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Hotel and Short-Term Rental Apartment - What Should Be Easy for Every Guest?
When guests arrive at a hotel or a short-term rental apartment, most simply want to settle in. Put their luggage down, connect to the Wi-Fi, adjust the temperature, cover the windows and relax. Few people want to spend their first fifteen minutes figuring out how everything works.
The fewer things guests have to work out for themselves, the better.
That's why it's worth planning the layout and facilities of a holiday let from the perspective of someone seeing the property for the first time. What feels completely automatic to the owner may not be obvious to a new guest. This applies to everything from building access and light switches to heating, kitchen appliances, the television and window coverings.
The first few minutes after arrival - what should be immediately clear?
The first challenge often comes before guests even reach their room. They need to know exactly where to go, how to enter the building and how to unlock the apartment door.
If access is via an entry code or the key is kept in a lockbox, a short, straightforward set of instructions is enough. There's no need for a lengthy explanation.
Much of this can be sorted out before guests arrive. Bookings are usually made online, and guests provide their contact details, so important information can be sent in advance. Useful details might include a frequently asked questions section, a map showing the property's location, a photograph of the building entrance or clear directions on how to get inside.
This makes it easier for guests to find the right entrance and get into the property without having to contact the owner.
Lighting and temperature - the simpler, the better
A light switch seems like a minor detail until you find five almost identical switches on the same wall. Then the guessing begins: does this one control the light above the table or the kitchen lighting? Or is it the other way round?
When several switches are positioned together, small labels can quickly solve the problem. They don't need to stand out. They simply need to make it clear which light each switch controls.
The same applies to heating and air conditioning. Ideally, guests should be able to adjust the temperature without having to learn how to operate a complicated control panel. If an appliance has less obvious functions, a brief explanation may help, but everyday settings should remain intuitive.
Everyone has slightly different preferences, too. Some people like bright lighting, while others prefer to use only a bedside lamp in the evening. It's worth considering options that offer flexibility without being difficult to operate, such as lighting that lets guests switch between bright, warm and cool tones with a single click.
A well-planned interior allows guests to make the space comfortable for themselves without having to master a complicated system.
Wi-Fi and television - no searching for passwords or guessing which remote to use
In many properties, guests almost automatically end up asking for the Wi-Fi password. Yet this is an easy question to prevent.
The network name and password can be displayed together in a visible, sensible location. That way, guests won't need to search through drawers or contact the owner just to connect their phone to the internet.
Televisions can present a similar problem. If switching one on requires three remote controls and a particular sequence of button presses, it may seem perfectly straightforward to someone familiar with the equipment. For a first-time user, it can be a very different experience.
If the controls aren't self-explanatory, a short guide can help. However, not everyone will want to read instructions. Equipment that's too complicated may simply go unused. And when several small frustrations like this add up, they can affect how guests feel about their stay overall.
Privacy and natural light - making the most of window coverings
Windows have a significant influence on how we use a room throughout the day. Sometimes we want to let in more natural light. At other times, we'd rather reduce the amount of light entering the room or prevent people outside from looking in.
Privacy is particularly important in ground-floor rooms, properties facing the street or rooms overlooking neighbouring buildings. Being able to adjust the window covering quickly makes it easier to adapt the space to the situation.
There are several options to choose from, including curtains, roller blinds and pleated blinds. Whatever the choice, the main considerations are ease of use and the ability to position the covering exactly where it's needed.
Controlling natural light matters too. Some window coverings allow guests to adjust how much of the window is covered, while pleated blinds can also cover a selected section of the glass. This is useful when privacy is important but there's no need to cover the whole window.
Depending on the needs of the property, standard roller blinds or blackout roller blinds may be suitable for a hotel or holiday apartment. However, if the accommodation welcomes different types of guests and it's difficult to predict their preferences, day and night blinds are another option worth considering. Their alternating fabric strips, which let through different amounts of light, make it easy to adjust both the light entering the room and the level of privacy.
Kitchen and kitchenette - what should be easy to find and use?
In a self-catering apartment, having the right kitchen equipment is only half the job. Where everything is kept matters just as much. If mugs are on one side of the kitchen, glasses on the other and cutlery is hidden in a drawer nobody would think to check, making a simple cup of coffee can turn into a search through the cupboards. Everyday essentials should be kept within easy reach. This is particularly important for crockery, cutlery, mugs, glasses and basic kitchen appliances.
The appliances themselves should also be straightforward to use. A kettle or coffee machine can be ready to operate without several extra steps. If the oven or another appliance works in an unexpected way, a brief note can save guests some time.
Regular equipment checks are important as well. From time to time, it's worth checking whether the oven light has stopped working or the washing machine, dishwasher or another appliance needs servicing.
Bathroom - a little clear space makes a difference
In the bathroom, simplicity is often more valuable than lots of extra features. Guests should immediately be able to work out how to turn on the shower, adjust the water temperature and find the towels.
Space for personal belongings is useful too. Even during a short stay, people need somewhere to put their wash bag, toothbrush and other small items. If every bit of the countertop is occupied by the property's own accessories, there's quickly nowhere left for guests' things.
A hairdryer and other accessories don't have to be left out on display. They can be stored in a nearby cupboard, leaving the countertop free for whoever is using the bathroom.
If the bathroom has a window, privacy becomes another important consideration. A pleated blind can be a good solution because it allows guests to cover a selected section of the glass.
For example, the upper part of the window can be left uncovered while the lower part is screened. This provides privacy without having to cover the entire pane.
Luggage and personal belongings - where should guests put their suitcase?
Even guests staying for just one or two nights usually bring a bag, suitcase and coat. Without somewhere to put them, these items quickly end up in the middle of the room or piled onto chairs.
That's why it's worth planning some luggage space and basic storage when furnishing a holiday let. Wardrobes, shelves and coat hooks should be easy to reach and ready to use.
Of course, not every apartment has space for an extra wardrobe or luggage rack. In a smaller property, simply setting aside a convenient spot for a travel bag may be enough. The important thing is to keep it somewhere it won't get in the way of everyday activities.
Instructions or a simpler solution?
There's nothing wrong with providing instructions. Some appliances genuinely need a brief explanation. But it's worth considering whether every basic task really needs its own guide, and how many separate instructions guests encounter throughout the property.
If switching on the lights, adjusting the temperature, closing the blinds and turning on the television all require separate explanations, the information soon becomes overwhelming. Instead of simply enjoying the space, guests have to learn how to use it.
That's why these messages should be kept as simple as possible. Someone who has come to relax is unlikely to want to read a manual for their room. Business travellers have even less reason to spend their time figuring out how to operate the apartment's equipment.
Instructions are best reserved for places where they're genuinely needed. They should be short, specific and positioned close to the equipment they explain.
What makes a guest's stay unnecessarily difficult?
Many frustrations don't come from a lack of facilities but from the way those facilities have been arranged. Several similar unlabelled light switches, remote controls with no obvious purpose, a Wi-Fi password hidden somewhere unexpected or an appliance that requires a series of unusual steps to operate: individually, these may seem like small issues. When several crop up together, though, they become irritating.
Rather than focusing solely on what's provided, it's worth looking at how the whole space works in practice. When everyday tasks are straightforward and predictable, guests can feel at home much more quickly.
A useful test is to walk through the property as if you'd never been there before.
Try opening the door, turning on the lights, putting down your luggage, adjusting the temperature, connecting to the internet, making a drink and covering the window. Each task may reveal something that seems obvious to the owner but isn't necessarily clear to a first-time guest.
What makes a short hotel or holiday apartment stay comfortable?
Comfort in a hotel or short-term rental apartment isn't just about how the interior looks or how many facilities are available. It's equally important that guests can use those facilities without difficulty.
Both major furnishings and small details matter, including light switches, remote controls, Wi-Fi passwords, luggage storage and the way roller blinds and pleated blinds are adjusted.
A well-designed space doesn't leave people constantly wondering how things work. Essentials are where guests would expect to find them, and basic functions are easy to understand.
That way, when someone arrives at a hotel or holiday apartment, they can simply get on with what they came for: enjoying their stay.
Frequently asked questions
How should you furnish a holiday let to make it comfortable for guests?
Plan the layout and facilities so that someone visiting for the first time can use all the essentials without difficulty. Provide intuitive lighting, straightforward temperature controls, an easy-to-find Wi-Fi password and somewhere to put luggage. Thoughtful storage and simple operation of appliances and window coverings are also important.
How can you make self-check-in easier for holiday apartment guests?
Send the most important information before guests arrive so they know where the property is and how to get inside. A map showing the location, a photograph of the entrance and brief instructions for using an entry code or key lockbox can all help. This makes it easier for guests to find the apartment without needing to contact the owner.
How should light switches and temperature controls be arranged in a hotel room?
Make sure guests can quickly identify what each light switch controls and adjust the temperature themselves. If several similar switches are grouped together, use small labels. Heating and air-conditioning controls should have intuitive basic settings, with brief guidance for any less obvious functions.
Where should you put the Wi-Fi password and television instructions in a holiday apartment?
Display the Wi-Fi network name and password together somewhere clearly visible and easy to find. If the television requires several remote controls or a particular sequence of actions, provide a short guide. Ideally, however, equipment should be simple enough to use without having to read lengthy instructions.
Which roller blinds or pleated blinds work well in hotels and holiday apartments?
Choose window coverings that make it easy for guests to control light and maintain privacy. Options include standard roller blinds, blackout roller blinds and day and night blinds, whose alternating fabric strips allow guests to adjust how much of the window is screened. Pleated blinds are also worth considering because they can cover a selected section of the glass without covering the entire window.
How should you organise the kitchen and bathroom in a short-stay apartment?
Keep frequently used crockery, cutlery and appliances within easy reach in the kitchen so guests don't need to search through cupboards. In the bathroom, leave some free space for wash bags and other personal belongings, and put towels and essential accessories somewhere easy to find. Remember to check the equipment regularly to make sure everything works properly.
When should you provide instructions for equipment in a holiday apartment?
Provide instructions when it isn't immediately obvious to a new guest how to use an appliance. Keep them short, specific and close to the equipment concerned. If many everyday tasks need separate explanations, consider whether the equipment or the way it's operated could be simplified instead.
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