Today’s discriminating traveler has a variety of options of where they can stay when booking a vacation. For travelers looking for a vacation experience in that includes a stay in a vacation rental home in Charleston or Folly Beach SC, the choices can be plentiful. If you own a vacation rental property, aside from proximity to the beach or top local destinations, there are key conveniences your home should have to ensure it stands out from the others.  Ensuring that your guest’s stay will be effortless and comfortable can make the difference between a one-time guest and a guest who returns year over year.  When travelers search online for their ideal vacation home, they’re experiencing an overwhelming amount of information and photos of other properties in the area. Stand out from the competition by having these top ten amenities at your vacation rental home.

Easy Check-In

There’s nothing worse than guests arriving to a vacation rental after a day spent traveling only to discover it’s not as easy as they hoped to access the home. Make sure your vacation rental has a smart lock with a unique combination code so guests can easily enter the home. The ability to quickly gain access with ease makes a  great first impression for guests.

Fast Wi-Fi

With the presence of smartphones, having immediate access to fast Wi-Fi is critical to the success of any vacation rental. Unless your vacation rental is promoting an ‘off-the-grid’ experience, chances are your guests are expecting Wi-Fi with easy connectivity and abundant bandwidth. In fact, not having fast wireless internet may deter guests from booking with you, or result in a potential poor review after their stay.

Cable or Streaming Services

While most guests will be busy exploring the sights and scenery around Charleston or Folly Beach, it’s still important to offer a television that’s connected either to the local TV channels or streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon. For families traveling with children, or their vacation timing includes a top sporting event, or if the rare rainy day means spending the day inside, access to cable is important. Although they may not choose to utilize it, guests are certainly expecting it!

Home Information and Recommendations

Your vacation rental should offer easy to access, detailed information on the house such as how to navigate to the closest grocery store, where to find the first-aid kit, or the laundry detergent. It should include important emergency numbers, wifi, gate & pool codes if applicable, and operating details for any home electronics. This information can be provided in a number of ways, but a booklet or binder placed in a visible spot in the entry will put all of the information in one place and at guests fingertips. In addition to comprehensive information about the home, include details of what is nearby, and suggestions of where to eat and visit nearby during their stay. As their ‘home base’ it’s important to equip them with local information and knowledge.

Welcome Basket

Who doesn’t love being surprised by a gift? Surprise your guests and stand out from the crowd by offering a small welcome basket to your guests. This is an inexpensive way to treat your guests to a selection of local goodies like cookies, candies, or coffee. It’s a charming way to welcome guests to your home and leave a lasting impression.

Orange Welcome Box tied with Ribbon

Luxury Toiletries

There’s nothing worse than arriving to your vacation rental home only to discover you forgot to pack your favorite shampoo. Ease the stress by providing a selection of toiletries such as shampoo/conditioner, soap, and toothpaste for their use. Make sure you add some fluffy towels too for extra measure!

Premium Bedding

Bedding and a good mattress can make the difference between an “okay” stay and a great stay. And you might not be surprised to hear that a bad mattress can top the list of less than 5-star reviews. Invest in a comfortable mattress, an abundance of pillows, and luxury linens so your guests can receive a goodnight’s sleep.

Kitchen Amenities

It’s important to keep your vacation rental home equipped with the kitchen necessities. An ample supply of plates, glasses, and silverware is a good place to start. There should always be basic seasonings on hand like salt and pepper but really wow your guests by including an assortment of spices, cooking oil, and a healthy supply of coffee, tea, and sugar.  Additionally, remember to include wine glasses, as well as bar essentials like corkscrews and bottle openers.

Wine and Cheese in Luxury Vacation Rental

DVDs, Books, and Games

Spare families from the dreaded ‘rainy day blues’ by offering a selection of DVDs, books, or boardgames to while away the day until inclement weather passes. Just make sure your selection of DVDs and books are appropriate for all ages!

Outdoor Space

Whether your vacation rental home includes spacious outdoor porches and decks, or simply a charming little balcony overlooking a garden, it should include clean comfortable seating. Indoor-outdoor living is more important than ever to travelers, and they look for cozy, private outdoor spots to relax, enjoy coffee or a cocktail and take in the views.

Note: There are key steps every property owner should take to set your property apart from others in the area. An experienced property management team understands the value of including traveler friendly amenities and elevated service to ensure 5-star reviews, repeat bookings and consistent revenue. Our team at Luxury Simplified Retreats are the leaders in the Charleston area for delivering Concierge style customer service, impeccable housekeeping & maintenance and revenue management.  Find out what they can do for you – Download the e-book today.

VIEW THE E-BOOK NOW!

Luxury Simplified Retreats Property Management Booklet