Why a Local Guide Is Worth an Evening
Guests arrive in an unfamiliar town, often after dark, often in winter. A guide that tells them where the nearest open grocery store is, how to find the transfer station and which roads close in mud season does three things: it cuts repeat questions, it prevents problems (a car stuck on an unplowed road, a ticket at a resident-only beach lot), and it makes the stay feel personal.
Keep it practical. A guest wants your three favorite places, not a list of thirty. Every entry should say why you recommend it and what to know before going.
Where to Publish It
Airbnb lets hosts create a guidebook from the listing editor: under Arrival guide, choose Guidebooks, then add places, neighborhoods and advice. As of October 2026, Airbnb says guidebooks are tied to your hosting account rather than to one listing, are public on Airbnb, and can be shared by link or printed with "Preview and print." Home co-hosts cannot create new guidebooks, so the account owner should set it up.
Also keep a printed copy in the house (a binder by the door or on the kitchen counter works) for guests whose phones have no signal. In parts of the White Mountains, the Northeast Kingdom and the Berkshires, that is a real concern.
For ideas on what guests find most useful, see our list of items for an Airbnb guidebook.
The Template
Replace everything in [brackets] and delete sections that do not apply.
1. Welcome
- Welcome to [home name] in [town], [state]. We have [owned / loved] this place for [years / since].
- A one-paragraph picture of the area: what [town] is like in [season], and what most guests come for.
2. Getting Here and Arriving
- Full address, plus "GPS sometimes sends you to [wrong road]; use [landmark] instead."
- Nearest major route and how long from [Boston / Logan Airport / Burlington / Hartford].
- Winter driving: [the last mile is a steep / unpaved road; all-wheel drive or snow tires recommended from (month) to (month)].
- Parking: [number] cars, [where]. Never on the road during snow (many New England towns ban overnight winter street parking; check [town]'s rule).
- Cell service: [strong / weak; Wi-Fi calling recommended].
3. Essentials Nearby
- Grocery store: [name, distance, hours note, e.g. "closes at 8 p.m."].
- Pharmacy: [name, distance].
- Gas station: [name; note if it is the last one before the mountain or lake].
- Hardware store: [name] (for the odd bulb or bag of ice melt).
- Liquor or wine store: [name].
- Trash and recycling: [curbside day / transfer station location, hours, and whether a sticker is needed].
4. Eating and Drinking
- Breakfast: [place, what to order].
- Casual lunch: [place].
- Dinner worth booking ahead: [place, "reserve on weekends in foliage season"].
- Takeout and pizza: [place].
- Local specialty: [maple creemee stand / clam shack / farm stand / brewery].
5. Things to Do, by Season
Summer
- Lake or beach: [name], [parking rule: resident sticker / day pass / lot fills by (time)].
- Boat launch: [name, any town permit needed].
- Hike: [trail, difficulty, parking].
- Rainy day: [museum / movie theater / indoor activity].
Fall
- Foliage drive: [route].
- Apple picking or farm: [name, typical weeks].
- Fair or festival: [name, typical month].
Winter
- Skiing: [mountain, distance, parking tip].
- Cross-country, snowshoe or sledding: [place].
- Ice fishing or skating: [only list places with a public, managed surface].
- Snow day plan: [what to do if roads are closed].
Spring and mud season
- [What is open, what closes, which roads become impassable.]
- Maple sugaring: [sugarhouse, typical weeks].
6. Local Rules and Good Manners
- Town beach or park rules: [stickers, hours, no dogs].
- Fire rules: [fire pit allowed only with town permission / not allowed]. In New Hampshire, most outdoor fires need a written permit from the town's forest fire warden unless the ground is snow-covered.
- Hunting season: [months]; wear blaze orange on trails in the woods.
- Wildlife: [bears: keep trash secured; moose on roads at dusk].
- Quiet hours and parking: see the house rules.
7. Emergencies and Help
- Emergencies: call 911. Full address: [address].
- Nearest hospital with an emergency department: [name, address, drive time].
- Urgent care: [name, hours].
- Town police non-emergency: [number].
- Power outage: [flashlights in (location); the utility is (name)].
- Your host: message us through the platform.
8. Before You Leave
- A short reminder of checkout steps from the house rules.
- "If you loved [place], tell them we sent you."
Keeping It Accurate
A local guide goes stale quickly: restaurants close, hours change, trailhead parking rules get stricter. Review it twice a year, before summer and before ski season, and remove anything you cannot confirm. Do not list a beach, launch or trail as open to visitors unless the town or managing agency says so.
Keep the guide and the house rules separate: the rules say what guests must do; the guide says what they might enjoy. If you want inspiration for your area, our locations pages describe towns across New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont. For cold-weather details to add, see winter rental management.
New England Host Co handles guest messaging and support as part of full-service management, and a clear local guide is part of that. Start at the Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb in New England hub.
FAQ
Should My Guide Be on Airbnb or Printed?
Both. Airbnb's guidebook feature lets guests read it before arrival, and a printed copy works when phone service is weak.
Can a Co-Host Create the Airbnb Guidebook?
As of October 2026, Airbnb says home co-hosts cannot create new guidebooks; the hosting account owner sets them up.
How Long Should a Local Guide Be?
Short enough to scan: a few picks per category, each with one line on why and one practical tip.
Should I Include Places I Have Not Been?
No. Recommend what you know, and check hours and rules at least twice a year.
