30 Airbnb Host Review Examples for Beginners

As an Airbnb host, getting good feedback and positive reviews from guests is essential, but Airbnb is a community that only functions if everyone, guests and hosts alike, are willing to leave honest reviews. That means it’s just as important for hosts to review their guests as it is for guests to review their hosts.

Airbnb hosts may struggle to leave reviews at first because they don’t know what to say. The main thing is to be honest. Hosts should highlight the positive aspects of their guests’ stay on their property, calling them by name whenever possible, or politely let other hosts know there was a problem. Examples below.

We’ve written this article to explain the importance of host reviews.

We’ll also break down the four sections of the host review. Finally, we’ll provide some tips on writing good reviews and supply several examples of generic reviews hosts can customize and use when reviewing their guests.

Why Should Hosts Review Their Guests?

Airbnb is a community that relies on trust and honest reviews. Potential guests thoroughly check out hosts’ reviews to see what kind of experience others had before booking their listings.

Because hosts are allowed to refuse reservations from people they don’t feel comfortable hosting, it’s also essential that guests have plenty of good reviews to put hosts’ minds at ease.

On the flip side, if a host has a bad experience with guests, other hosts should know about it before giving them free-run of their properties.

The Three “Star” Categories

Airbnb asks hosts for 1-5 star ratings of guests in the following three categories:

• Cleanliness
• Communication
• Observance of House Rules

Hosts must be honest when making these assessments. Did the guests leave the property in a mostly clean condition, or did they trash it? Did they frequently communicate with the host and respond to questions or concerns? Did they follow the house rules laid down by the host?

These things are important and let other hosts know what types of guests they may potentially be hosting.

Unless there were any major issues, like blatant disregard for your house rules that resulted in some damage, or a late check-out that caused you to cancel a booking, it’s general practice to leave a 5-star review unless your place was trashed in some way.

The Public Review Section

After the star rating section is the public review section. Here, the host has 1,000 words to “review” the guests.

This seems to be the most challenging part for new Airbnb hosts, which is why we’ve included several examples at the end of this article. Remember: these reviews are public, which means whatever hosts say here is open for everyone to see, and you cannot edit your review after both reviews go public.

The Personal Note Section

In this section, hosts can send a private note to their guests, thanking them for being such good guests or explaining why they left them a less than five-star rating on one of the sections. No one sees these notes aside from the host and the guest to whom the note was sent.

This is a good place to offer suggestions on how their stay could have been made better, or how they could improve “being a guest” in someone else’s property.

Would You Host Them Again?

Finally, Airbnb ends with this simple yes or no question.

No one sees the answer except for Airbnb, so this is your chance to be completely honest. Would you host this guest again, or was there something about their stay that you wouldn’t want to repeat? The guest won’t be informed of your response.

3 Tips on Writing Good Host Reviews

For new hosts who are completely lost on writing reviews, here are our three best tips.

Be Honest

First and foremost, tell the truth!

Other hosts are reading these reviews and using them to decide whether they should accept a reservation. If a guest was horrible, broke things, and left the property in a state of disrepair, don’t praise them as five-star guests.

Guests can’t see host reviews until they’ve published their own, and vice versa. This system ensures that no review influences the other side’s review. With that in mind, there’s no reason not to be honest.

Use The Guests’ Names

Try to use a “personal touch” when writing reviews. Call the guests by name instead of just saying, “I loved these guests! They were great!” That sounds generic and disingenuous.

Opt for a more personal review by saying something like, “Jack and Jill were excellent houseguests. They left my property clean and were great communicators. I’d love to have them back again.”

Be Professional but Informal

Keep things professional. The review section isn’t the place to start a fight over bad guest etiquette. However, don’t be so professional that you sound like a textbook. Speak informally, warmly, and with feeling.

30 Airbnb Host Review Examples for Beginners

*Note: we’ll be using the following generic terms in these reviews:

• “Jack” and “Jill” for guest names
• “The City” with capital letters for the location of a specific property (i.e., Chicago)
• “The/Our/My Property” with capital letters as the name of the property (i.e., Wanderlust Tree House)

20 Positive Host Review Examples

1. It was such a pleasure getting to know Jack and Jill during their stay at My Property in The City. They were kind, amiable people, and they took excellent care of my rental house. I highly recommend them to other hosts.
   
2. Jack was a polite, quiet guest. We rarely knew he was in our house except when he came down for breakfast, which he always praised as delicious. We couldn’t have asked for a more considerate, low-maintenance guest.
   
3. Jack and Jill were my first-ever Airbnb guests, and I had no idea what to expect from them. All I can say is that if all guests are like them, I will never have a single concern about renting My Property to guests. They communicated well, took excellent care of the house, cleaned up after themselves, and gave me no trouble at all. Thank you, Jack and Jill, for such a wonderful first experience!
4. Jill was such a fascinating guest to host in our home! If you’re willing to house-share with guests, I’d recommend Jill in a heartbeat! She’s been to so many places and has so many exciting stories to share! I could have sat and talked with her all day. She’s also a clean, conscientious guest.
5. If we hadn’t seen them with our own eyes, we never would have known Jack and Jill visited our guesthouse in The City. They left everything just as they found it and cleaned up perfectly after themselves before they left.
6. I was a little nervous about allowing such a large family to stay at My Property. When Jack and Jill mentioned they had four young children, I expected a massive mess upon their departure. To my surprise, everything was neat and tidy, and the whole family adhered to my house rules perfectly. I would have them back again anytime.
7. Jill and her family were amazing, and I completely fell in love with their dog! They were also very clean, sanitary guests. I never would’ve known they brought a dog along if I hadn’t fallen in love with it while it was here.
8. I rarely saw Jack and his two sons during their stay at The Property, so I didn’t get to know them well. Even so, they were tidy, rule-abiding guests, so they’re 5-star in my book!
9. Jill and her friends were terrific! Even though they had a large group (12 people!) and stayed ten days, they kept The Property clean and well-maintained. Despite the large group and the weekend party (pre-approved by me), I never had any problems with them getting too loud or rowdy, either.
10. Jack’s family was wonderful! I have zero complaints with them at all. Furthermore, Jack, your kids are great – so well-mannered and respectful. Come back anytime!
11. Jill is welcome back to The Property anytime she wants to come. I’ve never had a more kind, clean, and easy-going guest. I wish all guests were this easy to please.
12. Jack and Jill’s stay at The Property was a little embarrassing for me! Of all the 500+ Airbnb guests I’ve hosted, they’ve all had excellent stays with no problems. Of course, when Jack and Jill arrived, the air conditioning went out! Right in the middle of summer! I was mortified!
13. Jack and Jill were such wonderful guests, taking it all in stride. They were so understanding, and they didn’t complain once about the numerous box fans or the HVAC people interrupting the middle of their trip to fix the air conditioning unit. I gave them a partial refund for their inconvenience, but they never asked for one or complained.
    
    Jack and Jill, you guys are saints! I’m so sorry for the trouble! Thank you for understanding!
14. I would host Jill’s family at The Property again whenever they wanted to come. They were such great guests, even taking the time to take out the trash and clean the bathrooms before they left!
15. Jack and his dog were two of the quietest, cleanest guests that have ever stayed at The Property. We communicated very little because there was little need for it, but they gave me no trouble and didn’t leave a mess. Can’t ask for more than that!
16. Jill was new to Airbnb rentals. She told me her stay at The Property was her first Airbnb stay ever. As a first-time guest, she did a great job. She followed all house rules, cleaned up after herself, and was in and out when expected. No complaints.
17. I had ZERO problems or complaints with Jack and Jill’s family. They treated my home with respect and kindness, and they followed all the house rules, including the one about stripping the beds before they left. Great guests.
18. Sometimes, house-sharing with a stranger can be odd and uncomfortable, but Jack was kind, soft-spoken, and easy to talk to; he fit right in with our family. He’s welcome back anytime.
19. I allow parties and events at The Property, and sometimes, that can be a disaster. Jill’s group was great, though. Despite the large family reunion, The Property looked just as good when they left it as it did when they arrived. Thanks for an easy clean-up, Jill, and come back anytime you’re in The City!
20. I was hesitant to rent to such a large group of young people in The City over Spring Break. That doesn’t always go well for hosts, but Jack, Jill, and their friends were respectful youths who gave me no problems and did no damage. I’d host them again anytime.

10 Polite but Negative Host Review Examples

1. Jack was a quick and efficient communicator, and he was so much fun to talk to over the dinner we shared on his first night. He left My Property a little messier than I’d have liked, but overall, he was a kind, interesting person to host.
2. Jill was so much fun to have in our home! She was exciting, and she fit in with our family dynamic very well.
   
   My only complaint was that she didn’t always follow our “No loud noises after 11pm” house rule, but that’s sometimes par for the course when hosting such a fun and lively individual. Jill, we’d have you back in a heartbeat. Just remember, our kiddos have bedtimes that are a little earlier than yours! 🙂
3. There was some mix-up in communication between myself and Jack and Jill. Although my house rules clearly state “no pets,” they brought along their two small dogs. They were very apologetic, and they went to great lengths to make sure they left no sign of their dogs in my guesthouse in The City.
   
   However, I’m allergic and had to pay a professional to come in and clean after they left. (They agreed to pay for this additional charge, which earned my immense respect.) They were great people, tidy and polite, and aside from the dogs, I’d have them again anytime. I encourage them to read the house rules a little more clearly next time or reach out to the host to double-check that pets are allowed.
4. Jack and Jill were the perfect guests! They were sweet, well-mannered, quiet, and even brought us a small host gift. They missed their check-out time by a couple of hours, and we finally had to tell them we had other guests coming and needed time to clean. They were super sweet, though, and very apologetic. I think they just loved us so much that they didn’t want to leave! We enjoyed you guys, too, Jack and Jill!
5. I think Jack and Jill just didn’t quite fit with our family. They’re vibrant, energetic young newlyweds, and my husband and I are well past retirement age. Jack and his wife were charming and refreshing to be around, but I think they would have had more fun staying with a younger couple.
   
   I think our dinner-at-four, bed-by-eight lifestyle was just too slow-paced for them. Even so, they’re a lovely couple, and I think they’d be the perfect guests for someone closer to their age.
6. Jill was wonderful! She was easy-going and sweet as can be. I wish she would have communicated with me a little more; at times, I was worried something was wrong when I didn’t hear back from her within 48 hours of a text or message, but overall, she’s a nice guest to have.
7. Jack and Jill were kind, friendly, and upbeat people. They left our property in excellent condition and cleaned up after themselves nicely. They did, however, bring in two extra guests with them after booking The Property for two. In the future, I’d recommend that they inform hosts if their travel companions suddenly change last-minute. Most hosts are willing to accommodate the change, but we prefer to know about it upfront.
8. Jack’s family was polite, punctual, and communicated well with me for the duration of their stay. Jack and his wife left their rooms and the common areas spotless. Their teenagers left their rooms in a bit of a mess when they left, and I found a broken clock under the bed. They weren’t impolite or rowdy guests; I think the kids were just afraid to mention they had broken something.
   
   Next time, guys, don’t worry! Breaking a small, inexpensive clock isn’t such a big deal! Just be sure to tell your parents so they can let the host know. We know accidents happen; we just like to be informed of them when they do!
9. Jill was an excellent communicator, and she both arrived and departed precisely on time. She was also polite and professional in all of our conversations. That said, we did tell her about a quirk in the back door that keeps it from closing unless it’s closed in a particular way.
   
   She must have forgot about it because the wind had blown it wide open. I was very thankful we chose to drive by; otherwise, the door could have remained open until her return.
10. Jack and his family were polite and cleaned up after themselves, but they were clearly disappointed that the kitchen wasn’t stocked with food when they arrived. I explained that my listing states, “Kitchen fully stocked with utensils, cookware, and appliances ONLY – No food.”
    
    Jack still wasn’t pleased and asked for a partial refund, which I was unable to grant. I hate that the family’s stay was less than ideal for them, but I encourage them to read hosts’ listings more closely in the future. Aside from that hiccup, they were respectful guests.

Final Thoughts

For hosts who are lost when writing reviews, these 30 Airbnb host review examples are an excellent place to start.

They’re easy to personalize to a specific guest. They’re also an excellent way to get a feel for the kinds of things people like to hear and can be foundations for hosts’ own reviews.

Just remember that honesty is key. Websites like Airbnb depend on reviewers to be honest and help others make important decisions about where to stay and which guests to trust. If hosts are honest, professional, and add a personal touch, their reviews will be fine.

Also, be sure to check out our Airbnb host message templates to streamline your communications!