Holiday Let Information Pack: What to Include for Guests
A good holiday let information pack should make staying at the property easier.
It should help guests find essential information without searching through old messages, contacting the host for routine questions or trying to work out how the property operates on their own.
But an effective information pack is not simply a folder filled with everything you know about the accommodation.
The most useful packs are organised around the guest journey:
arrive → settle in → use the property → explore the area → prepare to leave
That makes information easier to find when it is actually needed.
For UK holiday lets, the terms guest information pack, holiday let welcome pack, welcome book and guest guide are often used for very similar resources. The format matters less than whether the information is clear, current and easy for guests to access.
What Is a Holiday Let Information Pack?
A holiday let information pack is a central source of practical information about a holiday property and the guest stay.
It may be:
- a printed book or folder kept inside the property
- a digital PDF
- an online guest guide
- or a combination of printed and digital information
Its main purpose is to answer the practical questions guests are likely to have during their stay.
That might include how to connect to Wi-Fi, where to park, how an appliance works, what the house rules are, what to do in an emergency and how to leave the property at check-out.
A well-organised pack reduces the need for guests to search across booking messages, printed notices and separate instructions.
Is a Holiday Let Information Pack the Same as an Airbnb Welcome Book?
In practice, they can serve the same purpose.
The difference is often terminology rather than function.
Airbnb welcome book is commonly used by hosts discussing properties listed on Airbnb.
Holiday let information pack or guest information pack is particularly natural terminology in the UK holiday-letting market.
A property listed across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo or a direct-booking website does not need separate guest guides for each platform.
The information pack should belong to the property, not the booking channel.
That means one well-designed property guide can support guests regardless of where the reservation originated.
For a deeper explanation of the welcome-book format itself, see What Should an Airbnb Welcome Book Include?
Start With the Guest Journey
One of the easiest ways to make an information pack confusing is to organise it according to how the host thinks about the property.
Guests think differently.
They usually want answers in roughly this order:
How do I arrive?
How do I get inside?
What do I need to know immediately?
How does the property work?
What can I do nearby?
What do I need to do before leaving?
So instead of creating an information pack as a random collection of pages, structure it around those moments.
This makes it easier for a guest to scan the contents and find what they need quickly.
Arrival Information
The first section should help the guest get from arrival to settling in with as little friction as possible.
Useful arrival information may include:
- property address
- check-in time
- parking guidance
- building or gate access
- key collection
- lockbox instructions
- smart-lock guidance
- entrance directions
- contact details for arrival problems
Keep this section particularly clear.
A guest who is standing outside the property with luggage does not want to read three pages of background information.
Detailed arrival instructions can also be sent before check-in, while the information pack provides an easy reference once the guest is at the property.
For more detail, see Airbnb Check-In Instructions: What to Include + Examples.
Wi-Fi Information
Wi-Fi details should be extremely easy to find.
Include:
Network name
Password
If there are separate networks or unusual connection instructions, explain them briefly.
You may also choose to display the Wi-Fi details separately on a small sign inside the property because this is one of the few pieces of information guests often need repeatedly.
The important thing is consistency.
Do not let the sign say one password while the information pack says another.
Essential Property Information
This section should help guests understand the practical setup of the accommodation.
Depending on the property, this might cover:
- heating or air conditioning
- hot water
- television
- kitchen appliances
- washing machine
- dishwasher
- coffee machine
- windows or shutters
- fireplace
- outdoor equipment
- bins and recycling
- access to shared facilities
Avoid turning the information pack into a complete appliance manual.
If something works normally, it probably does not need detailed instructions.
Focus on anything guests are likely to misunderstand or anything that operates differently from what they may expect.
House Rules
House rules belong in the information pack, but they should be presented clearly and respectfully.
The pack can contain the full set of property rules, while any framed house-rules sign inside the property should normally show only the most important reminders.
Possible topics include:
- smoking
- parties or events
- quiet hours
- pets
- additional visitors
- parking
- shared areas
- rubbish
- property security
The information in the pack should also be consistent with the rules communicated through the booking platform or direct-booking process.
For examples and guidance, see Airbnb House Rules Examples: What to Include in Your Holiday Rental.
Emergency Information
Emergency information should never be difficult to find.
Include the property address clearly, because guests may need to provide it quickly when asking for assistance.
Useful information may also include:
- local emergency number
- host or property-manager contact
- nearest appropriate medical facility
- location of the first-aid kit
- relevant property-specific emergency information
Avoid filling the page with unnecessary detail.
In an emergency, clarity matters more than design.
An Emergency Information sign or card can also be displayed in a sensible location inside the property so guests do not have to search through the full pack.
For a more detailed structure, see Airbnb Emergency Information: What to Include in Your Holiday Rental.
Local Recommendations
Local information is one of the areas where a holiday let information pack can add personality.
Rather than copying a generic tourism list, choose recommendations that are genuinely useful to someone staying in the area.
You might include restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, beaches, walking routes, family activities, transport, day trips or practical local services.
A short curated list is usually more useful than dozens of options.
If local recommendations change frequently, consider keeping the detailed version digital so it can be updated more easily.
Check-Out Information
Guests should be able to find departure information without searching through their booking messages.
Useful check-out information may include:
- check-out time
- where to leave keys
- whether windows should be closed
- what to do with rubbish
- where used towels should be left
- whether heating or air conditioning should be adjusted
- any important security steps
Keep guest responsibilities reasonable.
Guests should not be expected to perform the property's cleaning turnover.
For a fuller guide, see Airbnb Check-Out Instructions: What to Include + Examples.
Host and Property Contact Information
Guests should know who to contact if they need help.
Include the most appropriate contact method for the property.
This may be:
Host
Co-host
Property manager
Emergency or out-of-hours contact
Avoid adding unnecessary personal information.
The aim is simply to make the correct contact easy to find.
Printed Information Pack or Digital Guest Guide?
Neither format is automatically better.
They work well for different types of information.
A printed information pack is useful because it is physically available inside the property and does not depend on a guest having internet access or remembering a link.
It works particularly well for stable information such as:
- property guidance
- house rules
- appliance instructions
- emergency information
- check-out guidance
A digital guide is easier to update and can support clickable links, maps and frequently changing recommendations.
It works particularly well for:
- restaurants
- attractions
- maps
- booking links
- changing local information
Many hosts can benefit from using both.
The printed pack provides the property's essential reference information, while the digital version handles information that changes more often.
Where Should the Information Pack Be Kept?
Put it somewhere guests will naturally notice it.
Good locations include:
- entrance console
- living-room coffee table
- desk
- sideboard
- kitchen information area
Do not hide it in a drawer unless guests have specifically been told where it is.
The information pack should feel like part of the arrival experience, not something guests have to discover by accident.
Keep Important Information in One Place
One common problem is repeating the same information across too many channels.
For example:
Wi-Fi password on a sign.
Different Wi-Fi password in the welcome book.
Old Wi-Fi password in an automated message.
That creates confusion.
Choose a clear source of truth for each type of information and make sure any repeated information matches it.
The guest should not have to decide which version is current.
What Should Not Go in a Holiday Let Information Pack?
Not everything needs to be included.
I would avoid adding information simply because there is space available.
Examples of content that may belong elsewhere include:
Long legal documents
These are usually better handled through the appropriate booking or contractual process.
Detailed staff procedures
Cleaning, maintenance and property-management instructions belong in operational manuals, not the guest pack.
Sensitive access information
Avoid unnecessarily recording owner-area access codes, alarm details or other information guests do not need.
Extensive appliance manuals
Summarise the instructions guests actually need.
Outdated local recommendations
Remove information you are no longer confident is current.
A useful information pack is edited as carefully as it is created.
Avoid Turning the Pack Into a Rule Book
The tone matters.
Guests should feel informed, not monitored.
If every page says:
DO NOT
YOU MUST
NEVER
WARNING
the pack can create an unnecessarily unfriendly impression.
Some instructions need to be firm, particularly around safety, security and important property rules.
But most information can be communicated simply and professionally.
For example:
Instead of:
DO NOT LEAVE RUBBISH IN THE PROPERTY.
Try:
Please place rubbish in the outdoor bins before departure. Recycling information is provided below.
Same instruction. Better experience.
Create a Clear Information Hierarchy
Not every piece of information deserves equal prominence.
Use the strongest visual emphasis for things guests may need quickly.
For example:
High priority
- Wi-Fi
- emergency information
- property contact
- access
- check-out time
Supporting information
- appliances
- recycling
- parking
- local recommendations
This makes the pack easier to scan.
Good typography and spacing matter here more than filling every page with decorative elements.
Make the Information Property-Specific
A generic guest guide might tell someone:
Please follow the parking instructions.
A useful property pack tells them:
One parking space is available directly beside the cottage entrance. Please keep the neighbouring driveway clear.
Specific information saves guests from guessing.
Customise the pack around:
- the actual property
- actual equipment
- actual access
- actual local area
- actual rules
- actual check-out process
That is what makes a guest information pack useful rather than decorative.
How Often Should a Holiday Let Information Pack Be Updated?
Review it whenever something important changes.
Examples include:
- Wi-Fi details
- check-in procedure
- lockbox location
- parking arrangements
- appliances
- contact information
- house rules
- local recommendations
- check-out process
It is also sensible to review the full pack periodically even when no obvious change has occurred.
Local businesses close. Instructions become outdated. Hosts stop noticing information because they know the property so well.
Look at the guide occasionally from the perspective of someone arriving for the first time.
Creating Information Packs for Multiple Properties
If you manage several holiday lets, do not simply copy one property's information into another and change the address.
Use the same structure, but create a separate information pack for each property.
That gives you consistency across the portfolio while keeping the content accurate.
For example, every property might follow:
Arrival → Property → House Rules → Emergency → Local Area → Check-Out
But each one contains its own:
- photographs
- Wi-Fi
- parking
- equipment
- contacts
- local recommendations
- property rules
This is much easier to manage than reinventing the whole document each time.
Should You Use a Holiday Let Information Pack Template?
A template can save time by giving you an existing structure rather than starting with a blank document.
The useful part of a template is not simply its appearance.
It should help you remember the categories of information guests are likely to need.
A good editable template should still allow you to change:
- wording
- photographs
- property information
- house rules
- Wi-Fi
- local recommendations
- contact details
- colours and styling
The final information pack should feel specific to your property, even if the underlying structure started from a template.
Practical Editions' editable Airbnb and holiday rental welcome book templates are designed for this purpose and can also be used as a holiday let information pack, holiday home guest information pack or guest information pack template.
A Simple Holiday Let Information Pack Structure
If you are creating one from scratch, a practical structure could be:
- Welcome
- Property overview
- Host / property-manager contact
- Wi-Fi
- Check-in and access
- House rules
- Property and appliance information
- Rubbish and recycling
- Emergency information
- Transport and parking
- Local recommendations
- Things to do
- Check-out instructions
- Frequently asked questions
- Thank-you / final page
You do not need every section.
A small city apartment may need much less than a large family villa with a pool, parking, outdoor equipment and several appliances.
The goal is not maximum page count.
The goal is complete enough to be useful, short enough to navigate easily.
Common Holiday Let Information Pack Mistakes
The most common problems are not usually missing pages. They are poor organisation and outdated information.
Typical mistakes include:
- making the pack too generic
- hiding important information inside long paragraphs
- repeating conflicting information in different places
- including too many rules
- using local recommendations that are no longer current
- forgetting check-out information
- making emergency details difficult to find
- using tiny text
- placing the pack somewhere guests do not notice
- treating the design as more important than clarity
A polished information pack should still work if a guest opens it because they urgently need an answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a holiday let information pack?
A holiday let information pack is a printed or digital guest resource containing practical information about the property, the stay and the local area.
Is a guest information pack the same as a welcome book?
Often, yes. The terms guest information pack, holiday let welcome pack, welcome book and guest guide are commonly used for similar resources. The exact name matters less than the quality and organisation of the information.
What should a holiday home guest information pack contain?
It will usually include arrival and access information, Wi-Fi, property guidance, house rules, emergency information, host contact details, local recommendations and check-out instructions.
Should a holiday let have a printed information pack?
It is not essential, but a printed guide can be very useful because guests have a permanent reference inside the property. Some hosts combine a printed pack with a digital guide.
Can I use the same guest information pack for Airbnb and direct bookings?
Yes. The guide should normally be property-specific rather than platform-specific, so it can support guests regardless of where they booked.
Should I include house rules in the information pack?
Yes. The information pack is a suitable place for the complete house rules, while any framed sign inside the property can be limited to the most important reminders.
How often should the information pack be updated?
Update it whenever property information changes and review it periodically for outdated contact details, instructions or local recommendations.
Can I create a holiday let information pack in Canva?
Yes. Canva can be used to create and edit guest information packs, including text, images, property details and branding, before downloading the finished guide for printed or digital use.
How long should a holiday let information pack be?
There is no ideal length. It should contain the information guests genuinely need without becoming difficult to navigate. A complex property may require considerably more information than a small apartment.
Make the Information Easy to Find, Not Just Nice to Look At
A holiday let information pack works best when it removes uncertainty.
Guests should not need to message the host to ask:
What's the Wi-Fi password?
Where should I park?
How does the heating work?
Where do I leave the keys?
What should I do at check-out?
A clear information pack gives those answers in one organised place.
The best versions combine good design with practical structure:
arrival information → property guidance → essential rules → local help → departure
And because the information belongs to the property rather than a particular booking platform, the same system can support Airbnb guests, direct bookings and guests arriving through other holiday-rental channels.
If you want a ready-made structure to customise for your property, explore the Practical Editions Welcome Books collection, with editable templates designed to work as Airbnb welcome books, holiday let information packs and guest information guides.
