Every Airbnb host sends the same messages over and over: 'The door code is…', 'Wi-Fi password is on the fridge…', 'Checkout is at 11'. A well-crafted check-in guide solves all of that before guests even land.
This template covers everything your guests need from the moment they leave the airport to the morning they check out — and it doubles as the source material for a digital QR guidebook they can pull up on their phone at any time.
1. Arrival & Access
Start with the practical: how guests physically get in. Be specific — 'turn right out of the lift, third door on the left' beats 'go to apartment 3B'.
- Full address including floor, unit number, and any gate codes
- Step-by-step directions from the nearest transit stop or parking area
- Door code or key lockbox location and code
- How to reach you if access fails (phone, WhatsApp, backup contact)
2. Wi-Fi & Connectivity
Wi-Fi is the first thing guests check. Make it impossible to miss.
- Network name (SSID) — copy-paste ready, exact capitalisation
- Password — use a simple memorable phrase if you can change it
- Backup hotspot option if router resets are common
- Smart TV or streaming login if you offer Netflix/Disney+
3. House Rules (Short Version)
Your full house rules live on your Airbnb listing. In the check-in guide, include only the rules guests need on arrival — the ones that cause problems if ignored in the first hour.
- Quiet hours (exact times)
- No-smoking policy and designated outdoor area if applicable
- Maximum occupancy
- Pets — yes/no, and any restrictions
- Parking — spaces, permits, tow-away zones
4. Kitchen & Appliances
Walk guests through anything that has a learning curve. A five-second mention in your guide prevents a midnight WhatsApp message.
- How to use the hob/stove (induction vs gas, ignition quirks)
- Coffee maker or espresso machine instructions
- Dishwasher — tablets location, recommended programme
- Washing machine — detergent shelf, spin speed if delicate items are common
- Any appliances that are off-limits
5. Checkout Instructions
A clear checkout process protects your review score. Guests who know what to do leave on time and don't leave the oven on.
- Checkout time (and early checkout policy)
- Where to leave the keys or whether to simply pull the door shut
- Rubbish — which bin, what day collection is
- Whether to strip beds or leave linen
- Windows/doors to lock
6. Local Essentials
This is where good hosts become great ones. Personalised local picks outperform any tourist map.
- Nearest supermarket and 24-hour convenience store
- Your favourite coffee shop within 5 minutes walk
- Best restaurant for a first night (with a price range)
- Nearest pharmacy and urgent care
- Closest ATM and public transport stop
Turn This Template Into a Digital QR Guide
Printing and laminating a guide works, but it goes out of date and guests lose it. A digital check-in guide linked to a QR code solves both problems: guests scan on arrival, the guide loads in seconds on any phone, and you update it once — no reprinting.
QuickGuide QR lets you paste your property address, auto-generates the local section using live data, and produces a printable A4 QR poster you tape inside the front door. The whole thing takes under two minutes.
Create your digital guide in 2 minutes — free
Enter your property address and QuickGuide QR builds a personalised digital guidebook with local recommendations, Wi-Fi, house rules, and a print-ready QR poster.
Airbnb Check-In Guide FAQ
Hosts searching for an Airbnb check-in guide template usually need two versions: a short message sent before arrival and an in-property guide guests can open when they are standing at the door.
- What should an Airbnb check-in guide include? Arrival steps, access codes, parking, Wi-Fi, house rules, checkout time, emergency contact, and the first-night local essentials.
- Should I send it as a PDF? A PDF is fine as a backup, but a QR guide is easier to update and easier for guests to reopen on a phone.
- Where should I place the QR code? Put one copy near the entry door and one near the Wi-Fi router or kitchen, where guests naturally look for instructions.
- How long should the guide be? Keep the arrival section under one screen, then add deeper appliance, house rule, and local recommendation sections below it.