Imagine walking into your new Airbnb, tired after a lengthy flight, to discover a chilled bottle of cool white wine in the fridge. The note attached reads: "There’s a corkscrew in the drawer, and yes—you deserve this.”
That’s the kind of small gesture that sticks.
Guests today want convenience, comfort, and a little thoughtfulness that makes them feel at home. An Airbnb welcome basket (or welcome gift) isn’t something people expect anymore—but when it’s done well, it still makes an impact.
In 2025, the best guest gifts aren’t extravagant or overthought. They're useful, personal, and show that you’ve considered the little things—whether it’s a couple of snacks, local tips, or that one charger everyone forgets to pack. A smart, brand-aligned welcome kit can elevate your guest experience without draining your budget.
If you’re a new host juggling a few listings, don’t overcomplicate it. A simple strategy for welcome items—ideally one you can automate—goes a long way in creating great first impressions while saving you time and effort.
In this article, we break down what you should put into your welcome baskets, whether you should bother at all, and how to balance great ideas on a shoestring budget.
Guests form opinions within minutes of walking through the door, and a thoughtful welcome sets that tone fast. A small gesture—done well—suggests the property is well cared for and the host pays attention to details.
But guest preferences have shifted. According to recent data, travelers place more value on personalized touches and useful amenities than on flashy decor or brand swag. A few local treats, a handwritten note, or a link to a curated neighborhood guide feels more meaningful than a basket full of generic supermarket filler.
Personal touches also carry emotional weight. Without a host on-site, small details fill in the gaps. A sample of regional coffee or a voucher for a favorite local spot brings the area to life and gives guests something to talk about later. It’s not just about what’s in the welcome basket—it’s about how guests feel when they see it.
For hosts managing a handful of short-term rentals, welcome items don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. They just need to feel considered. Small comforts and local extras can lead to better reviews, more repeat bookings, and a listing that stands apart in a crowded search page.
A great welcome basket doesn’t need to be big—it just needs to be thoughtful. Think less “Pinterest-perfect,” more “actually useful.”
Here are some modern, guest-approved ideas to include in your Airbnb welcome kit.
Regional favorites add personality—and they’re easy to source. A bag of coffee from a local roaster, a handmade soap from a nearby shop, or a mini jar of hot sauce from the neighborhood farmers market connects your guests to the area in a way a vending machine snack never could.
Our top tip? Forming relationships with nearby businesses opens the door to extras like artisanal snacks or discount vouchers. Guests enjoy trying something new, and local partners appreciate the extra exposure. Property managers can benefit too: consistent, pre-arranged supply makes stocking faster and more predictable.
Tired, hungry guests want something easy and familiar. Keep it simple with a few coffee pods, herbal tea, and maybe a couple of granola bars for a traveller boost. Add a QR code linking to your favorite local spots for takeout or delivery. That kind of prep makes guests feel taken care of right away.
Mini toiletries also help, especially when they’re refillable or neatly labeled. A lavender pillow spray or a single-use face mask won’t go unnoticed, and neither will small tubes of toothpaste or shampoo (for the forgetful traveller, that's a lifesaver!).
These small comforts do more than fill a basket—they fill a gap in a guest’s stay.
Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Skip the confetti and go for something low-key and elegant. A mini bottle of prosecco, a cupcake from a local vendor, or a handwritten note goes further than a generic card. Use guest notes or booking details to plan ahead and schedule quick additions.
But don't feel like you have to get carried away in the celebrations. A short message like “Happy anniversary—enjoy your weekend!” adds warmth without extra effort (or cost). A few thoughtful extras make your Airbnb welcome basket feel personal instead of performative.
Brimming with ideas for your welcome basket? Now it's time to put those ideas in action.
Not only must you consider your budget (an expensive coffee purchase eats into tight seasonal margins, fast). But for hosts managing more than one property, the margin for error gets tight quickly. Forgetting to restock the granola bars or replace a used bath kit doesn’t seem like much—until it shows up in a review.
Automation reduces that risk and helps you stay consistent without adding more to your plate. Here are a few ideas to keep you ahead.
Start with a working checklist that covers every guest-facing detail. Keep the steps short, specific, and organized by room. Instead of listing tasks like “replace snacks” or “check amenities,” group them under each space—kitchen, bathroom, bedroom—so your team can move through the property efficiently.
Include the Airbnb welcome basket as a separate step. That way, it stays part of the standard prep instead of being handled on the fly. A digital checklist shared with cleaning staff or co-hosts reduces miscommunication and gives everyone a clear reference.
Property management software helps keep things on track when bookings start to stack up. Use a platform like Uplisting to trigger reminders tied to calendar events, turnover times, or guest notes. When a new reservation hits the calendar, the system can assign prep tasks, notify your team, and track what’s done—without you texting back and forth to confirm details.
Sourcing snacks, soaps, or custom welcome items one by one takes too much time. Local vendors often offer lower rates or scheduled deliveries when you build a steady relationship. Ask about bulk pricing or monthly supply drops based on your average booking pace.
Set a recurring order schedule and keep a small backstock of supplies that won’t expire quickly. Choose items that reflect the area—a local chocolate bar, handmade soap, or coffee from a neighborhood roaster. Guests get a taste of what makes the location unique, and you avoid last-minute store runs. Local partners benefit from the exposure, and you get reliable inventory with less effort.
So, is a welcome basket still necessary?
The truth is that hospitality in short-term rentals has shifted from physical gestures and items to intentional experiences.
Where guests once expected a neatly arranged Airbnb welcome basket, they now look for comfort, ease, and thoughtful touches that feel personal. Convenience matters just as much as charm—and hosts are expected to deliver both without adding extra work.
A great stay now comes down to details that anticipate needs. A custom Spotify playlist that matches the neighborhood, a digital guidebook that updates with new restaurant openings, or a pre-check-in message that shares a favorite local bakery—all create moments guests remember. These moments aren’t flashy. They’re useful, simple, and feel like a host actually thought about what would make the stay better.
By automating the welcome process and focusing on hospitality that scales, property managers can deliver a consistently high-quality guest experience across all their listings. When paired with tools that streamline operations, even small gestures can make a big impact. Hospitality today is less about extravagance and more about delivering value at every touchpoint.
Ready to create great guest experiences without adding to your workload? Sign up for Uplisting to streamline your vacation rental management.
Guests notice when something feels thoughtful, local, and useful. A small bag of regional coffee, a couple of travel-day snacks, and a handwritten note often stand out more than expensive packaging.
Stick with affordable, practical items—bottled water, mints, or a QR code linking to a digital guidebook all work well and don’t add unnecessary prep.
Seasonal updates help keep the experience fresh without adding much work. Try simple swaps like hot cocoa packets in winter or herbal teas with citrus flavors in summer.
A different soap scent or a new regional snack can make the space feel current and intentional without stretching the budget or restock time.
Clarity and simplicity go a long way. Stick with labeled, individually packaged food so guests can easily see what works for them. If you want to take it further, add a short note asking guests to share preferences before arrival.
For multiple properties, default to allergy-friendly, plant-based snacks like fruit bars, popcorn, or trail mix. They're easy to stock, shelf-stable, and work for most guests without needing custom orders.
We’ve built an all-in-one property, channel management and automation tool to help property managers scale seamlessly.
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