Back in 2012, I set out my very first travel-size toiletry kit for guests arriving at my Tahoe vacation rental. At the time, small touches like that definitely weren’t common in short-term rentals. I was excited to offer a variety of vacation rental toiletries, but I wasn’t sure if my guests would notice or care.
At the time, my caretaker lived just a few houses away. The day after the guests checked in, he saw them out and about and stopped to say hello. Guess what they immediately started raving about? Yep—my toiletry kit!
That’s when I realized that above-and-beyond amenities were overlooked in the vacation rental (and later Airbnb) market, and could actually have a significant impact on guest satisfaction.
Shortly after that, The Distinguished Guest was born. I went on to sell thousands of toiletry kits to vacation rental folks who wanted to set themselves apart.
Now, TDG has moved on from “marketplace” to “educational portal.” In other words, instead of selling you my favorite toiletry brands directly, I recommend them to you based on my years of experience… and let someone else handle the shipping. ?
Here’s where to start when stocking your vacation home with travel size toiletries.
VACATION RENTAL TOILETRIES: THE BASICS
Even in 2020, guests don’t expect to get travel size toiletries like liquid shampoo, conditioners and face wash at their vacation rental or Airbnb. You know that that means: you have a real opportunity to wow them!
I’ve been recommending these Terra Pure Green Tea basics for years. The scents are fresh. The bottles are clean, simple and match most décor. And they’re organic and eco-friendly, too!
TDG RECOMMENDS: TERRA PURE SHAMPOO | TERRA PURE CONDITIONER | TERRA PURE BODY WASH | TERRA PURE BODY LOTION | TERRA PURE BOXED BAR SOAP | TERRA PURE TRAVEL TOILETRIES KITS
I also love these aloe bars. They’re great for beach destinations and other places where your guests might get a little too much sun (the aloe is soothing and moisturizing to sunburned skin).
TDG RECOMMENDS: FRESH ALOE CLEANSING BAR | FRESH ALOE MASSAGE BAR
TOILETRIES: THE EXTRAS
Your guests are rushing out the door to catch a flight. They’re checking for boarding passes, passports, luggage, phone chargers, the kids’ favorite video games, and the stuffed animal that will cause a toddler meltdown if it gets left behind. is often forgotten and t are the last thing on their minds. Here are some of the most commonly requested vacation rental toiletries.
So, if you want to really impress your hurried guests, stock high-quality, travel size toiletries in a drawer in each bathroom (sealed in a plastic bag for safety). I buy them in bulk and then at each turnover, my cleaner replaces what has been used. In my experience, 50% of guests won’t use the extras, but here’s the secret: they’ll appreciate the gesture either way when they forget to pack toiletries! I cannot tell you how many thankful messages I get about these small touches.
Makeup Remover Wipes
No more makeup-stained white towels! Grab some alcohol and paraben-free wipes for gentle makeup removal. Both your cleaner and your guests will thank you.
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Back to that forgotten toothpaste. Save your guests a trip to the store for for toothbrushes, , and ! Do make sure toothbrushes are individually wrapped to ease guest’s minds.
Shower Caps
If you have long hair, you’ll know what a luxury shower caps can be. They let guests skip washing their hair every day (dry shampoo is a lifesaver here!) and can save your shower drain from sprouting a hair clump the size of a small animal. Nothing fancy needed here—I like the Terra Pure shower caps for their pretty packaging and decently water-tight elastic band.
Personal Care Kits
Not all personal care kits are created equal, so pay attention to what guests seem to like and use. The kits I stock include q-tips, a few cotton rounds, a small sewing kit and some other extras. Also important: a nail file!
Bath Salts
Have a soaking tub at your rental? Add a little extra indulgence with an individually sized bottle of scented bath salts. I can guarantee very few guests are thinking about bringing bath salts on their trip! Like their shampoo, conditioner, and face wash, Terra Pure’s bath salts are simply packaged and use organic ingredients.
TDG RECOMMENDS: MAKEUP TOWELETTES | TOOTHBRUSH | TOOTHPASTE | MOUTHWASH | SHOWER CAPS | PERSONAL CARE KITS | BATH SALTS
Hairdryer
When it comes to ROI at your vacation rental, nothing proves its worth like a hairdryer. Who wants to waste valuable suitcase real estate on a bulky hair appliance?!
In my opinion, hotels often fall short in the hairdryer department. Those wimpy small things that attach to the wall? NO! I want a medium-sized, powerful dryer that will get me out the door quickly. Dress up that thing in a cute little dryer bag and hang it on a hook—or place it in a drawer in the bathroom—and your guests will thank you.
TDG RECOMMENDS: HAIR DRYER BAGS
Rubber Ducky
Don’t forget your littlest guests! Make bath time fun with a cute rubber duck. Even adults get a kick out of finding these little guys in the bathroom by the bathtub.
We hope this list of both essentials and extras helps you take good care of your guests! They’ll quickly become a pain-free addition to your hospitality routine—and with big benefits. One 5-star review from a happy guest and they’ve paid for themselves.
Have any additions to our list? Drop a comment below, or get in touch with me, and let me know what’s working for you.
TDG RECOMMENDS: RUBBER DUCKS
We hope this list of vacation rental travel sized toiletries will help you to take good care of your guests. They’ll quickly become a pain-free addition to your hospitality routine—and with big benefits. One 5-star review from a happy guest and they’ve paid for themselves.
Have any additions to our list? Drop a comment below (or contact me, Alanna) and let me know what’s working for you (or isn’t).
