How to Create a Romantic Airbnb Experience

Airbnbs and other vacation rentals are a popular choice for couples looking to escape on a romantic getaway together. They offer more privacy than hotels, are often cozier and more intimate, and can be as spacious or as compact as they need.

Some homes are built for romance; they come complete with a hot tub or an amazing view. But even without features like those, you can still give your guests who are yearning for romance a wonderful stay.

If you’re looking to create the most romantic Airbnb experience possible, there are a few things you can do.

Get Off On the Right Foot

The first impression sets the tone for the remainder of your guests’ stay, so you absolutely cannot neglect it. Give your visitors a gift or welcome basket to make a good first impression. By doing this, you’ll transform your visitor’s pleasant experience into something exceptional.

For a couple, this could include items like:

• A bottle of wine or champagne
• Luxury toiletries like bath bombs or salts for a relaxing soak
• Fresh or chocolate-covered strawberries
• Fresh flowers like roses or peonies

If you know that the couple that has booked with you are honeymooners, you can personalize the experience by congratulating them in the welcome letter.

It’s also worth making sure that you have all the essential amenities at the ready and more with an Airbnb host checklist. It provides a run-through of all the essentials, as well as a few extras that will impress your guests with your thoughtfulness.

But if you really want to wow your visitors with your romantic Airbnb, you could always take a look at what’s trending in the rental market and add a couple of luxury amenities or services to the menu.

While vacation rentals are often self-serve and isolated, you could throw in masseuses and food delivery for an additional cost. Just be sure to make this clear upfront so as not to confuse and upset your guests.

Deliver a Romantic View

First and foremost, be sure to choose an authentic location. If you’re new to Airbnb hosting and still in the process of finding a property, pick one with stunning views of the surrounding area. Anything from unspoiled beaches to city skylines and tranquil hills can satisfy your guests’ need for something beautiful to look at.

Really capitalize on where you are. Spectacular sunsets or other incredible views are the cherry on top of any romantic retreat. If your property itself has unique features to point out, mention them in your description.

Give Them Something to Do

If your property is located near any kind of unique experience or activities for your guests to take part in, play into it. They are unlikely to be spending all of their time on your property alone, so offering something unique and fun to do makes for great memories and good reviews for you.

Hiking Trails

Look at promoting things like nearby hiking trails if you’re located near good routes. Anywhere in the Pacific Northwest could deliver on this. Nature preserves or a national forest are also great options. Of course, the ideal would be if your property is just a short drive away from national parks like:

• Yellowstone National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Arches National Park
• Yosemite National Park

Any of the 63 national parks is an opportunity for you to promote the great outdoors to your guests, so make the most of your proximity.

You can enjoy a trip to Joshua Tree National Park by staying in this unique bubble home that’s transparent on all sides, giving you a beautiful 360-degree view of the desert surroundings. It’s completely off-grid, comfortably fits a queen mattress, and has an outdoor shower as well.

Wine Tasting

Being located anywhere near vineyards makes this an easy addition to the itinerary.

Put together a wine-tasting tour of Napa or Sonoma for a special day. Your guests will enjoy spending time tasting different wines and exploring the beautiful wine country. Be sure to arrange for transportation to and from the vineyards, as well as a tour of the wineries themselves.

Outdoor Recreation

Go for a new, exciting activity. There’s nothing more romantic than experiencing something new with your special someone. There are a number of other things for your guests to do in an outdoor space.

If you’re close to a body of water they can go for a refreshing swim or perhaps go in search of seasonal waterfalls. Alternatively, places like the Cascade Mountains or the Appalachian Mountains are a great opportunity for avid climbers.

This A-frame cabin in Washington is the epitome of a cozy space and this smaller cabin near the Appalachian Mountains is in a secluded spot by a beautiful pond.

More popular activities you can recommend to your guests include:

• Skiing
• Horseback Riding
• Surfing
• Camping
• Fishing
• Canoeing

You also can’t underestimate the appeal of just being outside together, preferably under the stars. Outdoor seating areas with the addition of an outdoor fire pit maybe with a covered porch, it can really set the scene for a cozy moment.

Give Them the Spa Treatment

Many couples aren’t simply looking for a place to stay, but a getaway, a retreat where they can relax away from the daily grind together. Romantic getaways should be an opportunity for them to relax, so incorporating any kind of R&R into their stay won’t go unnoticed.

If you have the option, give them some form of water to relax in. An outdoor soaking tub or private hot tub would do wonders. If there’s access to natural hot springs in your area, even better.

And even if you can’t spring for an infinity swimming pool, something just as simple as an outdoor shower will go a long way towards creating an ultra-relaxing environment. This luxury, one-of-a-kind cabin comes feels truly dreamy and comes with a hot tub.

It’s all about creating the ultimate luxurious escape; a relaxing getaway. And if a romantic getaway is your goal, throw in an extra couple of luxurious amenities. To make the bathroom feel even more like a resort, add some massage equipment, soft towels, and sumptuous spa robes.

Set the Mood

Most romantic airbnbs have a vibe to them. Either the coziness or the decor or architecture already lends itself to a romantic feeling, but if you don’t have that, you can always create the right vibe.

The Right Light

Mood lighting changes everything. Every Millennial and Gen Z person will tell you to avoid ceiling lights as far as possible and opt for dimmable lamps instead. If you have the option, installing dimmer switches for any overhead lighting makes a good impression.

Or, if you really want to do the most, you can incorporate smart lighting into your home that works with either a smart speaker or a mobile app to adjust the brightness and color of lights on the property.

Provide candles, both scented and unscented if you can, to let your guests set the mood themselves. Scented candles also make a great addition to a welcome basket to take home, so maybe think about branding those candles according to your property.

An indoor fireplace would make for the best mood lighting, especially in the wintertime, but candles are the next best thing. Even fire pits could be a good addition if you have an outdoor patio for them. Speaking of outdoor lighting, if you can’t give your guests clear skies to stargaze, you can always throw in some string light hanging over the patio area or wrapped around trees for a whimsical, almost holiday feel.

The Way to the Heart is Through the Stomach

Help set up a romantic dinner because nothing quite ends a romantic weekend like a delicious meal in a great setting. Even without a floor to ceiling windows, a huge deck, or a jaw-dropping view, you can create an intimate atmosphere with candles, a fire pit, a string of bistro lights, or a speaker playing sultry music.

Wood-burning fireplaces and a beautifully decorated dining room deliver the romantic vibe most couples envision and will have them planning their next romantic getaway before they’ve even left.

If you don’t quite have the best setup on the property for a romantic meal, tell your guests about all the best spots around town for great food. For an even more impressive offering, think about collaborating with nearby restaurants, wineries, or spas.

The kind of collaboration that leads to special rates or discounts for your guests won’t just benefit your rental business, but the businesses around town and even the local tourism in general. Teamwork always makes the dream work, so don’t hesitate to reach out to local business owners.

Soft Touches

The perfect bedding for Valentine’s Day is crisp, white, and has a high thread count. To provide an extra lovely touch, strategically lay some throw pillows and if you’re feeling really cheesy, strategically sprinkle in some rose petals.

Do, however, try not to play into the Valentine’s Day look and feel too much. It has the tendency to make things feel dated and disingenuous because it turns the romance into a theme rather than a feeling.

Most couples would prefer to add their own brand of romance to their stay without you forcing punk mylar balloons and gaudy teddy bears down their throats. Keep it classy and minimal and everyone will have a good time.

Every romantic Airbnb should invest in a king-size bed with plush mattresses or even a charming canopy bed if you want to promote your home as a romantic retreat on a permanent basis. Something as simple as a mosquito net draped over the bed goes a long way toward creating a soft romantic decor in an otherwise bland bedroom.

Some things to include in your rental to make it more romantic include:

• chocolate-covered strawberries,
• fresh flowers,
• a bottle of wine or champagne,
• a candlelit dinner for two,
• and a fireplace for cuddling in front of the fire.

Write a Romantic Description

If couples on the lookout for a romantic getaway are your target market, then make sure your listing description appeals to them.

Be creative. Use phrases like “romantic” or “ideal for couples” in your description. Or swap out words like “remote,” for something more alluring like “secluded” and “private.”

Get poetic and paint a picture of how your space can be enjoyed. Describe a pleasant evening spent with a bottle of wine cozied up in front of a crackling fire. Or having your morning coffee on a private deck with a view of the sunrise. Most romantic Airbnbs feature things like floor-to-ceiling windows, french doors, and a king-size bed. Tell people about this!

Special Rates

To make your home more appealing to couples on Valentine’s Day, you could consider offering a special rate. You can decide whether or not dynamic pricing is necessary based on your occupancy rates.

Be sure to start promoting your Valentine’s Day Airbnb specials early, perhaps with an early-bird discount for guests who book two weeks or more in advance.

Final Thoughts

By including these things in your vacation rental, you’re guaranteed to create the most romantic Airbnb experience possible for your guests. When in doubt, throw in some candles, rose petals, and Champagne.

Of course, it’s easier to focus on the finer details of creating the most romantic Airbnb when all the other day-to-day tasks of running a vacation rental are dealt with. Software like iGMS can help with just that. It enables you to:

• Automate triggered messaging and organize your chats into a single feed via a unified inbox to ensure prompt replies
• Manage multiple accounts and listings across the top booking platforms from a single interface
• Synchronize reservations across multiple platforms to eliminate the risk of getting a double-booking
• Build a stunning professional website for direct bookings with the website builder