How much host interaction is too much?

When my husband and I travel, we typically stay in Airbnbs. It’s cheaper than staying in hotels, and you get to experience local life in a whole different way. Any time you stay in an Airbnb, the level of host interaction varies.

When we stayed in Bern, Switzerland we had the highest level of host interaction so far. The couple was home when we arrived and showed us around the space. After settling in they asked about our plans while in the city and invited us for a cup of tea. Our host laughed about helping us plan every detail of our stay– except he was not joking. Within a few minutes, we were sitting around the dining room table, he had a map of Switzerland on the table and a notebook in hand. He wrote a list of restaurants and tourist spots that are must-sees for the area. This became pretty normal– every time we saw this couple we were held for 15-20 minutes in conversation. He made us feel like we were good friends visiting them and there was an expectation that we would spend some time with them in the evenings. He was EXTREMELY helpful, but this sort of host interaction is certainly not for every guest (and on the edge for us).

Most places we stay have low host interaction– we may see them when we check in and briefly during our stay. As someone who prefers more moderate interaction with hosts when traveling, I always appreciate when a host greets us & shows us around when we arrive and then is readily available by text or messaging for recommendations and help.

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This is the reason that many people choose to stay in “entire places” rather than “shared spaces.”

In our experience, it is all about following the guest’s lead. We have a self-check in process, but we try to be around when the guest arrives and ask if they need any recommendations or local directions. You can usually tell what level of interaction the guest is expecting at that time. If we are not around when they arrive, we alway message to make sure they settled in ok and to let us know if they need anything.

One host summed it up well: “Meeting and greeting them personally when they arrive greatly enhances the relationship because when they have made a personal connection with you, they leave your place in better shape [and will leave a better review]. You are no longer a faceless deep pocket entity.”

You can usually tell when level of interaction they are hoping for based on if guests are more talkative in person or via messaging, or if they are straight to the point.

Other hosts have shared similar experiences: “It’s case by case basis for us. Each guest is different. We’ve had a guest have dinner delivered and share with us, guests join us for dinner, and guest that we didn’t even meet during their stay in our home! (We have self check in and they got in during a time we weren’t home). Use your best judgment! 🙂”

Personally, as host we have had guests on both sides of the interaction spectrum. We had a guest stay with us for one week and asked if there was a night he could buy us pizza and have dinner. This was surprising but a kind gesture, and we had a great time sharing a meal and chatting with him.

Another time we ended up getting drinks with a couple that was staying with us. We even met up with a former guest (she had stayed with us for three months) while visiting Denver last year. On the flip side, we have had plenty of guests that are quiet and say hi and then retreat to their rooms and we barely or never interact after that. There’s not a perfect formula of communication or involvement when hosting– except that you always want to follow your guests’ lead.