How to get 5-star reviews at your holiday rental

March 4, 2025

Relaxed holiday rental host, with no check-in incidents

If you rent your flat on platforms like Airbnb or Booking, you know the review is everything: it sets your position in the results, your occupancy and, ultimately, your income. That's why you take care of every detail of the stay.

But that review starts being decided much earlier than it seems: at the moment of entry. A complicated check-in —a key that doesn't turn up, a system that won't open, a call at an odd hour— is the fastest route to a three-star review, no matter how flawless the apartment is.

Whether you manage hundreds of holiday properties or it's your first, you have two priorities you never lose sight of:

Get 5-star reviews.
Manage smoothly and without interruptions.

The key is to get ahead of access incidents before they happen. And for that, you first have to understand what the guest needs right when they arrive.

What the guest needs on arrival

To rest. The trip is sometimes long and they just want to get in.
Ease. They don't feel like deciphering complicated instructions.
Privacy. They don't fancy an in-person key handover at a set time.

When access fails on any of these points, frustration appears. And first-minute frustration ends up being paid in the review.

A last-minute call, a guest locked out on the street, and you know how it ends: a bad review you'll drag along for months.

The 3 most common access incidents (and how to get ahead)

1. The guest hasn't read or doesn't understand the instructions

Many travellers don't pay attention to the messages beforehand and leave everything to the last minute. If the entry system isn't intuitive, they get stuck not knowing what to do. The solution is access so simple it doesn't need explaining.

2. Confusion with keys and boxes on the street

Key lockboxes hung on the entrance or on street furniture create problems: neighbour complaints, a bad image and guests who mix up one apartment's box with another's. Plus they're increasingly flagged by regulation. Ideally, don't expose any key outside the building. We explain why the key lockbox has fallen behind in this guide on alternatives to the key lockbox.

3. The opening system doesn't respond

Many systems depend on wifi or batteries, and that's where the ill-timed incidents come from:

The wifi is unstable or drops.
The access device's battery runs out.
The router freezes or breaks down.
The power goes out in the apartment and the router switches off.

Depending on a device's maintenance means that, sooner or later, something will fail just when a guest arrives. That's why it's worth choosing a system that doesn't depend on wifi, uses no batteries and keeps working even if the apartment's power goes out.

The solution: keyless access from the intercom

The simplest, most reliable way to solve building access is Keeppe: a small device installed inside the intercom that opens the entrance automatically when the guest rings. No exposed keys, no app and no dependence on wifi or batteries.

How does the guest get in?

1. They ring the intercom.

2. They wait a few seconds.

3. The entrance opens, as if someone buzzed them in from the flat.

The simplest arrival instructions you can give a guest.

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Frequently asked questions

Does it require attention on the guest's arrival?

No. Guests get in on their own by following very simple instructions.

What happens if the power goes out or the internet fails?

Keeppe keeps working. It doesn't depend on the home's internet or electricity, but on the building's general supply.

Is it discreet?

Yes. The device can lower the intercom buzzer sound so it doesn't disturb the neighbours.

Does it need permission from the residents' association?

No. It's installed inside the apartment's private intercom, without touching communal elements.

Does it require maintenance?

It uses no batteries and requires no subscription. It will simply always work.

Does it work if I manage several apartments?

Yes, it's ideal for anyone managing several homes: it removes trips to hand over or collect keys. Discover how to automate access for your holiday flats.