With more than three-quarters of guests checking out reviews before booking their holiday accommodation, having plenty of good reviews for your vacation rental is essential. Check out our top tips and proven tactics to help generate top-notch guest reviews for your vacation rental property.

Why guest reviews are important

Guest reviews are not just nice to have, they are a super-important part of your vacation rental marketing strategy. Here’s why getting good reviews is worth your time and effort:

• Guest reviews are a powerful form of social proof. They build trust in your holiday home and showcase the guest experience on offer.
• More reviews mean more bookings! Potential guests rely heavily on the experiences of others before booking their holiday accommodation. According to TripAdvisor, 83% of guests say reviews help them pick the right place to stay. 53% won’t commit to a booking without reading reviews first.
• Positive guest reviews boost the performance of your holiday home listing on key booking sites such as Airbnb, Expedia, Vrbo, and Booking.com. These sites use guest reviews to influence where your property appears in their search results – those with good reviews rank higher.
• Good reviews validate that you are getting things right for guests. They pinpoint what guests love most about your vacation rental and where you can make improvements.

Here are five ways to get some great guest reviews in the bag for your vacation rental:

1. Set the right expectations

Photo caption: Make sure your property is presented accurately using good photos and up-to-date information and amenities.

Poor reviews can arise when the guests' expectations of a vacation rental don’t match the reality of their stay. Managing expectations starts with how you present your property online. Your photos and written description of your property should be an accurate representation of the property and provide up-to-date information. Guests can be disappointed if something is not available as advertised.
Our team are experts in listing optimisation – we help you create the best possible listing for your property so you’ll stand out to guests on the booking sites. How we make listings better.

2. Make sure your communication is on point

This one is a no-brainer! If guests have a great stay in your vacation rental, they are more likely to share their experience by leaving a good review. Get things right from the start by contacting each guest before their stay to introduce yourself and share key information including:

• Directions to find the property.
• Arrival instructions/how to access the property.
• Check-in and check-out times.

It is also important to respond to any pre-arrival messages from guests and answer their questions as quickly as you can.

3. Go the extra mile for every guest

Photo caption: A well-stocked welcome basket is a thoughtful touch that will help delight your guests.

Guests are often prompted to leave a review when they are pleasantly surprised by something they weren’t expecting. As well as ensuring that the property is spotlessly clean and well-maintained, you can exceed their expectations with thoughtful touches such as:

• A well-stocked welcome basket filled with local produce.
• A welcoming note, plus your recommendations for what to see and do locally.
• Essentials such as milk and eggs left in the fridge.
• Putting out some fresh flowers.
• Providing bathrobes, slippers, and nice toiletries.
• Board games, DVDs, books, and toys for children.
• Treats for pets if you allow them.
• A bottle of wine or prosecco for special occasions.

4. Be proactive - fix any problems during their stay

Photo caption: If the guest raises any issues with the property, it's important to address these right away.

It is important to let guests know how to reach you in the event of any issues they experience during their stay. Unresolved issues can result in a poor review. If possible, check in with your guests during their stay to ensure everything is in order and address any issues promptly.

5. Encourage guest reviews in different ways

Wherever possible, ask guests in person for a review. A good time to do this is when they are checking out of the property. Telling guests that their feedback really matters to you can encourage them to leave a review. Ask them to review you on whichever booking site they made the booking with (e.g. Airbnb, Booking.com), and let them know you’ll write a review for them if applicable.