Welcome Products in Vacation Rental Homes: What to Include, How Much They Cost, and Why They Boost Your Reviews

A well-thought-out welcome pack can be the difference between a 4-star review and a 5-star review. You don't need to spend 30 euros per reservation: with 3 or 4 euros well invested, you already create that "wow" effect that makes the guest mention you in the review. In this post, I tell you what to include, what to avoid, how much it really costs, and how to set up a welcome pack that works without eating into your profit margin.

Why the welcome pack matters

The first physical contact the guest has with your apartment is what they see upon entering. And what they see in the first 5 minutes sets the tone for the entire stay.

A welcome pack does three things at once:

• Creates a surprise effect. The guest doesn't expect it. And what is unexpected is remembered.
• Compensates for small faults. If the shower drips a little, a welcome detail softens the complaint.
• Is mentioned in reviews. "The owner left us a bottle of wine" appears in hundreds of reviews. Free marketing.

And best of all: the cost per reservation is ridiculous compared to what you're charging per night.

How much should you spend

It depends on the nightly rate, but the effective rule is:

Nightly Rate	Welcome Pack Budget	% of Price
Less than 60 euros	2-3 euros	3-5%
60-100 euros	3-5 euros	3-5%
100-150 euros	5-8 euros	4-6%
Over 150 euros	8-15 euros	5-8%

Don't confuse a welcome pack with bathroom amenities or basic consumables (toilet paper, salt, oil). Those are separate and mandatory.

Note: the welcome pack is an extra. Basic items (toilet paper, soap, salt, oil, coffee, water) are not "welcome" items, they are minimum essentials. If you don't include them, no fancy detail compensates.

What to include: effective options

Basic option (2-4 euros per reservation)

The one almost everyone should have. High impact, low cost.

• Bottle of cold water in the fridge (0.40 euros)
• 2 local beers or soft drinks (1.50 euros)
• Something sweet: chocolates, local artisanal cookies (1 euro)
• Handwritten welcome note (free, and works incredibly well)

Mid-range option (5-8 euros per reservation)

For mid-range apartments and stays of 3+ nights.

• Bottle of local wine (3-5 euros when bought in bulk)
• Mini olive oil or local product (1.50 euros)
• Fresh seasonal fruit (1 euro)
• Local artisanal sweet (1 euro)
• Card with neighborhood recommendations

Premium option (10-15 euros per reservation)

For luxury apartments, romantic getaways, or long stays.

• Bottle of cava or quality wine (6-8 euros)
• Small platter of cold cuts or local cheese (4-5 euros)
• Artisan chocolate or typical sweet (2-3 euros)
• Fresh flowers if it's an anniversary or honeymoon (5 euros)

What to avoid (based on personal and others' experience)

Some things seem like a good idea but aren't:

• Perishable fresh food: if check-in is delayed, it spoils. And if the guest doesn't consume it, it gets thrown away.
• Alcohol without asking first: there may be children, pregnant women, or people who don't drink for religious reasons. If you're unsure, better avoid or include an alcohol-free alternative.
• Cheap supermarket chocolates: better not to include anything at all. If it will be cheap, save your money.
• Nuts without warning: serious allergies. If you include them, mention it in the note.
• Products with short expiration dates: very ripe fruit, bread of the day. Remember, it might have been in the apartment for 24 hours before the guest arrives.
• Branded merchandise: nobody wants a mug with your logo. Save that money for something useful.

How to buy without breaking the bank

The trick is to buy in volume and choose small local suppliers.

Ideas to reduce costs

• Wine in boxes of 6 or 12 from a local winery: from 8 euros per bottle retail to 3-4 euros.
• Mini olive oil bottles (100 ml) directly from the mill: 1 euro per bottle.
• Local beer packs from supermarkets or directly from producers.
• Artisan chocolates buying 20-30 units from a local workshop.
• Kraft bags or cardboard boxes from Amazon or wholesalers, which look much better than leaving products loose.

Calculate: if you have 60 reservations a year and spend 4 euros per reservation, that's 240 euros annually. If that raises your average rating from 4.6 to 4.8, the return is huge.

The welcome note: free and very effective

Few people do this, and it's the most profitable part of the entire welcome pack.

A handwritten note (or printed with a personal touch) that says:

• Welcome by name
• A personalized detail if you know something (anniversary, family trip)
• 2-3 specific neighborhood recommendations
• Your WhatsApp in case they need anything

Cost: 0 euros. Impact: huge. People mention it all the time in reviews.

If you also personalize it with the guest's name, they will almost certainly mention it in the review. Combine it with the well-made welcome manual, and you have the complete pack.

Adapting the welcome pack to the guest profile

Not all guests value the same. It's worth customizing based on the reservation profile:

Guest Type	What works best
Romantic couple getaway	Wine, chocolate, candles, flowers
Families with children	Juices, cookies, fruit, something for the little ones
Group of friends	Local beers, snacks, something to nibble
Business trip	Water, good coffee, something quick and practical
Long stay (more than 7 nights)	Breakfast kit: coffee, milk, cookies

The key is to read the reservation before preparing the pack. If it's 4 adults, don't include just one beer. If it's a family with children, forget the wine and include something sweet.

Common mistakes I see constantly

• Always include the same without adapting: the anniversary couple's pack can't be the same as the family with 2 kids.
• Forget during high season: when you have 20 reservations a month, it's easy to stop doing it. Don't.
• Buy generic supermarket products: it loses all charm. The welcome pack is about "this is local, this is special".
• Not mention it in the listing: if you include it and don't mention it, it doesn't serve as a selling point. Mention it in the description and in the welcome message.
• Let the guest not see it: leave the wine in the back fridge covered. Make it visible, on the table, with the note beside.

How to integrate it into your operations

If you have a cleaner, give them a checklist of exactly what to include and where. Take photos of how the table should look and send it to them. This way, it doesn't depend on their memory.

If you manage multiple properties at once, automate the purchase: order all monthly stock at once from the same suppliers. It saves time and gets you better prices.

And calculate the actual cost per reservation: include the product, the bag or presentation box, and the time to assemble it. It's not just the price of the wine.

How Autoregistro fits in

A well-assembled welcome pack is part of the experience. But for the guest to enjoy it, they first need to go through the mandatory traveler registration in SES Hospedajes.

Autoregistro automates this: you send a link to the guest before check-in, they fill out their details from their mobile, and everything is sent directly to SES Hospedajes. When they arrive at the apartment, everything is ready: just open the door and see your bottle of wine waiting on the table.

It costs 1 euro per month per property. Less than the water bottle in the welcome pack. And it saves the awkward moment of asking for IDs at the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it mandatory to include a welcome pack?

No, absolutely not. No type of welcome detail is legally required. Basic consumables (toilet paper, soap) are considered minimum quality standards, but wine and extras are 100% optional.

Can I deduct the cost of the welcome pack?

Yes, it is a directly related expense to the activity. Declare it as a operating expense of the vacation rental. Keep the receipts of the products you purchase. You can see more in the deductible expenses guide for tourist rentals.

Is it worth it for just one-night stays?

It depends on the price. If you charge less than 60 euros, maybe just the handwritten note and a bottle of water. If you charge 150+, yes, even for one night. Remember, the review is equally valuable whether it's 1 night or 7.

What if the guest doesn't consume the welcome pack?

Nothing happens. The value lies in the first impression and the feeling of "they took care of me." Even if they don't drink it, the effect is already made upon entering and seeing it.

Can I include products with my logo or personal brand?

You can, but it often looks worse than an authentic local product. If you have a well-developed brand (like olive oil from your own grove, for example), yes. If it's just sticking a sticker on a water bottle, no.