Adapting holiday rentals for winter tourism

February 2024

The winter season treats us to chilly landscapes, sometimes blanketed in snow, making it an ideal time for winter sports enthusiasts. This time of year presents an excellent opportunity to lure guests by advertising your holiday home. In this article, we’ll explore how to make your property irresistible, offering quality services and ensuring safety measures during bookings.

It’s important to remember not to worry about having fewer bookings in winter. Although it may not always be the peak tourist season, you can turn it to your advantage. Many guests choose this time to unwind and escape their daily routines.

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Welcoming winter services

Start by transforming the entrance of your holiday rental into a warm and inviting space. Add soft blankets, fluffy pillows, and seasonal decor reflecting the winter theme. A warm welcome from the get-go will make your guests feel at home.

• Special welcome kits: Add an extra touch of hospitality by providing kits designed specifically for the winter season. Include items like hot chocolate, gloves, and maps of local activities such as skiing.
• Ensure space safety: Before guests arrive, ensure the space is winter-ready. Check the heating, ensure windows are insulated, and provide clear instructions on using heating systems safely, with easy-to-understand paper or digital guides.
• Emergency information: Provide detailed information on emergency measures, including contact numbers for hospitals and fire stations, and highlight the locations of fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

Winter safety measures

• Ensure safety in outdoor areas by equipping them with non-slip flooring to prevent possible falls, especially in icy or snowy conditions. Safe flooring is crucial to make your guests feel comfortable and protected during their winter stay, particularly if they are elderly.
• Include snow shovels to keep entrances clear, de-icing salt to prevent dangerous build-ups, and flashlights that may be useful in case of power outages. Before the winter season, conduct a thorough review of heating systems, ensuring they operate efficiently, and provide detailed instructions on their use.
• Offer detailed information on thermostat operation, explain temperature settings according to individual preferences, and provide tips on efficient heating use to ensure your guests enjoy a warm and cosy environment without worries.

Winter tricks and tips

Apartment insulation:

• Seal gaps and holes with putty: Inspect all areas susceptible to drafts meticulously. Use quality putty to seal any gaps or holes, paying special attention to areas around doors and windows.
• Install draught excluders on doors and windows: Purchase self-adhesive draught excluders suitable for the dimensions of your doors and windows. Place the draught excluders on the frames to prevent air leaks and maintain a constant temperature indoors.
• Check the operation of blinds: Repair or lubricate any mechanism presenting difficulties to ensure effective closure.
• Incorporate double glazing: Consult professionals to assess the feasibility of installing double glazing on your windows. This type of glazing provides not only thermal insulation but also reduces external noise, enhancing the guest experience.
• Reinforce window edges with insulating strips: Apply adhesive insulating strips to window edges to prevent air leaks.

Heating systems:

• Check the operation of radiators, boilers, and other heating systems: Ensure radiators heat uniformly and the boiler operates smoothly.
• Adjust boiler pressure between 1.2Bar and 1.5Bar: Use a pressure gauge to measure the boiler pressure and adjust it within the recommended range. Proper pressure ensures optimal performance and avoids potential issues in the system.
• Clean radiators for efficient water flow: Once a year, open the radiator bleed valve to purge accumulated water. Additionally, remove dust and sediment accumulated in the radiators that can affect their operation.
• Change the direction of ceiling fan blades: During winter, turn the ceiling fan blades counterclockwise. This helps redistribute accumulated heat at the top of the room downward, improving heating efficiency.

Promoting local winter activities

Enhance the experience of renting your holiday home in winter by sharing and highlighting local events. Research winter festivals, markets, and sports competitions taking place during the winter season and share this information in your listing description.

• Collaborations: Offer your guests exclusive discounts on activities such as skiing, snowboarding, or sledging. This collaboration not only enhances your guests’ experience but also boosts the local economy. Encouraging participation in local activities is an effective way to promote winter tourism.
• Themed decorations: Use decorative elements like bright lights, garlands, and candles to create a cosy atmosphere reflecting the magic of the season.
• Leisure corners: Create a cosy corner with blankets and cushions near a window with winter views. Add winter-themed books and local magazines for your guests to enjoy quiet moments during their stay. This personalized touch will set you apart from the rest.
• Install a fireplace: This feature is perfect for sharing with friends, family, or enjoying as a couple. You can choose a gas or electric fireplace; to determine the best option, we recommend conducting a cost study for installation and monthly billing for these services.

Contenido relevante para anunciar tu alquiler vacacional

Your holiday rental listing must be fully optimised for the winter season. This includes incorporating attractive images that highlight the winter features of your property and updating relevant content about activities available during this season according to the community where the property is located. A well-designed website like ours at Holidu will help capture the attention of potential guests and motivate them to book. Follow these recommendations to position yourself at the top:

1. If your rental is near ski slopes or winter hiking trails, add this information to your description.
2. Provide detailed information on how your guests can make the most of the winter season during their stay.
3. Use images that showcase the property in the winter season, with details such as lit fireplaces, festive decorations, and snowy views to pique the interest of potential guests.
4. Highlight elements like soft blankets, decorative cushions, and comfortable bedding that help create a cosy and pleasant atmosphere.
5. Emphasise keywords in your ad descriptions so that potential guests can easily find your property on internet search engines. These could include “rental for winter sports,” “holiday rental for skiing,” “winter tourism,” and “winter holidays.”

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