Family-friendly amenities for your Airbnb

In many ways, families are the ideal guests.

• They tend to book longer stays.
• They’re generally responsible and don’t often pose a security risk.
• They usually spend most of their vacation out-and-about, minimizing the time they spend in the home.

It gets better. According to the 2021 US Family Travel Survey by the Family Travel Association, nearly 9 out of 10 parents (88%) said they were likely to travel with their children in the next year.

By making the right changes and purchases, you can make your vacation rental or Airbnb more appealing to these families—especially those traveling with young children. Being family friendly means making things easier for the parents, but more fun and safe for the kids.

Here are some smart ways to attract more family bookings and make your vacation home more kid-friendly:

1. Keep kids comfy

Parents not only want their own restful nights of sleep, they want that for their kids, too. So, create cozy spaces that will help even the fussiest of children get some shut-eye. Here’s the secret: Make it fun. Parents will appreciate any playfulness you can bring to make kids want to go to bed, whether that’s with fun interior design or colorful character bed sheets.

Some furniture to consider:

• Bunk beds
• Trundle beds
• Sofas and couches upholstered in Sunbrella fabric, which is made for heavy use and easy to clean.

One vital furniture shopping tip: Buy the sturdiest bed frames you can. Children have the tendency to treat beds and couches like mini trampolines, so make sure they can withstand jumps and jostles.

2. Keep kids’ gear on hand

When at home, parents usually have all the large essentials to help prevent their children from falling or wandering off. Lighten their load by providing all the necessities that are too large and too tiresome to drag onto the plane or cram into the family car. Some items to invest in:

• Crib
• Playpen
• High chair
• Baby gates
• Stroller
• Baby bathtub

3. Keep kids entertained

Family vacations are for bonding, playing, and laughing. Stock your home with plenty of items that bring on the fun. Not only will you make the kids happy, you’ll be giving parents a break from having to entertain the young ones all day. Some ways to keep the entire family preoccupied:

• Board games
• TV and a streaming device
• DVD player and family-friendly DVDs
• Family-friendly books
• Foosball table
• Ping pong table
• Playing cards
• Pool table
• Puzzles
• Strong WiFi to support multiple devices

4. Keep kids safe

Safety is every parent’s top priority. Show them you care about their family’s well-being as much as they do. Don’t just childproof your vacation home, but the entire guest experience. Some precautions to take:

• Anchor bookshelves to the wall
• Attach corner guards and edge protectors to furniture
• Avoid glass decor as much as possible, such as coffee tables or vases
• Buy audio baby monitors
• Buy shatterproof, kid-friendly dinnerware, such as melamine cutlery, cups, and bowls
• Clear the clutter so there’s less to break or trip on
• Install child safety locks onto lower cabinets
• Offer easy-to-attach safety gates for staircases
• Put safety covers on outlets
• Store fragile items—wine glasses, mugs, plates—on a higher shelf
• Wall-mount TVs rather than placing them on a TV stand

5. Keep kids adventuring

New experiences can bring families closer together. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons why parents invest in family vacations in the first place. Help them create those wonderful new memories by offering ways to get out and explore. Here’s how to do that:

• Create a guidebook specifically focused on kid-friendly attractions, activities, and dining in the area.
• Purchase some adult and kid bikes, plus suggest nearby bike trails.
• Live near a beach or lake? Buy some paddleboards, boogie boards, a canoe, or kayak.
  

Vacasa tip for marketing to families: Draw more attention to your listing by using the terms “family-friendly” and “kid-friendly” in your title and description.

Traveling with kids in tow can be both rewarding and stressful for parents. So, they’ll search specifically for accommodations that allow them to vacation with ease (and light luggage). Use this list to make your vacation rental more appealing to parents and kids alike, boosting your amount of family bookings.