45+ Airbnb Review Examples for Hosts and Guests (2026)

Quick answer: a good Airbnb review is short, specific and fair. Name what made the stay (or the guest) easy, mention one thing that could be better if there was one, and finish with whether you would recommend them. Below are 45+ copy-and-adapt examples: guests reviewing hosts, hosts reviewing guests, private notes, and replies to critical reviews.

Reviews are the currency of Airbnb. Guests use them to decide where to book, hosts use them to decide whom to accept, and Airbnb uses the ratings behind them for Superhost and Guest Favorite status. That's why a vague "Great stay!" helps nobody, and why a careless three-word complaint can cost a host real bookings.

How Airbnb reviews work in 2026

• You have 14 days after checkout to write a review, and so does the other side. Airbnb does not extend this window. (Airbnb Help: Reviews for homes)
• Reviews are published together. Both reviews go live once both of you have submitted, or when the 14 days run out, whichever comes first. Neither side can read the other's review before writing their own.
• You can edit until the other person submits. If you review first, you can change your review any time in the 14-day window until the other party submits. After both reviews are published, they can't be edited. (Airbnb Help: Editing a review)
• Guests rate six categories plus overall: cleanliness, accuracy, check-in, communication, location and value. The subcategory stars and any private note are seen only by the host and Airbnb; the written review and overall rating are public.
• Hosts rate guests on three categories: cleanliness, house rules and communication, from 1 to 5 stars. A guest's star ratings are not shown on their public profile. Future hosts see them only when the guest requests or books. The written review is public. (Airbnb Help: Your reviews from hosts)
• Either side can post one public response to a review about them, and it appears immediately under the review. (Airbnb Help: Responding to a review)

What the stars really mean

On Airbnb, five stars is the expected result of a stay that went as described, not a mark for something exceptional. Hosts' search ranking, Superhost status and Guest Favorite badge all depend on keeping the average close to 5. In practice a 4-star rating reads as "something went wrong". If the stay was good but not perfect, a fair approach is five stars with a constructive line in the private note, and fewer stars only for the category where there was a real problem.

How to write a helpful review (a 4-part formula)

1. Open with the verdict. One sentence: would you stay (or host them) again?
2. Give two or three specifics. Check-in, cleanliness, how accurate the listing was, communication, location, something that stood out. Specific details are what the next reader actually uses.
3. Add one fair caveat if there was one. Stairs, street noise, a weak shower. Describe it as information, not as blame.
4. Close with who it suits. "Ideal for couples", "great for a work trip", "not for light sleepers".

Keep it to your own stay and the listing. Airbnb's review policy removes reviews that are irrelevant, not based on the reservation, or discriminatory, and it bans offering or demanding anything (a refund, a discount, a good review in return) in exchange for a review.

Airbnb review examples for hosts (written by guests)

Swap the bracketed parts for your own details. Reviews that sound like a real person are more useful and more believable than copied text.

Short 5-star reviews

• [Host] was a great host: quick replies, clear check-in instructions and a spotless, well-stocked place. We'd happily stay again.
• Exactly as pictured, very clean and a short walk to everything we wanted to see in [city]. Easy self check-in. Recommended.
• Comfortable beds, a great shower and a quiet street, yet five minutes from [landmark]. Thanks [host]!
• Great value for the location. Clean, cosy and everything we needed for a weekend in [city].
• Smooth from start to finish: clear directions, fast answers and a lovely space. Five stars.
• Neat, modern flat right in the centre of [city]. [Host] was flexible where they could be. Thank you!
• Very clean and tidy, walkable to the main sights, and check-in and check-out were seamless.
• Brilliant place and a brilliant host. Always helpful and quick to answer. Would 100% recommend.

Detailed 5-star reviews

• We loved [host]'s place. Check-in was self check-in with a keypad, so we could arrive whenever suited us, and the instructions (with photos) were spot on. The apartment was stylish, spotless and well equipped. The kitchen had everything, including spices and tea and coffee. [Host] checked in once during the stay to make sure all was well, without being intrusive. Would definitely book again.
• [Host]'s flat is ideal as a base for exploring [city]: the main sights are all within a 10-minute walk and the station is 5 minutes away. Beds were very comfortable after long days on our feet. [Host] sent useful local tips before we arrived and answered every question within minutes.
• Pictures don't do this place justice. Quiet, yet close to shops, parks and the train station. Spotlessly clean, comfortable, and great value for money. The welcome guide had everything, down to the bin days.
• We arrived early and messaged [host] to ask about dropping our bags. They made it work, which meant we could start exploring straight away instead of dragging luggage around. The flat itself was clean, bright and very comfortable.
• Communication was excellent from booking to checkout. When we couldn't work out the heating, [host] talked us through it within minutes. The apartment is modern and very clean, and the sofa bed was genuinely comfortable for our fifth guest.

Reviews for families, groups and pets

• Perfect for our family of five: two big comfortable beds plus a sofa bed, a lovely hot shower and a kitchen with everything we needed. We felt lucky to find this place in [town].
• We stayed with our toddler and it was ideal. It was quiet enough to feel away from the tourist crowds but still close to everything. There was a high chair and children's bowls, which saved us packing them. Very clean, great amenities.
• [Host] let our dog stay with us, and the flat was set up for it with a bowl and a spare towel by the door. Great kitchen and common space for our group too. Highly recommend for anyone travelling with a pet.
• Six of us stayed for a friend's birthday weekend. There was plenty of space, enough bathrooms that nobody queued, and [host] was clear and friendly about the quiet hours. A great base.

Reviews for work trips and longer stays

• Great for a work trip: fast, reliable Wi-Fi, a proper desk and chair, and blackout curtains. Check-in by code meant I could arrive late without any fuss.
• We stayed a month and it worked perfectly for a longer stay: a washing machine, a well-equipped kitchen and a mid-stay clean arranged by [host]. It felt like a home, not a hotel room.
• Quiet, clean and close to the office district. [Host] was responsive but gave me space. Exactly what I needed for a week of meetings.

Honest 4-star and constructive reviews

These give the next guest useful information without punishing a host who did most things right.

• A lovely, central flat and a responsive host. The only thing worth knowing is street noise at night on weekends. Pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper. We'd still stay again.
• Great location and very clean. It's on the third floor up a winding staircase with no lift, which is mentioned in the listing but worth planning for with heavy bags.
• Modern and bright, with good communication. For longer stays note there's no dining table, only a breakfast bar. Fine for our one night, less so for a week.
• Comfortable and good value. The Wi-Fi dropped a few times in the evenings. [Host] replied quickly and suggested restarting the router, which helped.

Fair negative reviews

If a stay went badly, stick to facts, say what the host did (or didn't do) about it, and leave out anything personal. Report serious issues to the host during the stay, so they have a chance to fix them and you have a record.

• The listing photos show a renovated kitchen, but the kitchen we had was older and two burners didn't work. We messaged [host] on day one and didn't hear back until checkout. The location is good, but the listing needs updating.
• On arrival the bathroom hadn't been cleaned and there were used towels. [Host] apologised and sent a cleaner the next afternoon. The response was fine, but it was a poor start to a short trip.
• Check-in instructions sent us to the wrong building and it took 40 minutes to reach anyone. Once inside, the flat was as described. Future guests should ask for the exact entrance before arriving.

Airbnb review examples for guests (written by hosts)

This is the part most hosts struggle with. A host's review is the only thing other hosts can read about a guest, so it's worth writing one for every stay, even a one-liner. Rate honestly on cleanliness, house rules and communication, and keep the public text factual.

Great guests

• [Guest] was a wonderful guest: clear communication, followed every house rule and left the place tidy. Welcome back any time.
• Friendly, respectful and easy to host. [Guest] kept us updated on their arrival time and checked out on time. Highly recommended to other hosts.
• [Guest] and family were a pleasure to host. They looked after the home as if it were their own. Five stars.
• Excellent guest. Quick to reply, considerate of the neighbours, and the flat was left in great condition. Would happily host again.
• [Guest] stayed with us for three weeks for work and was the ideal long-stay guest: quiet, tidy and great to communicate with.
• A perfect guest. The home was left spotless and the keys were returned exactly as instructed. Thanks for a smooth stay!

Good guests with a note for other hosts

• [Guest] was friendly and communicated well. Check-in was about two hours later than agreed without notice, but everything else went smoothly.
• Pleasant stay overall. The kitchen needed some extra cleaning after checkout, but [guest] was polite and responsive throughout.
• [Guest] was easy to host. A few extra visitors came during the day, which the house rules don't allow, but they left when asked.

Guests who broke house rules

Stay factual and point to the rule, not the person. Other hosts want to know what happened, not how you feel about it.

• Unfortunately [guest] hosted a party despite the no-parties rule, which led to complaints from neighbours. Would not host again.
• [Guest] smoked inside the property, which the house rules prohibit, and an extra cleaning was needed. Communication before the stay was fine.
• The home was left with significant damage to [item]. We have raised it through Airbnb's Resolution Center. Not recommended.

Never mention a guest's race, religion, nationality, disability or anything else protected. It breaks Airbnb's nondiscrimination policy and gets the review removed. Anything that needs a claim (damage, extra cleaning) belongs in the Resolution Center, not only in the review.

Private feedback examples

The private note goes only to the other person (and Airbnb). It's the right place for small fixes that don't deserve a lower public rating.

• Guest to host: "Thanks for a great stay! One small thing: the bedroom lamp bulb has gone, and a bath mat would be handy."
• Guest to host: "The listing says 5 minutes to the station. It was more like 12 with luggage, so it might be worth updating."
• Host to guest: "Thanks for staying! Just a heads-up for future trips: please strip the beds at checkout if the house manual asks. It really helps the cleaners."

How to reply to a bad review (host response examples)

Your reply is written for future guests, not for the reviewer. Keep it short, calm and factual, thank them, acknowledge any real problem and say what you changed.

• "Thank you for staying and for the feedback on the Wi-Fi. We've since installed a mesh system, and speeds are now above 100 Mbps in every room."
• "We're sorry the check-in instructions were confusing. We've added photos of the entrance and the building number to the arrival guide."
• "Thanks for your review. For future guests: the no-parties rule is stated in the listing and was the reason we asked the group to leave early."

Avoid arguing, sarcasm and anything that reveals the guest's personal information.

What not to write in an Airbnb review

• Anything not based on your stay, such as politics, religion or the neighbourhood's reputation.
• Personal details: addresses, phone numbers, names of people other than the host or guest.
• Threats of a bad review to get a refund, or a promise of a good one in return for a discount. Airbnb treats both as violations.
• Discriminatory, abusive or explicit content.
• A review for a stay you didn't take part in, or for a competitor's listing.

Airbnb review FAQ

How long do I have to leave a review on Airbnb?

14 days after checkout, for both guests and hosts. Airbnb does not extend the window. If you miss it, you can't leave a review for that stay.

When will my review be published?

When both of you have submitted, or when the 14 days end, whichever comes first. Neither side sees the other's review in advance.

Can I edit an Airbnb review after submitting it?

Yes, until the other person submits theirs or the 14-day window ends. After both reviews are published, you can't change them. You can only add a public response.

Can I get a review removed?

Only if it breaks Airbnb's review or content policies, for example because it's irrelevant, discriminatory, retaliatory or part of an extortion attempt. You can request removal from the review itself, and Airbnb usually emails a decision within about 48 hours. Disagreeing with a fair review is not enough. (Airbnb Help: Remove or dispute a review)

Should I review a guest who was just fine?

Yes. A short factual review helps other hosts, and guests with a track record of good reviews find it easier to book. "Quiet, tidy, easy to communicate with" is enough.

Do guests see the star ratings hosts give them?

Hosts' written reviews are public on the guest's profile. The star ratings aren't shown publicly; hosts see them only when that guest requests or books a future stay.

Related: Airbnb message templates for hosts (including checkout and review-reminder messages) and how to contact Airbnb if you need to dispute a review.