, with opening hours. Mention Sunday hours if they differ.
Food and drink
Your favourite cafés, bakeries and restaurants, and one line on what to order.
Things to do
Walks, beaches, museums and rainy-day ideas, with how far away they are.
Emergency
The local emergency number, the nearest hospital, and where to find the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, fuse box and water stopcock.
Anything else
Whatever is unique to your place: a tricky lock, a shared garden, a neighbour who feeds the cat.
An example to adapt
This is adapted from the example cabin guide in our editor. Notice how short it is.
Check-in
The key box is to the left of the front door. Code: 4821.
If you arrive after dark, the outdoor light switch is just inside the door on the right.
Check-out
- Leave used towels in the bathroom
- Turn off the heaters and close all windows
- Please let us know if anything is broken
- Put the key back in the key box
No need to strip the beds or do the dishes. We do that.
Write like you would text a friend. Use lists for steps. Put codes and times in bold so guests can find them again.
What to leave out
- Long history of the house. One line is charming. A page is skipped.
- Rules you did not put in your listing. Airbnb's policy says new rules cannot be added after booking, including by signs in the home. Your welcome book should repeat your listing rules, not extend them.
- Things that change often, unless you can update the guide. A printed binder with last year's Wi-Fi password causes more messages, not fewer.
- Your private details. The guide is for guests; anyone holding it can read it.
Printed binder or digital guide?
A printed welcome book is nice to hold, but it goes out of date and guests cannot read it before they arrive. A digital guide can be sent with your booking message and opened on a phone. Many hosts do both: a digital guide, and a printed sign on the fridge with a QR code to it.
Guests also come from many countries. A digital guide can be translated on the guest's phone, which a printed book cannot.
Questions hosts ask
What is the difference between a welcome book and a house manual?
Hosts use the words for the same thing. Airbnb calls its built-in field the house manual. A welcome book usually means a fuller guide that also has local tips and a welcome note.
How long should an Airbnb welcome book be?
As short as it can be while still answering the common questions. For most homes that is 8 to 12 short sections. Guests read short sections; they skim long ones.
Should the Wi-Fi password be in the welcome book?
Yes. It is the question guests ask most. Keep the guide or sign inside the home, and change the password now and then if you are worried about past guests.
Do I need a welcome book if I already use Airbnb’s house manual?
Airbnb shows the house manual in its app to booked guests. A separate guide helps if you also take bookings on other sites or direct, if you want a printed sign in the home, or if you want local tips and the house manual in one place.