How to get 5-star reviews for your vacation rental

One of the keys to a tourist apartment performing well long-term is to consistently get good reviews ⭐.

Reviews directly influence:

• visibility on platforms like Airbnb or Booking
• the trust of new guests
• the price you can charge per night

The better reviews your accommodation has, the sooner it will be booked over the competition.
And the sooner your apartment is booked, the greater your margin will be to adjust prices and increase revenue.

After managing bookings for years, I've found that 5-star reviews on Airbnb or 10/10 on Booking almost always depend on five key areas.

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1. Cleanliness

Cleanliness is the first thing guests notice when they enter the apartment.

No one wants to find:

• hair from previous guests
• dirty cutlery or utensils
• residue in the bathroom or shower

Guests arrive at the apartment to relax and enjoy their vacation, and the space should convey tranquility, order, and cleanliness from the first moment.

Thorough cleaning not only prevents bad reviews but also generates immediate trust in the guest.

It is one of the factors that most influence the final rating of the stay.

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2. Comfort

Comfort also has a direct impact on the guest's experience.

Some details make a big difference:

• soft, fluffy, good-quality towels
• comfortable cotton sheets with professionally laundered bedding

If the apartment has a kitchen, it also helps a lot if it is equipped with basic utensils and essential condiments.

For example:

• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• basic kitchen utensils

These are small details, but they make guests feel more comfortable and at home, which positively influences their perception of the accommodation.

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3. Good Maintenance

A well-maintained apartment immediately conveys quality and attention to detail.

In contrast, some common problems can negatively affect the guest's experience:

• dirty or marked walls
• mold in the shower
• minor unrepaired damage

These details, although seemingly minor, can influence the final rating of the stay.

Furthermore, guests tend to take better care of an apartment that appears well-maintained than one that conveys neglect.

Keeping the accommodation in good condition also helps to clearly differentiate yourself from other apartments in the area.

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4. Surprise the guest with a welcome amenity

If you want to go from 4-star reviews to 5-star reviews, you need to slightly exceed guest expectations.

The first few minutes inside the apartment are key.
This is when the guest compares what they expected to find with what they actually see.

A small, unexpected gesture can make a big difference.

A simple welcome amenity that works very well is to leave:

• a cold bottle of water in the fridge
• coffee and tea available
• a bottle of milk if there is a coffee machine
• a bottle of wine as a welcome gift

In many supermarkets, it's easy to find wines with good ratings on Vivino (3.8–3.9+) for around 3–4 euros.

They present well, surprise the guest, and help start the stay with a positive impression.

Many guests even send a message thanking them for the amenity, which already creates a closer relationship from the outset.

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5. Communication with the guest

Communication also plays an important role in the guest experience.

Every guest is different. Some prefer more interaction with the host and others prefer more independence, so it is important to maintain clear, useful, and flexible communication.

There are three particularly important moments.

Check-in message

The check-in message should be:

• clear
• brief
• easy to follow

The goal is for the guest to be able to access the apartment without difficulty and without having to ask too many questions.

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Follow-up after check-in 📲

After the first night, it is advisable to send a short message to confirm that everything is fine.

For example:

• ask if they found the apartment without any problem
• confirm that everything is working correctly
• offer help if they need anything

In most cases, the guest responds that everything is perfect, but if there was any problem, you can solve it quickly.

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Follow-up after check-out

This message is one of the most important for getting reviews.

After check-out, you can send a message to:

• thank them for their stay
• wish them a good journey home
• ask if everything went well

Once they respond, you can naturally mention that reviews are very important for the accommodation and appreciate if they can leave a review on the platform where they made the booking.

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Conclusion

Getting 5-star reviews does not depend on a single factor, but on taking care of the entire guest experience.

The five key areas are:

• cleanliness
• comfort
• maintenance
• welcome amenity
• communication with the guest

If you consistently work on these aspects, it will be much easier to receive 5-star reviews on Airbnb or 10/10 on Booking, which will allow you to differentiate yourself from the competition and improve the performance of your tourist apartment.