How guest reviews work on Airbnb
After check-out, you and your guest each have 14 days to review the other. Reviews stay hidden until both of you have submitted one, or until the 14 days end. So write yours honestly: the guest can’t see it before writing theirs.
Your review is written for other hosts. They want three things: did the guest communicate, did they look after the place, and did they follow the house rules. Keep it to two or three sentences that answer those.
Positive guest review examples
Great guest (general)
[Guest name] was a wonderful guest. Communication was quick and friendly, they followed the house rules and left the apartment clean and tidy. We'd happily host them again.
Family
[Guest name] and family were lovely guests. They looked after the house as if it were their own, kept us updated on their arrival time and left everything in great order. Highly recommended to other hosts.
Work trip
[Guest name] stayed with us for a work trip and was an easy, respectful guest: clear communication, quiet, and the flat was left spotless. Welcome back any time.
Long stay
[Guest name] stayed with us for [number] weeks and was a pleasure to host. They took good care of the place, reported a small issue straight away so we could fix it, and left everything as they found it. We'd recommend them to any host.
First-time Airbnb guest
Guests with no reviews struggle to book. A specific review from you helps them, and other hosts, a lot.
This was [Guest name]'s first Airbnb stay and you'd never know it. They read the check-in instructions, asked good questions beforehand and left the place clean. A great guest for any host.
Mixed and negative guest review examples
Be factual and calm. Describe what happened and its effect, not the guest’s character. Future guests read your reviews too, and a measured tone reflects well on you.
Mostly fine, with a problem
[Guest name] was friendly and easy to communicate with. They checked out about an hour later than agreed and the kitchen needed extra cleaning, but otherwise the stay went well.
House rules broken
Unfortunately [Guest name] did not follow the house rules. Despite the no-parties rule, there was a gathering with several extra people on [night], and neighbours complained about the noise. We would not host this guest again.
Damage not reported
[Guest name] communicated well before arrival, but the [item, e.g. "sofa"] was damaged during the stay and this wasn't reported to us. We had to arrange a repair after check-out. We would not recommend this guest.
For damage, also use Airbnb’s resolution process and keep photos with dates. The review tells other hosts; the resolution process is how you get the cost covered.
Private feedback instead of a public mention
Small things other hosts don’t need to know about can go in the private feedback to the guest:
Hi [Guest name], thanks again for staying. Just so you know for next time: the recycling goes in the blue bin by the gate, not the kitchen bin. Otherwise everything was great!
How to reply to reviews guests leave you
Your reply is public and sits under the guest’s review. It’s really written for the next guest reading your listing, so thank people, own real problems and say what you changed.
Positive review
Thank you, [Guest name]! We're so glad you enjoyed [specific thing they mentioned, e.g. "the sunset from the balcony"]. You were wonderful guests and you're welcome back any time.
Mixed review
Thank you for the feedback, [Guest name]. You're right about [issue, e.g. "the noise from the street"], and since your stay we've [what you changed, e.g. "added double glazing in the bedroom"]. We're glad you enjoyed [positive thing] and hope to welcome you again.
Negative review
We're sorry the stay didn't meet your expectations, [Guest name]. [Brief fact-based context, e.g. "The hot water issue was caused by a building-wide outage, which we fixed within three hours."] We've since [what you changed]. Future guests can always reach us on [how] and we'll respond as quickly as we can.
- Wait a day before replying to a review that stings.
- No arguing about details in public. One sentence of context, then what you did about it.
- Never share the guest’s private information in a reply.
How to ask guests for a review
Send one message the day after check-out, with the link. Don’t ask for “5 stars”: ask for a review, and invite them to tell you first if something could have been better.
Hi [Guest name], Thank you for staying at [Property name]. I hope you had a great time and a good trip home. If you have a minute, a review helps other guests find us and means a lot to a small host like us: [link to your listing] And if anything could have been better, I'd love to hear it here first. Thanks again, [Your name]
The best moment to ask is also while guests are still in the house and enjoying it. A gstl.ink private page can show an “Enjoying your stay? Leave a review” button that links straight to your listing.
Questions hosts ask
How long do I have to review an Airbnb guest?
Hosts and guests have 14 days after check-out to write a review. Neither review is shown until both have been submitted or the 14 days are over, so you can be honest without worrying about a reply in kind.
What should I write in a review for a good guest?
Two or three specific sentences for other hosts: how they communicated, how they left the place, and whether they followed the house rules. End with a clear recommendation, such as “We’d happily host them again.”
How do I review a guest who caused problems?
Stick to facts other hosts need, in a calm tone: what happened, not how you felt about it. Leave out personal details and insults. Anything you want the guest to know but others don’t need goes in the private feedback instead.
Should I reply to every review I get?
Reply to all negative and mixed reviews, and to positive ones when you can add something (a thank-you with a detail). Future guests read the replies to see how you handle problems.
How can I get more guests to leave a review?
Ask once, kindly, the day after check-out, with the link. Guests who had a smooth stay are the ones most likely to forget. A gstl.ink private page can also show a “Leave a review” button that links to your listing.