I have a confession.
I get far too excited about tiny things for our Airbnb guests.
A cloche of fresh croissants. A perfect little round of butter. A toilet roll folded into a neat triangle.
None of it costs much. All of it gets noticed.
An Airbnb Superhost is a host Airbnb recognises for consistently great stays – high ratings, few cancellations and fast replies. The rules are set by Airbnb. The ratings are set by guests. And guests rate how a stay made them feel.
Here are the small touches I use, and the one big fix we’ve just made.
What It Takes to Become an Airbnb Superhost
The four Superhost criteria
Airbnb checks every host each quarter. According to Airbnb’s Superhost page, over the past year you need:
- An overall rating of 4.8 or higher
- At least 10 completed stays, or 100 nights across at least three stays
- A cancellation rate under 1%
- A response rate of 90% or more to new enquiries within 24 hours
Three of those are about being organised.
The rating is about the guest’s experience. That’s where the small touches come in.
Why little things move your rating
Guests don’t remember the thread count.
They remember that someone thought about them. The welcome. The detail. The feeling that the place was ready for them, not just cleaned.
Those are the stays that get five stars – and the reviews that mention you by name.
Three Small Touches That Cost Next to Nothing
1. The croissants and the champagne-glass butter
Our latest: a cloche of fresh croissants from the local bakery. (It’s a new supplier, so naturally I had to taste-test a couple. For quality control.)
Beside them, a perfect little round of butter in a dish from Provincial Home Living.
How did I get the butter round?
A champagne glass.
It’s not easy – the sides aren’t straight – so Stephen has promised to make me a proper cutter. Guests only need enough for two croissants anyway.
It’s so damn cute.
2. The 10-second toilet roll fold
This one works whether you’re styling to sell or setting up for a guest. It takes ten seconds and costs nothing.
The spare rolls are tucked away nicely. But the one on the holder? Looks a bit unloved.
- Fold the end into a triangle.
- Fold it into another triangle.
- Press the tip against a tap you’ve just run, so it’s a little damp.
And there you go. A neat little embossed stamp.
Small touch. Big impression.
3. Local, fresh and a little bit special
The croissants work because they’re local and fresh. That’s the formula.
Something from a nearby bakery, café or market says “welcome to the area” better than anything from a supermarket.
Keep it small. Keep it easy to restock. And keep it the same every stay, so your cleaner can set it up without you.
The Big Fix: Better Airbnb Photos
Our photos weren’t great
Photos are everything on Airbnb.
And I’ll be honest. Ours weren’t great.
So we’ve brought in a seriously talented photographer to reshoot the place. Stephen is hovering, picking up tips (he’s an amateur photographer and loving every minute).
Our experiment
Where we’re starting from:
- Five five-star reviews
- Already a Superhost
Not a bad base. Which is exactly why I’m curious.
Once the new photos are live, I’ll track our income to see what difference they make. Can better photos alone move the numbers?
I’ll report back.
What good Airbnb photos show
- Light. Shoot on a bright day, with every blind open and every light on.
- The hero shot first. The room or view guests will book for.
- The small touches. The croissants, the butter, the styled bed. They tell guests what kind of host you are.
- Every room, honestly. A guest who feels misled won’t give you five stars, however good the butter.
Small Touches, Big Reviews
Superhost status comes from doing the basics well and adding a little something guests didn’t expect.
Reply fast. Don’t cancel. Keep it spotless.
Then add the croissants.
If you’re renovating a property for short stays, or styling one to sell, read three ways I’m using Airbnb in our renovation projects. And if you’d like help working out whether Airbnb suits a property you own, book a discovery call.
Airbnb Superhost: Your Questions Answered
What are the requirements to become an Airbnb Superhost?
A 4.8 or higher overall rating, at least 10 stays (or 100 nights over three stays), a cancellation rate under 1% and a 90% response rate, all measured over the past year.
How often does Airbnb check Superhost status?
Every quarter: on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October.
What small touches do Airbnb guests love?
Fresh, local treats, a styled welcome and small details that show care – like a folded toilet roll or a round of butter for the croissants.
Do better photos get more Airbnb bookings?
Photos are the first thing guests judge. We’re testing it now on our own listing and will share the results.
