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Airbnb reviews are the foundation of trust within the hosting community. Whether you’re a first-time host or a seasoned property manager, understanding how Airbnb reviews work, and how to use them to your advantage can make or break your success.
Reviews not only influence booking rates but also determine your reputation on the platform. Still, there’s no reason to fear them. Quite the opposite: they are an opportunity to see what you’re doing well and what you can improve.
This guide covers everything to manage your online presence: from getting 5-star Airbnb reviews to learning how to respond to guest reviews on Airbnb.
How do Airbnb reviews work for hosts and guests?
The process is quite straightforward. After a stay, both the host and the guest have 14 days to leave a review. Reviews remain private until both parties submit them or until the review window closes, whichever comes first.
Airbnb reviews from guests allow them to rate their experience based on cleanliness, communication, check-in process, location, and value. Meanwhile, Airbnb host reviews written by hosts are meant to evaluate guests’ behavior, communication, and respect for house rules.
This is a give-and-take situation where both sides benefit from honest, respectful feedback. Great Airbnb guest reviews build trust with future hosts, while positive host reviews increase visibility in Airbnb’s search rankings.
Airbnb host reviews: How guests evaluate you ?
Did you know that Airbnb host reviews are in 2nd place of what travelers weigh in before making a decision? Guests look for consistency, hospitality, and above all transparency.
The key to getting good Airbnb reviews lies in paying attention to details such as fast communication, spotless spaces, and thoughtful touches that exceed expectations.
Don’t wait to be told to provide an experience that earns 5-star Airbnb reviews. Instead, plan for it. Keep your property’s description accurate, respond quickly to messages, and resolve issues professionally. These habits not only result in the best Airbnb reviews for guests but also position you as a trusted host in the Airbnb community.
Best practices for writing Airbnb reviews for guests sample.
True fact: writing Airbnb reviews for guests can be tricky, especially when you want to be honest but need to maintain professionalism.
Something that often helps is thinking of “the why”. Why does the Airbnb community need this review? To stay safe and informed, of course. So, a well-written review should help the Airbnb community achieve exactly that.
Here are some best practices for crafting Airbnb reviews for guests sample:
- Be objective about the guest’s behavior.
- Mention communication, cleanliness, and respect for property.
- Keep the tone positive unless major issues happened
“(Guest name) was a wonderful guest! Communication was easy, the apartment was left spotless, and they followed all house rules. Highly recommend hosting them again!”
This is a great example of good Airbnb reviews for guests that reflect a positive experience while encouraging future hosts to welcome them. Don’t be afraid to use exclamation points to express positive emotions.
How to respond to guest reviews on Airbnb?
Knowing how to respond to reviews on Airbnb is just as important as receiving them. Whether you’re replying to praise or criticism, keep a professional tone.
When responding to positive reviews, thank guests for their feedback and take the opportunity to highlight a detail that made their stay special. This fosters the human connection that might turn them into repeat bookers.
For negative or bad Airbnb reviews, stay calm and polite (take as many deep breaths as you need). Second, use the AES method: Acknowledge / Explain/ Show.
Acknowledge concerns, explain any misunderstandings, and show commitment to improvement.
Learning to respond to reviews Airbnb tactfully is almost an art. Use these opportunities to demonstrate reliability and transparency to potential guests.
Airbnb reviews examples: What hosts should know?
Looking at Airbnb reviews examples can help hosts understand what guests value most. Airbnb example reviews often revolve around personal touches, cleanliness, and good communication.
Positive feedback like “The host was so responsive” or “Everything looked exactly like the photos” contributes to higher rankings and, of course, repeat bookings. On the other hand, bad Airbnb reviews often mention unmet expectations, misleading property descriptions, or lack of cleanliness.
Study Airbnb reviews of guests and hosts like your business depends on it…because it kind of does. Use valuable insights to improve future stays and maintain a high rating.
How to deal with bad Airbnb reviews?
Accept the fact that despite many efforts, every host receives a negative comment at some point. The key is knowing how to handle the bad reviews without letting them damage your business.
- Start by identifying whether the issue is legitimate or based on a misunderstanding.
- Always respond professionally
- Address valid points and/or clarify details for future guests.
A well-written response to a bad Airbnb review can actually boost credibility , if you show that you take feedback seriously and be respectful about it.
Remember, one poor review won’t ruin your reputation, especially if you consistently earn good Airbnb reviews after.
Can you edit or remove Airbnb reviews?
Yes and no. Airbnb limits the ability of hosts and guests to edit a review after they’ve written it.
If you submit your review first, you may edit it anytime within the 14-day review period or up until the other party submits theirs. Once both reviews are submitted or the 14-day review period has ended, both reviews are automatically published and you won’t be able to make changes.
What happens if a review violates Airbnb’s content policy? Well, Airbnb will its removal. For example, if it contains offensive language or personal information. Always ensure that your own reviews meet Airbnb’s rules to maintain professionalism and fairness.
Airbnb with no reviews: What do they mean?
An Airbnb with no reviews doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. It could simply be a new listing or a recently renovated property. However, visitors will most likely hesitate to book stays without previous feedback.
Did you know that 95% of travelers rely on reviews for social proof while 88% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations?
Remember, Airbnb treats reviews as signals of listing quality and risk, which means that an Airbnb with no reviews or fewer has lower search ranking/visibility. Actually, if two similar rentals are priced the same, travelers are 3.9x more likely to choose the one with better reviews.
According to Airbtics data, having at least some reviews is a strong predictor of occupancy and correlates with better booking performance.
Impact of Number of Airbnb Guest Reviews on Occupancy Rate, United States
| Review Count | Supply: Number of Listings | Share of Supply | Average Occupancy Rate |
| 0 | 6,248 | 2% | 56% |
| 1-5 | 39,740 | 14% | 57% |
| 5-10 | 27,593 | 9% | 57% |
| 10+ | 217,732 | 75% | 62% |
Source: Airbtics data
If visibility is down and trust is limited, hosts may need to lower nightly rates at least while they generate bookings and reviews, which can hurt revenue.
In these cases, try to be patient, add detailed photos of the property, and write accurate descriptions that build trust. Over time, your good Airbnb reviews will improve credibility and your ranking.
More Airbnb sample reviews to inspire hosts
Learning from Airbnb sample reviews can inspire you to write more effective and engaging feedback for your guests.
What are the 3 main areas you should focus on?
First, a review doesn’t have to feel like a textbook. Include the most important aspects of the stay: Did the visitor follow the house rules? Did they leave it just like it was before their arrival?
Second, use automation to follow up on reviews. You don’t have time to chase reviews from several properties, especially with a 14-day deadline. Instead, let your PMS do that for you.
And finally, respond to negative reviews. Instead of ignoring the problem, address it respectfully and quickly so it doesn’t get out of hand. A good reply a day, keeps guest trouble away!
Quick and friendly 5-star guest review templates
Use short, consistent messages that emphasize positive experiences, use their name and mention a small detail about their stay to personalize your comments:
“Fantastic guest. Respectful, tidy, and great at communication. Would host again anytime!”
“Guests like [Name] make hosting a joy. Great energy and they left the place in perfect condition. Five stars.”
“So glad you enjoyed the little touches like the coffee machine. We’ll keep it stocked for your next visit.”
“Left the property in perfect condition. Highly recommended guest!”
“Your feedback means a lot to us, [Name]. We’ll keep working hard to make every stay this comfortable.”
Good Airbnb reviews for guests are professional and efficient while still showing a warmer, happier side.
Tools to automate review follow-ups
Managing dozens of properties makes it easy to miss review deadlines. Property management platforms like Hostify offer tools to automate follow-ups, reminders, and submissions of Airbnb reviews for guests, so you can receive timely feedback and stay consistent across multiple listings.
Automation increases the likelihood of receiving more Airbnb guest reviews, which will improve your visibility and performance metrics over time.
Turning a negative review into a positive experience
Negative feedback isn’t the end of the world. See it as an opportunity to refine your hosting process. Find something to thank the visitor for, their honesty for example. Fix recurring issues to show new guests that you take reviews seriously.
Handling criticism well can transform bad Airbnb reviews into proof of professionalism and reliability.
Look for a complete solution for managing time-consuming aspects of your Airbnb business. From automating communications and reviews to simplifying operations through property management software integration, Hostify helps you deliver 5-star guest experiences without stress.
Leverage Hostify’s Airbnb property management software and start focusing on hospitality while the platform handles repetitive tasks. Streamline your workflow, increase your ratings, and grow your business with the best property management software for Airbnb.
Ready to elevate your hosting game?
👉 Book a free demo and discover how the best Airbnb property management software can help you get more bookings, better reviews, and less stress.
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