Travel Archives - Page 10 of 11 - Oh My Heartsie Girl

May 8, 2018

How To Attract Airbnb Guests and Prepare For Them

Renting your home on Airbnb is one of the best modern ways to create a supplemental income. Contrary to what many potential hosts believe, you don’t have to have an extra house or apartment to take advantage of millions of Airbnb users who are looking for a place to stay.

According to Airbnb, a whopping 87% of its users list their primary home residences for rent. This means, when the guests leave, they “move” back in. In several cases, the cash afforded to them from renting has provided the ability to get a second apartment or home. As a result, many of today’s hosts are raking in a five and six-figure salary from the short term rental platform.

If you’ve recently taken the plunge and started to list your space, here’s what you need to do to attract guests, and how to prepare your home for their arrivals:

Use Professional Photography

The holding power of professional photography can be phenomenal. In fact, it can mean the difference between a sale and a lost opportunity. Take advantage of Airbnb’s free photography service. If your location is eligible, they’ll send over a free professional photographer to capture your home in the best light possible.

These photographers are vetted by Airbnb, and are very hospitable with their services. If there are certain details that are important to you, they’ll be happy to capture it. And because they’re professionals, they’ll likely notice important features that you might not think were photo-worthy. If you don’t fully understand the power of professional photos, check out this article to see the difference.

Take Care of The Nitty Gritty Details

There’s a lot of caretaking that goes on that your guests will never see. It’s important that you prepare your home for your guests in a manner that ensures there are no mishaps. This goes beyond cleaning. Before you publish your listing, it’s best to double check that everything in your home is in proper working order.

For example, your plumbing is a very important part of your preventative Airbnb strategy. Before you list your house on Airbnb, assess your current situation and decide where potential issues could arise. Is your HVAC in working order? Is the water pressure decent? Is there a leak anywhere? Little issues now could turn into bigger issues later.

Book unique homes and experiences all over the world.

If you notice any water issues, contacting a professional is your best bet. Fix It Plumbing, a service plumber in Melbourne VIC, says, “A service plumber is a plumber who will come to your home day or night and save you from anything from a dripping tap to a full blown burst water pipe emergency.”

And that’s exactly what you need. As a renter–even for short term rentals–you should be prepared to deal with any emergencies that arise. After all, the last thing you need is an Airbnb host horror experience. Inez Valk explained how two guests overfilled a new clawfoot tub she’d had installed, and the bathwater seeped through the floorboards.

“We urgently—but gingerly—knocked on the door and were greeted by flushed, sheepish guests,” she told Travel & Leisure. “Then we called a plumber.”

Working with a reputable plumbing and maintenance company gives you a repertoire with the business, and makes an emergency situation much more manageable–especially if you aren’t in the vicinity during the time of an emergency.

Provide An Experience

Creating a great listing is about so much more than giving your guests a comfy, clean place to sleep. Part of what makes Airbnb users prefer the platform over hotels is that it offers a unique experience. Start by creating copy that exemplifies the experience you want to provide. You can do this by painting a picture of your home and neighborhood.

Prior to booking, go the extra mile with your description. If you’re not adept at writing, hire a freelancer to take care of this portion for you. Every sentence should be fully optimized to pack a powerful punch. During an interview with Inc. magazine, superhost Scott Shatford gave the following examples of impressive description writing:

Don’t say: Large kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

Do say: Walk to the farmers’ market and make yourself a gourmet meal in the large fully equipped kitchen.

Don’t say: Two Beach Cruisers Included.

Do say: Cruise the Santa Monica coastline from the Pier to Muscle Beach with two complimentary beach cruisers.

There are extra things you can do to take your experience to the next level. Many hosts will make arrangements with local restaurants or attractions to get their hosts better deals. One host in Madrid partners with the gelato shop downstairs to offer free gelato and coffee to arriving guests, while another in New York City has partnered with a local diner to provide free breakfast. Most times, your local businesses will be happy to make a deal with you.

Include Great Amenities

Part of what makes a great Airbnb experiences and putting real effort into delivering amenities. Sure, this takes a little investing, but it goes a long way with getting a five-star review from your guest. Airbnb’s amenities checklist includes the basics of what guests expect from a home, including shampoo and conditioner, toilet paper, towels, and soap. But you can always go the extra mile to please your guests. Try creating an Airbnb welcome basket, leave out a bottle of wine, provide plush, comfy robes, and purchase board and card games for the household. Each of these are not required, but go a long way in creating a stellar stay.
Related:
How To Plan A Vacation Without Going Over Budget
Picking Your Level of Luxury

March 29, 2018September 4, 2020

Picking Your Level of Luxury

We all deserve the chance to get away and truly feel like we’re being pampered. Daily life can be a real grind, and it’s hard to find a moment to relax, much less a full few days. Sure, staycations are cheap, but they aren’t really that rewarding unless you just really want to do nothing more than not work with your paid time off. If you have the time and money to really take a look at your luxury travel options, you’ll find that there’s no one-size-fits all model for taking an elegant, relaxing vacation that you’ll remember forever. There are levels of luxury, and you should feel comfortable picking the one that works best for you.

What matters most

We all have deal breakers when we’re going on vacation. Some people won’t go camping without indoor plumbing or even a fancy RV. These people are known as “glampers.” Other people won’t take a plane anywhere unless they can get seating that’s better than basic coach. Some travelers want a certain type of pillow at their hotel. The list of deal breakers can be endless, and some demands are harder to meet than others.

Do you want a room that looks out upon the beach? Then be prepared to pay for the view. But if you don’t want that view, maybe you should spend that money on a room with a hot tub instead. Consider how much you’re going to use each available amenity. Sure, hotels with room service are nice, but if you’re on a special diet and can’t eat most of the food on the menu, then it’s not worth paying extra for a place with 24-hour room service.

Hidden fees

One possible dealbreaker you should look out for? Resort fees. Hotels of almost every star rating charge them. They may not show up in your initial bill, but you have to pay the resort fees before you leave the hotel. “Resort fees” are a catch-all term for services like free drinks or use of the hotel’s fitness facility. You’re going to pay the resort fees even if you don’t use all the amenities, which is one reason some people really dislike them and will do anything they can to avoid them. Other people consider them just a part of travel, and that’s a good mindset to adapt when you’re headed to places where resort fees are almost impossible to avoid.

If you’re staying on the strip in Vegas, go ahead and budget an extra $20, $30, or even $40 a day for services you might not even use. They’re a really common way to get extra money from tourists visiting hotspots, so you’ll also see resort fees pop up in places like Mexico or the Caribbean. To avoid surprises, make sure to do plenty of research before you give out your credit card number. Let’s say you’re looking for luxury resorts Cabo, but the language on some of the websites is unclear. By all means, feel free to call and ask if the property charges resort fees. If you want luxury, you’re going to have to pay at least a little extra for it, but that doesn’t mean you should let resort fees sneak up on you.

March 6, 2018

What To Do When In Canada

Visiting Canada

Canada is a beautiful country. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or it’s your third of fourth trip, planning an excursion to the wide-open possibilities of Canada is always a wonderful idea. Though relatively small in population considering its size, Canada is filled with beautiful cities, gorgeous nature, and breathtaking opportunities. To see Canada as it was meant to be seen, consider visiting one or all of these iconic spots.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Island Marina-Canada — Source: Twenty20.com

Picturesque, with its ocean views and red dirt roads, Prince Edward Island is the home of the fictional character Anne of Green Gables, made famous in the early twentieth century by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You can enjoy Prince Edward Island from a bed and breakfast or hotel, wander the woods, and partake in eating renowned seafood. Peaceful and inviting, Prince Edward Island is a quiet sanctuary and retreat. Quebec

Winter-frozen-cold-ice-blue-hotel-canada-quebec-ice-hotel — Source: Twenty20.com

If Europe is too far to travel, consider Quebec for a taste of far-away culture. While you’ll want to brush up on your French, English is also spoken, so you’ll have less travel anxiety visiting this city as an English speaker. The streets of Quebec are more like Europe than most other North American cities, with their brightly painted buildings and old fashioned streets. Enjoy the rich and diverse culture of Quebec, including waterfalls and gorgeous architecture. Montreal, the largest city in Quebec, is home to gardens and museums and well worth the visit. Vancouver
Host to several fantastic vacation opportunities, Vancouver is the third-largest city in Canada. It’s home to fantastic museum opportunities like the Museum of Anthropology, the Maritime Museum, and Science World. Visitors can also reach the stunning Butchart Gardens in Victoria from Vancouver. A seaport, surrounded by mountains, Vancouver boasts some of the best views in Canada, and visitors will find no shortage of enjoyable opportunities. Maritime-museum-of-the-atlantic-halifax-nova-scotia-canada
Toronto
The largest city in Canada, Toronto boasts fantastic museums, vintage shopping experiences, and a thriving arts and culture scene. You can take a ferry from downtown and have a stroll on the Toronto Islands, or get a bite to eat in the antique Distillery District. To stay up to date on festivals and events happening during your visit, be sure to check out the Toronto news and learn what only locals know.

Niagara Falls

Without a doubt Canada’s most widely-recognized attraction, Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls, and together, they have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Gorgeous, and easily accessible due to the regular tourist visits, Niagara Falls is a mesmerizing experience sure to stay with you for a lifetime. If you’re in the Niagara Falls area anyway, you might even consider a trip into Upstate New York. You can compare the view of the Falls from both sides and decide for yourself if the Canadian side really is better. You might take a roadtrip through the rural landscape all the way to Cooperstown, where you can visit the Baseball Hall of Fame, book transportation from Cooperstown to Albany International Airport, and fly back home.

For family trips, private getaways, or a roadtrip with friends, Canada offers spectacular opportunities. Whether you’re a Canadian looking to see more of your country, or an American ready to cross the border, Canada offers exciting new adventures, brand-new views, and fresh culture. Whether you stroll through Toronto, visit museums in Montreal, Quebec, or read on the beaches of Prince Edward Island, you’ll enjoy your stay. Consider Canada for your next vacation, and have experiences that will last forever.

January 30, 2018

10 Tips You Must Do Before Traveling

10 Must Do’s Before Traveling:

What is more exciting than booking that last minute vacation or on the other hand having had that vacation booked for several months and being able to look forward to it. Regardless of when you booked it, it is an exciting time in your life and before you go it’s time to get fully prepared. What are those must do’s before you head out on your vacation? Let’s take a look at our ‘10 Must Do’s Before Traveling!

For many people out there, they worry about their appearance before traveling. They rush in to get their nails and toenails done and maybe even their eyelashes. What they would love to be doing, but don’t know much about it is coolsculpting. Click on the link to learn more about coolsculpting and why you should look into doing it before you head on vacation. It’s a great way to freeze your fat!

Depending on where you are traveling to, it’s important to always have the local currency. If you are traveling to Mexico for example, you should take out Mexican Pesos to get the most for your money. The same applies to traveling to Europe. Instead of paying with euros in places that accept their own currency- take time to research what they use and go to your bank or get it at their bank upon arrival.

For many people out there, they worry about their appearance before traveling. They rush in to get their nails and toenails done and maybe even their eyelashes. What they would love to be doing, but don’t know much about it is coolsculpting. Click on the link to learn more about cool sculpting and why you should look into doing it before you head on vacation. It’s a great way to freeze your fat!
Depending on where you are traveling to, it’s important to always have the local currency. If you are traveling to Mexico for example, you should take out Mexican Pesos to get the most for your money. The same applies to traveling to Europe. Instead of paying with euros in places that accept their own currency- take time to research what they use and go to your bank or get it at their bank upon arrival.
Set in place a good health plan. Some people don’t believe in health insurance when you travel but trust me- you do not want to be on the other side of the fence when you get sick and must pay out of pocket.
Make sure before you make any travel plans that you are aware of the entry fees and if you need a visa to get into the country in the first place.
This one is very important. Make sure to print a couple copies of your passport via photocopying. This is important in case you lose or someone steals your passport. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you know you want to go certain excursions, why not pay for them before you go. It’s important to make sure you are buying from a reputable source but prepaying for any excursions gives you the certainty that you have a spot on the day of choice.
Make sure you have a phone plan. It’s always good to be able to access your phone for emergency reasons when you are away. It might not be on your end, but your family members who are trying to get a hold of you while you are on vacation.
Remember that some places use different adapters when traveling. It’s important to know which adapter and purchase it before you travel. This will allow you to charge your devices once you arrive in that country.
It’s crucial that you call your bank if you are intending to use your debit or credit cards. If you do not call them and tell them you are traveling, you run the risk of them putting a hold on your card.
Always, always, always, pack and extra set of clothes in your carry on and any snacks that you would like to bring. This is good in case your airline loses your luggage.