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Category: Off-Topic & Lounge
By: Ryan Tanaka
Reply by Emily Chen:
A couple booked my beach house for what I thought was a normal vacation. Three days before check-in, the husband messaged me: "I'm proposing to my girlfriend during this trip. Is there any chance you could help make the stay special?" I left a bottle of champagne, scattered rose petals on the bed, and put a card on the nightstand that said "Congratulations to the future [Girlfriend's name]!" She said yes on the beach that evening. They sent me photos and the most beautiful 5-star review I've ever received. They've booked my place for their anniversary every year since. That's the kind of guest interaction that makes everything worth it. ❤️ Cost of the champagne and roses: $30. Lifetime repeat guests paying $200+/night: priceless.
Reply by Tyler Jackson:
I had a family of 4 book my property for 2 weeks — parents and their 2 kids (ages 6 and 8). On day 3, the dad messaged asking if I could recommend a birthday cake shop because his daughter was turning 7. I called a local bakery and had them deliver a small birthday cake with the daughter's name on it. Left it in the fridge before they returned that afternoon. The mom called me CRYING with gratitude. Their review was 5 stars with a paragraph about how "this host went above and beyond." But honestly, I didn't do it for the review. The $25 cake made a little girl's birthday special in a city where she knew nobody. That's what hosting should be about.
Reply by Michael Thompson:
Not heartwarming but hilarious: a guest from Japan gifted me an elaborate chopstick set because they "felt bad about eating all the snacks in the welcome basket." The chopstick set was easily $40+. I now have a beautiful Japanese chopstick display in my kitchen and I've started including chopsticks in my kitchenware because of that guest. Cultural exchange through Airbnb — who knew? 😂
Reply by Brandon Harris:
A solo traveling nurse booked my mid-term rental for 3 months. She was doing a travel nursing assignment at the local hospital and was far from home (moved from Georgia to Minnesota in January). I invited her to my family's Thanksgiving dinner (she was working Christmas). She's become one of our closest family friends. She's booked my property for 3 separate assignments now and recommends my listing to every traveling nurse she knows. Sometimes the best thing about hosting isn't the income — it's the people you meet.