Interior Design

Have we arrived? Where to put Airbnb signs to direct guests.

How to create a smooth arrival with the right trail markers

Sound Familiar?

Pesky Problem

Your guests have no clue that they’ve arrived.

Quick story time. Just a few months back, we were staring down an unmarked, one-way gravel road. As we craned our necks, trying to understand where it led, lush greenery quickly enveloped the view. We kept looking behind us, worried another car would appear behind ours and get irritated that we were just sitting there.

Is this it? We’d been on the road for several hours, the last of which was spent winding up and down precariously steep mountain roads. Google had gotten us into the general vicinity of our request, but without any firm final destination. As we cautiously proceeded down the forested drive, it felt like a coin flip: we had either arrived at our next Airbnb or we were wandering onto someone else’s private property.

Let's Try This

Bite-Size Solution

Mark the trail with intuitive signs.

This Airbnb turned out to be practically flawless in every other way. It just needed a sign positioned at the end of the drive to let guests know they’ve arrived. But it can be really unsettling for guests to be so unsure of whether they’re in the right place. And unfortunately, it’s much more common than you might think. We’ve been just as baffled on rural crossroads as we have been in city centers.

The solution is super simple. Follow the hotel industry’s example here: mark the road, mark the parking, and mark the front door. Think about it like this: hotel guests are not routinely left wondering if they have or have not arrived.

5 Minutes

Here's Your First Step

Pinpoint the most confusing part of arrival.

The best arrivals are the ones guests don’t even think about it. But creating that smooth experience can be especially difficult when you know the route like the back of your hand. Start by pinpointing the most confusing part of arriving at your Airbnb. Is it locating the driveway? Knowing where to park? Finding the actual door? Pick the most difficult part and start working on improving that experience first.

P.S. And don’t forget those night owls! All the trail markers in the world won’t do a thing if your guests can’t see them. While many guests arrive during the day, many also arrive after dark, especially if they’ve traveled a big distance. As we approach the shortest days of the year, it’s a great opportunity to double check that your signs are illuminated and easy to read at night.

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