Many people are intimidated by the thought of hosting because they don’t feel like their space is “good enough.” It’s not nice enough, or big enough, or in a good enough location, yada yada yada.
They forget that the ambiance you create matters much more than the physical characteristics of the space.
A few months ago, Michael and I stayed in a delightful little Airbnb on the outskirts of Chattanooga. It was tiny, just a converted one-car garage, yet it truly was delightful. It had concrete floors and cinder-block walls, like one would expect in a converted garage. But it also had a wonderful bed, a comfortable lounging area, and fun little details all over the place.
Despite the fact that they didn’t have much to work with originally, the owners had put their heart into it. They had worked hard to put character and comfort into their little converted garage, and it showed.
Some of our best, most memorable Airbnb stays have been in simple, nondescript places. Despite the lack of high-class amenities, the hosts themselves had put in the effort to make their space wonderful, and it paid off.
The best example of this principle, of course, is Vee, the Australian host who gave Michael and me the best hosting experience of our lives, despite having nothing more in her space than 2 twin beds in a small, cramped room.
It’s not difficult to create memorable stays in nondescript places. You just have to be a little creative!
Simple ways to create memorable stays
- Decorate with local touches and highlight local places of interest
- Consider ways to make them feel at home
- Include some of these details that many hosts don’t think about
- Have extra linens available – and make sure they’re high quality!
- Pick one or two of these creative hospitality ideas
Creating a memorable stay isn’t hard and doesn’t have to cost a ton of money. It does take thought, care, and a desire to make a home-away-from-home for every person you have the privilege of hosting.