Airbnb Welcome Note: 8 Short Examples Guests Actually Read
A welcome note is not a welcome letter.
A welcome letter is three paragraphs. A welcome note is three sentences. One tells guests everything about your property. The other tells them one thing — and does it memorably.
Most hosts write letters when they should write notes. This article shows you the difference, and gives you eight short examples you can copy today.
Why shorter usually wins
Think about the moment your guests arrive. They've just dragged their luggage up two flights of stairs. One of them is hungry. Another needs the bathroom. Their phone battery is at 11%.
They're not going to read four paragraphs about the history of your neighborhood.
They're going to scan for three things: how to get in, where the WiFi password is, and whether there's anything they should know right now. Everything else can wait.
A welcome note that respects this reality gets read. A welcome letter that ignores it gets skimmed — or worse, skipped entirely.
The rule of thumb: if it can be said in three sentences, say it in three sentences.
What a welcome note should do
A welcome note has one job: make guests feel they've arrived somewhere that was prepared for them.
Not impressed. Not overwhelmed. Just — taken care of.
The best welcome notes do this with a single specific detail. Not a generic "we hope you enjoy your stay" but something that could only be true of your property in your neighborhood on this particular visit.
That specificity is what guests remember. It's what ends up in reviews.
8 short welcome note examples
Note 1 — The classic (clean and warm, for any property)
Welcome, and thank you for being here.
Everything you need is in the guide below — WiFi, entry code, and a few spots I'd point a friend toward.
Make yourself at home. — [Your name]
When to use it: any property, any guest. It's the default — clean, human, no wasted words.
Note 2 — The local detail (for properties in interesting neighborhoods)
Welcome to [neighborhood name] — one of the few parts of the city that still feels like itself.
The WiFi and entry details are on the next page. And if you have one free evening, [street name] at dusk is worth the walk.
Enjoy every minute. — [Your name]
When to use it: when your location is genuinely special. The evening walk recommendation is the kind of thing guests quote verbatim in reviews.
Note 3 — The practical opener (for guests who want information first)
Hi — everything's ready for you.
WiFi: [network] / [password]. Entry code: [code]. Check-out: [time], keys in the lockbox.
There's a full guide on the coffee table (or scan the QR code on the fridge) if you need anything else. — [Your name]
When to use it: business travelers, guests arriving late, anyone whose booking notes suggest they're organized and efficient. Respects their time immediately.
Note 4 — The one small thing (for properties with a memorable detail)
Welcome.
One thing I always mention: the espresso machine makes a proper coffee — capsules are in the left drawer, already stocked for your first morning.
WiFi and everything else is in the guide below. — [Your name]
When to use it: when there's one genuinely nice detail about your property worth highlighting. Coffee, a terrace with a view, a welcome basket, a particularly good shower — pick one thing and name it. Guests feel seen.
Note 5 — The family welcome (for properties hosting families with children)
Welcome to you all.
A few things we thought of for you: the high chair is in the kitchen cupboard, the baby gate is in the hallway. The nearest playground is a two-minute walk — turn right out of the building.
Everything else you need is in the guide. — [Your name]
When to use it: when the booking includes children. The three specific details (high chair, baby gate, playground) do more for a family's first impression than any number of warm words.
Note 6 — The quiet property (for rural, remote, or peaceful settings)
Welcome, and thank you for making the trip.
The quiet here is real — no traffic, no neighbors within earshot. Give yourself a few hours to settle before you plan anything.
WiFi, entry, and a few things worth knowing are in the guide below. — [Your name]
When to use it: gîtes, countryside cottages, mountain chalets, any property where the peace and quiet is genuinely part of the appeal. Sets the right expectation immediately.
Note 7 — The solo traveler (for studio apartments or city properties)
Hi, and welcome.
The apartment is yours — set it up however works for you. WiFi is [network], password on the card by the kettle.
I've left a few neighborhood recommendations in the guide if you fancy exploring. [Area name] at night is particularly good. — [Your name]
When to use it: single traveler or couple booking a studio in the city. The "set it up however works for you" signals freedom and lack of judgment — something solo travelers particularly appreciate.
Note 8 — The return guest (for someone who has stayed before)
Welcome back — great to have you here again.
A couple of things have changed since last time: [brief update — new coffee machine, repainted bedroom, new restaurant recommendation].
Everything else is where you left it. Make yourself at home. — [Your name]
When to use it: when a guest returns. Acknowledging that they've been before makes them feel remembered, not processed. The specific update shows that the property — and the hosting — evolves.
What all eight have in common
Look at the word count: none of them breaks 80 words. Most are under 50. Yet each one manages to feel warm, specific, and personal.
The trick is one concrete detail per note. Not the history of the building, not a list of local attractions, not your personal philosophy of hosting. One thing — chosen because it's true, because it's useful, or because it's the kind of thing a friend would mention.
That's it. That's the whole formula.
Welcome note vs welcome letter: when to use which
A note and a letter serve different purposes. Neither is better — they're for different moments.
Use a welcome note when:
- It's the first thing guests see on arrival (on the table, on the fridge, at the door)
- You want something that gets read in under 30 seconds
- The practical information is elsewhere (in a full guide, a QR code, a printed booklet)
Use a welcome letter when:
- You're sending something before arrival by email or message
- You have more context to share (a longer stay, a complex property, specific instructions)
- You want to establish a fuller relationship before the guest even arrives
In practice, most hosts benefit from having both: a short note for the physical welcome, and a fuller letter sent the day before arrival.
From note to full guide
A welcome note tells guests they've arrived somewhere that was prepared for them. A full welcome guide tells them everything they need to know for the rest of their stay.
The two work best together. The note sets the tone at the door. The guide — whether printed or digital — handles everything else: WiFi, appliances, house rules, local recommendations, check-out procedure.
If you're building or updating your welcome guide, Welkome generates a complete one in 30 seconds with AI. Auto-translated into 6 languages, accessible by QR code, editable in minutes. The demo is at welkome.app/g/villa-azur if you want to see what a finished guide looks like.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an Airbnb welcome note be?
50 to 80 words is the sweet spot. Long enough to feel personal, short enough to be read in full on arrival. If you're writing more than 100 words, you're writing a letter, not a note.
Should I print the welcome note or leave it digitally?
Both work, and they serve slightly different purposes. A printed note on the kitchen table is the first thing guests see when they walk in — it has a warmth that a digital message can't quite replicate. A digital note sent before arrival gives guests a chance to read it when they're calm, not standing in the doorway with luggage.
What's the difference between a welcome note and a welcome message?
A welcome note is what guests find in the property. A welcome message is what you send through Airbnb's messaging platform before or during their stay. Both matter, but they're read in different contexts and serve different purposes.
Can I use the same note for every guest?
Yes, with minor adaptations. Keep the core note consistent and change one or two details per booking: the guest's name, a reference to their specific trip, or a seasonal recommendation. The personalization takes thirty seconds and makes a measurable difference.