Airbnb Guidebooks: What They Are, Why They Fall Short, and What Hosts Actually Need
If you're an Airbnb host, you've probably heard of Airbnb's built-in guidebook feature. Maybe you've even tried to set one up. But if you've ever felt frustrated by its limitations — or wondered why your guests keep asking the same questions despite having a guidebook — you're not alone.
Let's break down what Airbnb guidebooks actually are, where they fall short, and what modern hosts are doing instead.
What Is an Airbnb Guidebook?
An Airbnb guidebook is a built-in feature that lets hosts create curated lists of local recommendations for their guests. Think of it as a collection of pins on a map — your favorite restaurants, nearby attractions, the best coffee shop within walking distance.
Hosts can create guidebooks from their listing dashboard under Info for guests > Post-booking details > Guidebooks. Each listing can have one primary guidebook linked to it, which appears publicly on the listing page. Additional guidebooks can be shared after booking through the Trips tab or Airbnb messaging.
The feature is separate from Airbnb's House Manual, which is where hosts add property-specific instructions like Wi-Fi passwords, check-in procedures, and appliance instructions.
How Guests Access Guidebooks
Here's where it gets tricky. Airbnb guidebooks are:
- Public — anyone browsing your listing can see your primary guidebook, not just confirmed guests
- Available in the guest's Trips tab after booking
- Shareable via link through Airbnb's messaging
- Accessible when Airbnb's system prompts "quick replies" for common guest questions
The problem? Most guests never find them. The guidebook is tucked away in the confirmation page after booking, and there's no prominent notification or reminder that it exists. Hosts consistently report that guests overlook the guidebook entirely and end up messaging with the same questions the guidebook was supposed to answer.
The 7 Biggest Limitations of Airbnb's Guidebook
After talking to hundreds of short-term rental hosts and analyzing community feedback, here are the most common pain points:
1. No Multimedia Support
You can't add videos, instructional photos, or interactive walkthroughs. The guidebook is essentially a list of Google Maps links. Want to show guests how to operate the espresso machine with a quick video? Not possible within Airbnb's guidebook.
2. No Property Instructions
This is the biggest disconnect. The guidebook only handles local recommendations. House rules, Wi-Fi codes, check-out procedures, appliance guides — none of this fits in the guidebook. The separate "house manual" feature exists, but it's equally limited and lives in a different place.
3. Platform-Locked
If you list on Vrbo, Booking.com, or take direct bookings through your own website, your Airbnb guidebook stays on Airbnb. You can't export it, share it across platforms, or use it for non-Airbnb guests. You end up maintaining multiple sources of truth.
4. Poor Discoverability
As mentioned above, guests consistently don't find or read the guidebook. It's buried in the booking flow rather than sent proactively. Many hosts report sending the guidebook link manually through messages — defeating the purpose of automation.
5. No Revenue Opportunities
You can't offer upsells, add-on services, or earn referral income through the guidebook. Partner with a local tour company? Want to offer early check-in for a fee? The guidebook can't help with that.
6. Only Google Maps Listings
The native guidebook can only feature places that appear on Google Maps. That hidden gem trail, your neighbor's unlisted farm stand, or the local artist's studio that isn't on any map — they can't be recommended through Airbnb's guidebook.
7. Clunky Editing Experience
Hosts in Airbnb's own community forums describe the guidebook editor as "clumsy, too restrictive and not user friendly." Others report having "nothing but problems" when trying to send recommendations, with one host noting, "I just don't think it is a focus for them."
The 2025 Policy Change That Made Things Worse
In May 2025, Airbnb introduced its Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy, which added strict rules — enforced by Airbnb's AI monitoring system — around external links and guest communication:
What's now prohibited:
- Guidebooks with booking links or external redirects
- Guest portals requiring login or personal data collection
- Mandatory email collection as a condition of check-in
- Off-platform review requests
- Directing guests to external apps or websites for stay details
What's still allowed:
- Information-only guidebooks without external links
- Digital key or concierge apps if they are optional
- Required redirects for legal or compliance reasons
This policy pushed many hosts to maintain dual guidebook versions: one Airbnb-compliant version (no external links) and a full version distributed via email, SMS, or compliant property management tools.
What Hosts Actually Need From a Guidebook
Based on what top-rated hosts include in their guest communication, a complete guidebook should cover:
- Check-in/check-out procedures — smart lock codes, parking instructions, step-by-step directions
- Wi-Fi details — front and center, not buried three pages deep
- House rules — quiet hours, pet policies, smoking rules, trash disposal
- Appliance instructions — thermostat, coffee maker, washer/dryer, TV/streaming setup
- Local recommendations — restaurants, activities, grocery stores, pharmacies, hidden gems
- Emergency information — nearest hospital, emergency numbers, host contact info
- Visual guides — photos and videos showing how things work
The key insight: guests want one place with everything, not a scattered collection of links and house manual entries spread across multiple platform features.
The Impact of a Great Guidebook
This isn't just about convenience. Hosts with well-organized, comprehensive guidebooks consistently report:
- More five-star reviews — guests appreciate feeling prepared and informed
- Fewer last-minute messages — the guidebook answers questions before they're asked
- Faster guest onboarding — check-in becomes self-service
- Higher search rankings — better reviews lead to more visibility on Airbnb
- Increased repeat bookings — personalized local recommendations create memorable stays
Studies show that 84% of vacation rental companies include some form of printed guidebook within the property. But printed guides get outdated, damaged, and ignored. A digital guidebook that's accessible via a simple link or QR code solves all of these problems.
A Better Approach: Digital Guidebooks
Modern digital guidebook platforms address every limitation of Airbnb's built-in feature:
| Feature | Airbnb Guidebook | Digital Guidebook Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Local recommendations | Google Maps only | Any location, custom entries |
| Property instructions | Separate house manual | Fully integrated |
| Photos and videos | Very limited | Unlimited multimedia |
| Custom branding | Airbnb branding only | Your brand, your colors |
| Multi-platform | Airbnb only | Works everywhere |
| Offline access | No | Yes (PWA) |
| Multiple languages | No translation | Auto-translation |
| Analytics | None | Full usage tracking |
| QR code access | No | Standard feature |
The best part? Guests access your guidebook through a simple link or QR code — no app download required. It works on any device, any platform, and for any booking channel.
Getting Started
If you're tired of answering the same guest questions and want to give your guests a professional, comprehensive guidebook experience, the first step is simple: consolidate everything into one place.
Gather your check-in instructions, Wi-Fi details, house rules, appliance guides, and local recommendations. Then choose a digital guidebook platform that lets you share it all through a single link.
Your guests will thank you. Your reviews will reflect it. And you'll finally stop typing the same Wi-Fi password into Airbnb messages at midnight.
Ready to create your digital guidebook? Get started with Guidefy — set up your guide in under 3 minutes with our Airbnb import feature.