Airbnb Welcome Message: 10 Examples That Get 5-Star Reviews
There are two types of Airbnb welcome messages.
The first type gets a polite "thanks" and is immediately forgotten. The second type makes guests feel looked after before they've even packed their bag — and that feeling shows up in their review.
The difference isn't effort. It's knowing what to say, and when.
This article gives you 10 ready-to-use welcome message examples, organized by timing and situation. Copy them, adapt the details to your property, and you'll have a messaging system that works for every guest without reinventing the wheel each time.
Why your welcome message matters more than you think
Most hosts underestimate the welcome message. They think of it as a formality — a box to tick before the guest arrives.
It's actually one of the highest-leverage things you do as a host.
Here's why: your welcome message sets the emotional tone for the entire stay. A guest who feels genuinely welcomed before they arrive walks into your property with a different disposition than one who received a copy-paste confirmation. They're more forgiving of small imperfections, more likely to reach out if something's wrong (instead of just venting in a review), and more likely to leave five stars.
The research is consistent: guests who rate communication highly are 3x more likely to leave a 5-star review overall. A well-crafted welcome message is the single easiest communication win available to you.
The 4 moments that matter
Before the examples, understand the timing. There are four distinct moments where a message from you makes a real difference:
- Right after booking — sets the tone, confirms key details, builds trust before the stay
- The day before arrival — reduces anxiety, gives guests everything they need one more time
- Check-in day — the practical message, answers the questions they'll have at the door
- Mid-stay check-in — shows you care without being intrusive
- After check-out — thanks them, gently invites a review
The examples below cover all of these.
10 Airbnb welcome message examples
1. The booking confirmation message (warm and reassuring)
Send: immediately after booking is confirmed
Hi [Guest name],
Great to have you booked in — thank you for choosing to stay here.
You're all set for [dates]. I'll send you the full check-in details a day or two before your arrival, including the entry code, WiFi, and everything you need to get settled.
In the meantime, if you have any questions at all, just message me here and I'll get back to you quickly.
Looking forward to welcoming you. [Your name]
Why it works: short, warm, sets the expectation that more details are coming (reduces the anxiety of "do I have everything I need?"), and opens the door for questions without being overwhelming.
2. The booking confirmation (practical first)
Send: immediately after booking, for guests who seem detail-oriented
Hi [Guest name],
Thanks for booking — you're confirmed for [dates].
Quick note: I'll send full arrival instructions the day before, including access code, WiFi, and parking info. Check-in is from [time], check-out by [time].
Any questions before then, just ask. [Your name]
Why it works: some guests prefer information over warmth. This version respects that preference while covering the essentials.
3. The pre-arrival message (one day before)
Send: the evening before check-in
Hi [Guest name],
Your stay starts tomorrow — hope you're looking forward to it.
Here's everything you need for arrival:
Address: [full address] Building entry code: [code] Keys: [lockbox location and code, or other instructions] WiFi: [network name] / [password] Check-in: from [time] — check-out: by [time]
I've also put together a welcome guide with everything else you might need during your stay — local restaurant recommendations, how things work in the apartment, and a few spots I'd tell a friend about. I'll share the link when you arrive.
Safe travels, and message me anytime if something comes up. [Your name]
Why it works: this is the message guests actually read most carefully. Structured, scannable, complete. The mention of the welcome guide creates anticipation and reduces in-stay questions.
4. The check-in day message (short and reassuring)
Send: morning of check-in
Morning [Guest name] — today's the day!
Just a quick reminder: check-in is from [time]. Entry code is [code], keys in the lockbox at [location].
Message me when you're in and settled. If anything's unclear on arrival, I'm reachable on this thread.
Enjoy the stay. [Your name]
Why it works: a brief reminder on the actual day reduces last-minute panic. The "message me when you're settled" invites contact without demanding it, and often leads to a quick positive reply that opens a friendly channel for the rest of the stay.
5. The late check-in message (when guests arrive after hours)
Send: afternoon of check-in, when you know the guest is arriving late
Hi [Guest name],
Checking in that everything's clear for your late arrival tonight.
The building is quiet after 10pm, so just a heads up: the main entrance door can stick slightly — pull firmly while turning the key. It opens fine once you get the feel for it.
Entry code: [code]. Keys: lockbox at [location], code [code].
Everything in the apartment is labeled, and there's a welcome guide on the coffee table with anything else you might need.
Sleep well, and feel free to message me if anything comes up. [Your name]
Why it works: anticipates the specific anxiety of a late arrival (dark building, unfamiliar door, tired traveler). The detail about the sticky door is exactly the kind of proactive information that guests remember positively.
6. The mid-stay check-in (day 2 or 3)
Send: 2 days into a longer stay
Hi [Guest name],
Hope the first couple of days have been good. Just checking in — is everything working well for you?
If anything needs attention, just let me know and I'll sort it. [Your name]
Why it works: short, unobtrusive, but it opens a channel that can catch small problems before they become review fodder. Guests who have a minor issue and are asked directly will mention it; guests who aren't asked will mention it in their review instead.
7. The mid-stay message with a local tip
Send: day 2 or 3, when you want to add extra value
Hi [Guest name],
Hope everything's going well so far.
One thing I meant to mention — if you haven't been to the Saturday market on [street name] yet, it's genuinely worth the trip. Best [specific produce or stall] in the area, in my opinion.
Let me know if there's anything you need. [Your name]
Why it works: adds genuine value without asking for anything in return. Local tips mid-stay are frequently mentioned in reviews. It also re-establishes contact naturally, which matters if something comes up later.
8. The check-out reminder (the night before)
Send: evening before check-out
Hi [Guest name],
Just a quick heads up — check-out is tomorrow by [time].
When you're ready to leave: [brief check-out instructions — where to leave keys, lights, etc.]. No need to do anything else.
I hope the stay was everything you were hoping for. Safe travels home. [Your name]
Why it works: the "no need to do anything else" phrase is surprisingly powerful — it removes the guilt guests often feel about what they should or shouldn't have cleaned. Guests who leave feeling good leave better reviews.
9. The post-stay thank you (without directly asking for a review)
Send: a few hours after check-out
Hi [Guest name],
Thanks for staying — it was great to have you. I hope the trip was a good one.
If there's anything I could have done better, I'm always glad to hear it. And if you have a moment, a review really does make a difference for a place like this.
Hope to see you back in the area sometime. [Your name]
Why it works: mentions the review without making it feel transactional. The "if there's anything I could have done better" signals confidence and openness, which paradoxically makes guests less likely to leave a critical review.
10. The post-stay thank you (after a difficult stay or complaint)
Send: after check-out when there was an issue during the stay
Hi [Guest name],
Thank you for your patience with [the issue] during your stay. I've since [fixed it / arranged a repair / investigated what happened] and it won't affect future guests.
I genuinely appreciated your understanding, and I hope it didn't overshadow what was otherwise a good visit.
Wishing you safe travels. [Your name]
Why it works: addresses the issue directly without being defensive. Acknowledging a problem and stating what you've done about it often turns a potential 3-star review into a 4-star one. Guests are far more forgiving when they feel heard.
What to personalize in every message
The examples above work as templates, but they get significantly better with two or three personal touches:
Use the guest's first name. Every time. It's a small thing that makes a measurable difference in how the message lands.
Reference their specific trip. "Hope the wedding was wonderful" or "good luck with the conference this week" — guests mention these in reviews more often than you'd expect.
Name something specific about your property or area. Not "our beautiful apartment" but "the view from the second bedroom in the morning" or "the market three blocks away."
The one thing to avoid
The biggest mistake hosts make in their welcome messages is saying the same things in the same words as every other Airbnb.
"Do not hesitate to contact us" — every host says this. It reads like a disclaimer.
"We hope you enjoy your stay" — every host says this too. It's filler.
Read your draft message out loud. If it sounds like it could have been written by any host for any guest in any city, rewrite it until it couldn't.
Building a system that doesn't require daily effort
If you're sending all these messages manually for each guest, it adds up fast. Most hosts eventually move to a saved templates system — either inside Airbnb's native messaging, or through a tool like Hospitable, Hostfully, or Lodgify that automates timing and sends on your behalf.
The goal is to write each message once, carefully, then let the system handle the delivery while you focus on everything else.
For the welcome guide itself — the document your guests consult throughout their stay — the same logic applies.
Welkome lets you build a complete digital welcome guide once, translated automatically into 6 languages, accessible by QR code. Your guests get everything they need in their language; you stop answering the same questions twice a week. Free to start.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly should I respond to messages?
Airbnb's algorithm rewards response time, and guests notice. Aim for under one hour during your waking hours. For after-hours messages, a response the next morning is fine — guests generally understand.
Should I send a message if I've already automated everything?
Yes. Even if you use automation tools, a short personal message on check-in day specifically feels different from a template. Consider automating most touchpoints but keeping the check-in day message personal.
How long should a welcome message be?
Short. The pre-arrival message (example 3) can be slightly longer because it contains structured information. Everything else should be 3-6 sentences. If you're writing a paragraph, you're probably saying too much.
What if guests don't respond?
Normal. Most guests read messages without replying, especially the confirmations. Don't interpret silence as dissatisfaction — it usually just means they have what they need.
Last thought
The hosts who get the most consistent five-star reviews aren't necessarily the ones with the nicest properties. They're the ones whose guests felt genuinely looked after from the first message to the last.
These ten templates give you the structure. What makes them yours is the specific detail of your neighborhood, the quirk of your building, the market three blocks away that nobody else knows about.
That's the part no template can give you — but it's also the part that takes thirty seconds to add.