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Category: Guest Communication
By: James Wu
Reply by Daniel Kowalski:
Multi-language hosting is actually a big competitive advantage in Miami. Here's what I do: 1. **Create a visual check-in guide.** Photos with arrows and numbered steps. "Step 1: Find this lockbox [photo]. Step 2: Enter code 1234 [photo of keypad]. Step 3: Turn handle left [photo]." No words needed. 2. **Translate your house manual into the top 3-4 languages for your market.** For Miami, that's Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Google Translate is ~90% accurate for simple instructions. Have a native speaker review it once and you're set. 3. **Use Google Translate in the Airbnb app.** Airbnb has a built-in translation feature — when a guest messages you in Portuguese, tap "translate" and it converts to English. Reply in English and the guest can translate it on their end. 4. **Create a QR code that links to your house manual** in their language. Stick it on the fridge. Guest arrives, scans QR, reads instructions in their native language. Our house manual generator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/house-manual-generator can help you build this. 5. **For emergency info, use universal symbols.** 🚒🏥👮♂️ with phone numbers. No translation needed.
Reply by David Okafor:
Hospitable (https://hospitable.com) has an auto-translate feature that detects the guest's language and sends your automated messages translated. So your check-in instructions go out in the guest's preferred language automatically. That alone is worth the subscription for multi-language markets.
Reply by Kevin O'Brien:
Quick tip: record a 1-minute video walkthrough of check-in on your phone and upload it to YouTube (unlisted). Put the link in your pre-check-in message. Video transcends language barriers — the guest can see exactly what to do even if they can't read a word of English. Way more effective than written instructions.