How to choose the right location

Guests like to spend time in places that help them connect with local culture. Show how your location carries a special significance and why you chose it.

At minimum, your location must be comfortable, clean and safe. It should also make sense for the activity.

• Share the back story. Tap into the location’s rich history and heritage to help reinforce why it’s relevant. Debora, who hosts cooking classes at her home in Rome, shares the recipes, songs and other traditions her grandmother passed down. ‘Everything we do has a story’, she says.
• Keep it local. Look for places that guests couldn’t find anywhere else. Ruby, who hosts a food tour in Lisbon, says she only takes guests to visit local family businesses, like a tiny pastry shop. ‘It produces this wow effect’, she says.

Choose a memorable location that reflects the local culture.

• Grant insider access. Visit places guests couldn’t get into on their own. Teresa, who hosts a wine tasting class in Lisbon, tries to add ‘a twist’, like finding areas closed to the public or going outside regular hours. ‘This creates a sense of discovery’, she says.
• Focus on the location’s character. Sights, sounds and flavours contribute to a strong sense of place. ‘The ambience needs to transport you instantly’, says Graciela, who hosts a cooking class in Mexico City. ‘Guests know if they’ll have a good experience within a few minutes of arriving.’

Hosting in a location that’s authentic and fits your activity may help lead to better ratings and reviews.

All hosts, photos and listing details must meet the standards and requirements for Airbnb Experiences.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.