Airbnb stay · Pre-departure
What should I bring to an Airbnb that may not be provided?
An Airbnb rarely restocks like a hotel, so bring toiletries, a towel if the listing does not confirm one, coffee and a bin bag or two. Carry your check-in instructions and door code offline, because self check-in fails without a signal. The usual essentials still apply: identification, a payment card, medication, glasses, your phone and its charger.
Do not leave without
Without these you cannot get in, or cannot manage once you are in. There is no front desk to solve it.
What the host may not provide
The real difference from a hotel. Missing any of it means a shop run on your first evening.
Commonly forgotten
Recoverable, but you will pay tourist prices to replace any of it.
Nice to have
Comfort only. Skip any of it without consequence.
Related questions
What does an Airbnb not provide that a hotel does?
Most commonly toiletries beyond a starter bar, daily housekeeping, spare towels, tea and coffee, and anyone to ask at 11pm. Some hosts stock all of it. The listing description is the only reliable guide.
What if the door code does not work?
Message the host through the booking platform first, since that record matters if the booking is disputed. Save the host number and the platform help line offline before you travel, because the failure case is usually also the no-signal case.
What are you usually asked to do before leaving an Airbnb?
Bag the rubbish, start a dishwasher, strip beds if asked, and return keys to a lockbox. The house rules state it, and reviews reflect it, so read them on arrival rather than on the last morning.
Airbnb stay essentials at a glance
- Check-in instructions and door code
- Photo ID or passport
- Payment card in your name
- Prescription medication
- Phone and charging cable
- Glasses or contact lenses
- Toiletries
- A towel
- Coffee or tea
- Bin bags
What this covers
This checklist focuses on the gap between a hotel and a short-let flat. It is not a complete clothing list, and individual listings vary.