Local recommendations guide: Help guests discover your area
Help guests discover the best of your area with curated local recommendations. Well-chosen suggestions improve guest experience and show you care about their stay.
Key takeaways
- •Focus on places you actually visit and recommend.
- •Include a mix: restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, activities.
- •Provide walking directions or distances to make recommendations actionable.
Use your local recommendations guide with Booking.com automation
Whether you are building a local recommendations guide or refining an existing one, you can connect it to Booking.com and use the same guide link in automated messages. Guests get consistent answers and you get fewer repeat questions, no matter which channel they booked on.
Common problems hosts face
- •Uncertain which recommendations to include
- •Guests ask "where should we eat?" repeatedly
- •Recommendations feel generic or outdated
- •No easy way to share local knowledge with guests
What good solutions should include
- •Curated list of 5–7 local favorites with brief descriptions
- •Include walking directions or distances from your property
- •Update recommendations seasonally to keep them fresh
- •Make recommendations easily accessible in your guest guide
Practical tips from experienced hosts
- Test recommendations yourself—only include places you'd recommend to friends.
- Include one grocery store and one pharmacy for practical needs.
- Add 2–3 restaurants at different price points (casual, mid-range, special occasion).
- Include one "hidden gem" that tourists might miss.
Action step: Pick one practice from this guide to implement this week. Test it with your next booking and measure the impact on guest questions and reviews.
Options compared
Choose the approach that fits your needs.| Option | Best for | Why it works / doesn't |
|---|---|---|
| No recommendations | None | Guests rely on generic online reviews, miss local favorites. |
| Long list | Overwhelming | Too many options, guests don't know where to start. |
| Curated short list | Ideal | Focused recommendations guests can actually use, shows local expertise. |
Where Host Pilot fits
- •Create a local recommendations section in your guest guide.
- •Include maps and directions to help guests navigate.
- •Update recommendations easily to keep them current and seasonal.
FAQ
How many local recommendations should I include?+
5–7 recommendations is ideal. Include a mix: 2–3 restaurants, 1 coffee shop, 1 grocery store, 1–2 activities. Too many can be overwhelming.
Should I include chain restaurants?+
Only if there's a specific reason (late hours, dietary restrictions). Focus on local spots that make the area unique.
How do I keep recommendations current?+
Update them quarterly or when places close or change. Test recommendations yourself to ensure they still meet your standards.
Related guides
Ready to create your guest guide?
Use this guide to build an effective guest guide for your property. When you're ready, Host Pilot can help you create mobile-friendly guides with QR codes, local recommendations, and easy updates.
