How to Attract Families to Your Airbnb Vacation Rental | What Hosts Should Know

Why Host Families on Airbnb?

Hosting families on Airbnb can be profitable for hosts, as even the smallest families are a larger group of people than solo or couple travelers, allowing hosts to charge for the extra people. What’s more, families tend to book for longer periods and are willing to pay a premium for properties that offer amenities and features that cater to their unique needs.

According to Airbnb, families can get an Airbnb with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for the price of one hotel room at a major chain.

• 25% of Airbnb listings have at least 3 bedrooms providing space for a group of people

• Over 1 million Airbnb properties have cribs for small children

• 90% of Airbnb listings have kitchens so families can prepare their own meals

• More than 5 million pets traveled on Airbnb in 2022 showcasing the availability of pet-friendly listings for families

In fact, family travel was up 60% in 2022 compared to 2019, accounting for over 15 million check-ins in nearly 90,000 destinations and making hosts over $14 billion from bookings with families in 2022 based on Airbnb data.

Family Travel Trends on Airbnb

Top Destinations for Families on Airbnb

According to Airbnb, families travelled all over the world in 2022. The top 10 family travel destinations are:

1. Paris, France
2. London, UK
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. New York City, NY, USA
5. Rome, Italy
6. San Diego, CA, USA
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Dubai, UAE
9. Cornwall, UK

Top Airbnb Categories for Families

Families continue to opt for locations that provide opportunities for sports and outdoorsy activities. According to Airbnb, the top booked categories for family travel in 2022 include:

Amazing Pools

From infinity pools and swim spas to architectural pools and saltwater pools, this category features properties from across the world that feature fantastic pools of all sizes and shapes.

Beach

Everyone loves the beach and staying in a property that is right on the beach or just a few minutes away makes for a dream vacation.

Skiing

From Japan and Romania to Turkey and Italy, this category features Airbnb properties located in ski resort destinations, catering to enthusiastic travelers who enjoy the sport and the mountains.

Tropical

From a bamboo tree house villa in Indonesia to a sprawling mansion in Thailand, a tropical beach house in Seychelles or a cliff-top home in Sri Lanka, tropical destinations are popular among Airbnb travelers.

National Parks

National park destinations have been growing in popularity since the pandemic among traveler segments such as families and budget travelers, as people look to enjoy the outdoors and uncaged nature in all its glory.

How to Host Families on Airbnb

Families have specific requirements when it comes to the vacation rental properties they are looking for that hosts need to consider. Here are some investments to make your Airbnb family-friendly.

1. Property Requirements

Families prefer Airbnb homes with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and laundry facilities.

2. Cater to Young Children

Families with young children may require baby equipment such as high chairs, cribs, and strollers. Mattress covers are another great investment for you and your guests, saving your mattresses and giving peace of mind to parents staying.

3. Ensure Safety

Ensure child safety at your home, from barriers that can limit access to stairs, securing heavy and tall furniture to the wall, child-locks, safety plugs on outlets, etc.

4. Provide Wi-Fi and TV

Wi-Fi allows parents to work if required. The TV will allow children to enjoy their regular programming as well as the whole family to watch a family-friendly movie together.

5. Invest in a Cleaning Service

Kids can be messy. That’s why it makes sense to hire a cleaning service – which cost you can get reimbursed for through your Airbnb cleaning fee – to ensure a deeply cleaned vacation rental for your next guests. The families will appreciate you for it.

6. Invest in Perks

Invest in perks like toys, arts and crafts, games, books, bikes, slides, outdoor games, etc that can keep children busy. Meanwhile, equipment like baby monitors will allow parents of infants to enjoy their holiday while also taking care of their babies.

How to Market Your Airbnb to Families

1. Use Family-Friendly Keywords

Families are looking for specific keywords ranging from family-friendly and child-friendly to child-proof, living rooms, and outdoor play areas.

2. Showcase Photos

Showcase the family-friendliness of your vacation rental through your professional listing photos.

3. Highlight Family-Friendly Amenities

Emphasize on all that families are looking for, from property features like multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to spacious living rooms, and outdoor play areas as well as indoor amenities like cribs, high chairs, and strollers; cutlery and crockery that don’t break.

4. Emphasize Safety Features

Mention the different steps taken to child-proof your property such as pool gates, child-locks, and safety plugs. You can also mention your neighborhood’s reputation for safety and family-friendliness.

5. Provide for Family Fun

Provide games that are appropriate for all ages, from toddlers and young children to teenagers and adults, that even the whole or most of the family can engage in.

6. Encourage Reviews from Families

Asking your guests to review your Airbnb property is a recommended practice but if you are trying to attract families make sure your previous family group guests mention how great your vacation rental is for families.

7. Share Nearby Family-Friendly Attractions and Activities

Highlight sights and experiences that may appeal to families, from parks and museums to amusement parks and family-friendly restaurants in your Airbnb listing.

8. Offer a Welcome Package

Depending on the different ages of your guests, you can provide a welcome package that includes snacks, games like snakes and ladders and Uno, and coloring books and crayons for the younger kids.

9. Create a Kid-Friendly place

Make sure your home is child-friendly, filled with toys, games, and books that children will enjoy. Your guests will not come back if their children did not enjoy themselves.

10. Blog About It

Make sure to include family-friendly topics in your blog, from what families can do while staying at your property to family-friendly and budget-friendly activities nearby.

11. Make it Extra Cozy

Provide extra blankets and pillows that can help children feel cozy in their new beds in new surroundings ensuring their parents enjoy a restful night of sleep too.

12. Create a Family-Friendly Welcome Book

You can up your welcome book game by creating a special family edition that includes all the information about the property they will need, ideas about what they can do, and guidance on sights nearby.

13. Make Cleaning Easy

Cleaning up after children is painful and time-consuming. Make it easier for parents to clean up after their children with easy-to-clean surfaces including plastic-lined tablecloths and tiled floors that can be mopped up in a cinch.

14. Make it Pet-Friendly

More and more families are now going on vacation with their pets and booking pet-friendly vacation rentals. Meanwhile, large extended family groups may have a member with a service animal or emotional support animal, which can be easier to deal with if you already provide a pet-friendly space.

Key Takeaway

Hosts who can provide these amenities and cater to the specific needs of families can often charge higher rates and see a higher occupancy rate over a longer period of time than hosts who do not. However, it is important to consider the cost of providing these amenities and the potential wear and tear on the property from hosting families as well.