First impressions matter — and for holiday let owners, the welcome guide is often the very first thing a guest properly reads after walking through the door. Get it right, and you set the tone for a five-star stay. Get it wrong (or skip it entirely), and you set yourself up for a stream of WhatsApp messages asking where the boiler switch is.
This guide covers everything a great holiday let welcome guide should include, in the order guests actually need it.
1. Arrival Information
Start with the basics. Guests arriving after a long journey don't want to hunt for information — they need it immediately:
- Check-in instructions — key safe code, key collection, or smart lock access
- Parking — exact location, any restrictions, permit requirements
- Wi-Fi details — network name and password, right at the top
- Property address — including what3words or Google Maps pin for rural properties
2. House Information
Once guests are in, they'll want to know how everything works. Cover:
- Heating and hot water — how to adjust the thermostat, when hot water is available, any quirks
- Kitchen appliances — how to use the oven, hob, dishwasher, and any quirky appliances
- Bins and recycling — collection days, which bin is which, where to store rubbish
- Rooms and sleeping arrangements — especially useful for larger groups
- Fire safety — location of fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, escape route
- TV and entertainment — how to connect to streaming services, what subscriptions are available
3. House Rules
Keep these clear and brief. A bulleted list works better than a wall of text:
- Quiet hours
- Smoking policy
- Pet rules (if applicable)
- Maximum occupancy
- Any off-limits areas
Framing rules positively ("We ask that...") is far more welcoming than a list of prohibitions.
4. Local Area Guide
This is where you can really elevate the experience. Personal recommendations carry far more weight than a generic tourist leaflet:
- Best restaurants and cafés — include a range of price points and cuisines
- Supermarkets and shops — opening hours, nearest petrol station
- Activities — beaches, walks, cycle routes, attractions, hidden gems
- Emergency contacts — nearest A&E, GP walk-in, pharmacy
Guests who feel well looked after in the local area are guests who leave five-star reviews.
5. Departure Instructions
A short, clear departure checklist avoids misunderstandings and protects your property:
- Check-out time
- What to do with keys
- Rubbish instructions
- Whether to strip beds / put towels in bath
- Anything to turn off or lock
6. Your Contact Details
Make it easy for guests to reach you, and set expectations about response times. Include:
- Your mobile number for emergencies
- Email for non-urgent enquiries
- Any out-of-hours contact if relevant
Keeping It Up to Date
A welcome guide that's six months out of date — with the wrong Wi-Fi password or a closed restaurant recommendation — does more damage than no guide at all. Build a habit of reviewing it before each new booking season.
The Easiest Way to Build One
Writing and maintaining a welcome guide from scratch takes time. GuestGuide lets you upload your existing property documents and generates a beautifully structured digital guide in minutes — including all of the sections above, populated with your specific property details. Guests access it via a QR code or link, and you can update it any time without reprinting anything.
A well-written welcome guide is one of the few improvements to your holiday let that costs almost nothing and pays back every single booking.