One way of making rentals more attractive is by adjusting to low season rates, but that’s not quite enough. We also need to ensure that the property will be attractive to winter guests.
We gathered these few tips to consider when renting out your property in wintertime. It doesn’t need to be much, but a touch of warmth and coziness does a lot when the guests decide which place to choose.
Heating…
An indoor fireplace is probably one of the most alluring features guests consider when booking a winter holiday. Not every vacation rental is lucky enough to have a fireplace, but if you have one, this is the time to highlight this feature. Provide your guests with a fire starter kit to light their first fire and clear how-to instructions. It's also good to let guests know where they can source dry firewood (if you don't provide it) and where the fire extinguisher is kept - just in case!
If your home does not have a traditional fireplace or for those cold corners the warmth from the fireplace cannot reach, an area heater is a must. We recommend providing at least two to be placed in a visible and easily accessible location. Make sure to test them and ensure they are in good condition - A broken heater in the winter is the last thing you would want your guest to experience during their stay.
Cozy atmosphere…
Creating a cozy atmosphere is another small thing to do. Add some warm blankets and throws, and candles (even if they’re fake) to create that friendly, warm, atmosphere. As guests are likely to spend a little more time indoors than in the activity-laden summer, providing a nice collection of reading material or board games for the kids will make them feel right at home.
Complimentary hot drinks…
Nothing says “welcome home’’ as your favourite warm beverage! That’s what you want to offer to your guests too. Set up a designated hot beverage station with a complimentary selection of hot beverages. Make sure you have a good kettle or coffee maker, and a nice selection of tea, coffee and other hot drinks - It’s winter after all. People like to hunker down, stay at home, and drink hot beverages.!
A Comfy Bedroom…
Let's be honest, we all go into hibernation a little during the chilly months, sneaking in 5 more minutes of snooze time, and even more when on a winter holiday! Although the weather in Plettenberg Bay is mild during the winter months, the nights can still get pretty cold. Warm and relaxed bedding, that says “we’re not uptight here, just luxurious and dreamy.” Be sure to offer an extra winter blanket and a fluffy rug is vital. A soft place to place one’s feet when getting in and out of bed is reassuring in a deep, primal way.
To sum it up…
Let's take a page from the book of Danish. Considered to be ‘the happiest people in the world’, they believe in the concept ‘hygge.’ Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) has no direct English translation, but ‘cozy’ is its nearest English equivalent. It’s something like ‘sitting curled up with a warm blanket by a fire with lots of candles, drinking wine and chatting with friends, eating comfort foods, staying in bed all morning while the rain patters outside, sipping tea out of good china, warm, clean socks and all things snuggly.’ In essence, hygge is emotional and physical coziness in its simplest form - and that is what we aim to achieve!
If you do all or even some of the above, your wintertime vacation rental bookings will improve; after all, how can people resist hygge? It’s all about happiness.
