The Rise of Bungalow Airbnb Rentals: Trends and Tips

Bungalow rentals are all the hype right now as more people are looking for quaint getaways. Whether the goal is to explore new places or revisit favorite spots, many travelers seek unique accommodations, and bungalows provide just that.

Since bungalows are growing in popularity, Airbnb hosts should consider investing in this type of property to create special experiences for their guests.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything prospective vacation rental hosts need to know about how to tap into the rise of bungalows as a host. Discover the basics of bungalow Airbnb rentals and explore tips for becoming a successful bungalow host.

Bungalow Airbnbs: The Basics

Bungalows are currently a hot commodity on the site Airbnb. They’ve become popular thanks to the picturesque location of overwater bungalows in many tropical destinations.

If you’re unfamiliar, a bungalow is a Bengal or cottage-style home categorized by its cottagecore appearance. Typically, these homes are small and quaint, with the characteristic sloping roof. A bungalow can be one or two stories, with the optional second story donning sloped ceilings.

Although bungalows originated in South Asia, they have grown in popularity worldwide. They’re often found in nature-heavy areas, ranging from locations in the mountains or on the beach. Since this style of home has moved to the West, many variations have emerged. 

How to Become a Successful Bungalow Host

Now that you’re a bit more familiar with the basics of bungalow Airbnb rentals, let’s look at some of the top tips for becoming a successful bungalow host.

1. Choose the Perfect Spot

If you don’t already own a bungalow or a cabin, you’ll have to start by finding a place to build one or finding one to buy. As you embark on this search, look for properties with the guest experience in mind.

Breathtaking views are always a plus, but obviously, this can come with a hefty price tag. If something with majestic views isn’t in the budget, look for a spot where you can add some magic with creative landscaping.

While many think of bungalows as nature experiences, some are also in cities. If you want to buy a bungalow in a city, look for something within walking distance of public transportation, shopping, and great dining and entertainment spots.

2. Create Unique Stays

As the demand for unique and private travel experiences surges, the trend of bungalow Airbnb rentals is rising. These cozy, secluded rentals offer travelers a perfect blend of comfort and adventure away from the hustle of busy hotels. 

3. Provide Essential Amenities 

Airbnb rentals aren’t hotels, but providing guests with basic hotel-like amenities is a great way to ensure a great stay.

Essential vacation rental amenities include towels, linens, extra blankets, toiletries, coffee, and a fridge (at least a small one). Other “nice to have” amenities include a well-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, laundry facilities, a swimming pool or hot tub, a fireplace or pit, and the like.

Offering location-specific amenities is excellent, as well. For example, including beach towels, boogie boards, beach chairs, and sand toys with your beachfront bungalow is a nice touch. 

4. Make Cleanliness a Priority

Prioritizing your room cleanliness is another easy way to ensure success with your bungalow rental. People want a clean place to stay, and checking into a dirty place will create a negative experience right off the bat.

Although you can clean your bungalows yourself, it’s often worth investing in a professional cleaning person to get the job done. A professional will likely work much more quickly and efficiently, so it’s worth the investment in many scenarios. 

Additionally, investing in the appropriate pest control measures ensures your bungalows remains clean. Nothing can sour an experience like unwanted bugs or vermin. This is particularly important if the location of your bungalow or cabin is located in nature (read: deep in the forest) since critters can make their way inside.

5. Create a Sanctuary

No matter where your beachfront bungalow rentals Airbnb rental is located, creating a paradise that allows guests to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy world will enhance every stay.

Since bungalows are from South Asia, it could be nice to pull inspiration from the traditional designs of that region. For example, you could summon the peaceful nature of a Buddhist monastery by leaning into the elements of fire, air, water, earth, and wisdom.

By replicating the ambiance of a monastery with your bungalow features, you can create a peaceful island getaway for your guests.

6. Add Local Touches

Incorporating local touches is a great way to create a more immersive and memorable experience for your guests. Featuring local maps and opting for local interior design are both great ways to add that flare.

Showcasing artwork from local artists is incredible, as well. Some bungalow hosts even create small galleries with art for sale in the rental. This is a great way to support local artists while keeping things fresh with rotating decor. 

These local touches will help create a more unique experience for guests. It’ll help them foster an appreciation for ‌local culture (regardless if they are tourists or business travelers). 

7. Create a Local Guidebook

In addition to the local touches we mentioned, guests will appreciate recommendations of local spots that they must try. Be specific with your suggestions if you want to truly help guests choose the best spots. Whether it is in Laguna de Perlas, Bocas del Toro, or any other location, solo adventurers will love to learn about tours or a nice getaway.

Depending on where your bungalow is located (water bungalow vs. island or. beach bungalow), your guidebook could include recommendations for your favorite restaurants, museums, parks, hiking trails, prominent landmarks, beaches, tour companies, and more. Takeout menus and pamphlets for local establishments are certainly a plus.

Include a variety of suggestions for different styles of travelers, such as activities for more active individuals and options for those who just want to relax. Plus, be sure to provide options for dining and activities for different budgets.

8. Encourage Guests to Leave Reviews

One of the first things many Airbnb guests look for when choosing a bungalow to rent is reviews from past guests. Anybody can spruce up an Airbnb listing to make it seem lovely, but ‌reviews are the most important.

In addition to the information in the reviews and the ratings you’ve received, many people look at the number of reviews. More reviews mean you’ve hosted more guests, and prospective guests will likely be more eager to stay with an experienced host. 

When you are among one of the top-rated bungalow rentals in your area, bookings come pouring in. 

That’s why it’s valuable to encourage guests to leave reviews after their stay. While you can’t control what guests write in their reviews, you can work hard to provide a positive experience that warrants glowing feedback.

9. Describe the Property Accurately 

A common complaint from Airbnb guests is about inaccuracies in the property listing. While you may be tempted to stretch the truth to make your bungalow seem more incredible than it is (with a king-sized bed when it’s only a double), this isn’t a great approach. 

That’s why it’s important to be honest in your Airbnb description to ensure that it represents your bungalows as accurately as possible.

On the same note, ensuring that your photos are accurate and up-to-date is critical. Many people go by the photos on the listing to determine sleeping arrangements, accessibility, and the general ability of the bungalows to accommodate their needs.

10. Make Yourself Accessible

Providing great customer service to your Airbnb guests is vital to creating a great experience. Part of that is making yourself accessible to guests whenever they need something.

Airbnb typically recommends keeping communication in the app for legal reasons. Still, consider providing additional ways for guests to contact you or a co-host if they need something. 

For example, if a guest gets locked out of their room in the bungalow in the middle of the night, make sure they can reach you so you can help them resolve the issue. It can be incredibly frustrating when a guest needs something and nobody can help.

If you’re not local, hire someone on-call for anything your guests need during the night to stay. Even if you are local, having backup support can come in handy at night.

11. Price Strategically

Getting strategic with your pricing is an important part of ensuring your rental is profitable. You need to crunch the numbers (in Excel or a budgeting tool) to see how much you need to make to break even.

When determining your pricing strategy, the first thing to do is consider your expenses. List your mortgage, insurance, taxes, upkeep, management fees, cleaning costs, and any other recurring expenses to calculate your monthly cost of operation.

You’ll also need an emergency fund on your bungalows for significant repairs, replacing appliances, or updating worn-out furniture.

Once you know the least amount you can charge to make a profit, research what people are charging for equivalent properties in your area (forest vs. entire ocean views). This will help you determine what you should charge to remain competitive enough to stay booked while also making a nice chunk of change.

12. Streamline Check-In

After a long travel day, many people are eager to relax. Since check-in is typically the last barrier between travelers and that relaxation, ensuring a streamlined check-in experience is key.

An easy way to streamline check-in is to use a smart lock and set the code to the last four digits of the guest’s phone number. This makes it easy for guests to keep track of the code so they don’t get locked out.

Also, be mindful of security concerns. If accessing the bungalows is too easy, nothing stops past guests from showing up uninvited. A smart door lock with a changing code is a great way to secure things.

13. Be Reasonable with Check-Out Rules

Many Airbnb hosts have started to give guests a mile-long to-do list for check-out. They want beds stripped, trash removed, floors swept, and more. This can be extremely frustrating for guests, especially when they often pay a hefty cleaning fee.

Try to be reasonable with your check-out rules. Asking for things to be tidy or turning off the air conditioning is acceptable, but asking guests to do chores isn’t.

14. Be Open to Feedback

Sometimes, guests won’t be happy. They may leave critical reviews on your listing, sometimes constructive and others not so constructive. Either way, this feedback can be pretty insightful.

When somebody leaves constructive feedback regarding anything lacking amenity to a complaint about the check-in process, take it seriously. Take constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve your guests’ experience. You can also explore different customer satisfaction survey tools to refine your approach and make decisions based on actual insights.

15. Promote Your Bungalow

Airbnb is an excellent platform for promoting your bungalow rentals, but there are so many other listings that it’s possible to get lost.

Some easy ways to promote your bungalow are with social media marketing, paid ads, and a website of your own. You can use these digital marketing channels to drive traffic to your Airbnb listing or list it off the platform. Take a picture of your panoramic views and post about it. 

Another great way to land more bookings is to invest in influencer marketing. Influencer marketing allows hosts to compensate a digital creator for promoting their rental bungalows to their followers. This compensation could be a cash payment, gifted time in the rental property, or a mix of both.

Working with an influencer with an engaged following is a great way to expose your bungalows to new people and drive up the demand for your rental. In addition to the apparent promotion factor, associating with a public figure can make your bungalow rentals more appealing.

Final Thoughts

There are many opportunities for successful Airbnb rental properties across the country. 

Whether your spot is in the bustling streets of a busy city or tucked away in a mountain town, there are plenty of ways to create great experiences for your guests and keep your listing booked.

So, are you ready to list your bungalow rental?

Unlock the Power of iGMS for Your Short-Term Rentals!

Regardless of your focus in the realm of short-term rentals, iGMS provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to elevate every aspect of your hosting experience. Delve into our standout features tailored for both novice and seasoned hosts and property managers:

• Centralize your operations with the Channel Manager, effortlessly managing multiple listings across leading platforms.
• Enhance guest relations using Automated Messaging, equipped with customizable templates for consistent and timely communication.
• Simplify financial transactions and invoicing with Payment Processing, integrating seamlessly with Stripe for smooth operations.
• Boost your property’s reputation and guest loyalty by encouraging reviews through Airbnb Automation.
• Optimize direct guest bookings with the Direct Booking Management Toolset, offering a streamlined experience for both hosts and guests.
• Efficiently coordinate tasks and schedules with Team Management, ensuring your property is always guest-ready.
• Stay ahead with real-time tracking and insights using PROtrack, a feature designed to give you a competitive edge in the market.

Dive into these features and more with iGMS, your comprehensive solution for short-term rental management. Elevate your hosting game and achieve unparalleled success today!

About the Author

Emily Krings is an SEO content writer and strategist with a knack for storytelling. She specializes in helping B2B businesses create blog content that connects with their audiences. LinkedIn | Website