How to Drive Positive Guest Reviews for Your Vacation Rental

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How to earn more 5-star reviews for your vacation rental

Boost your success with rave reviews! Learn how helpful reminders can inspire guests to share amazing experiences about their stay.

July 03, 2025

As a vacation rental host, you know that positive reviews are essential for your business. After all, reviews let potential guests know what to look forward to when they book your place. They’re real-life, independent takes on your property’s best features and amenities — and they’re what travelers pay the most attention to when they look to book.

48%

of travelers rank guest reviews ahead of family recommendations.*

46%

of consumers will opt for the travel option with the best customer reviews over the best value.*

Positive reviews can lead to premier perks

Beyond helping you stand out to potential guests, strong reviews also help you qualify to be a Premier Host. This invite-only program rewards exceptional hosts with a special badge on all property pages, increased visibility in search results, and exclusive perks.

Regularly earning positive guest reviews plays a major role in increasing your visibility, enhancing traveler trust, and capturing more bookings. Dive in to learn a few simple ways that you can get guests to leave the kind of rave reviews that help drive even more bookings for your business.

Encourage guests to leave reviews

While we’ll send automated requests for guests to leave reviews after their stay, a personal message from you a few days after checkout can go a long way toward getting guests to take action.

Not sure what to say? Use these handy templates to help.

Download the templates

Leaving reviews of your guests encourages them to do the same, so don't forget this important step.

The more you give, the more you’ll get.

Did you know that reviewing your guests is just as important as getting guest reviews? In fact, it’s a key driver for earning more reviews for your property. 

Concerned that if you leave an honest guest review, you’ll receive a negative review in return? Don’t be. Our double-blind review process ensures both hosts and guests can review their experiences without fear of retaliation. 

Here’s how it works: 

After each stay, both you and your guests are encouraged to leave a review.  
Once one party submits their review, the other party has 14 days to complete their review. The reviews are private during this 14-day period.
This means you can leave honest feedback without fear of influencing your guest's review or facing retaliation, because neither one of you will see what the other has said until the process is complete (and no further changes are allowed).

This system creates a fair and transparent environment where both hosts and guests can provide genuine feedback. It's a win-win situation that fosters trust across the platform.

How reviewing guests benefits your business

Earning more guest reviews isn't the only reason to leave reviews. When you leave guest reviews, you’re also making a positive impact across the Vrbo platform by: 

Helping fellow hosts: Your reviews provide valuable insights for other hosts who might host the same guests in the future. 
Improving the community: By highlighting great guests and addressing issues with problematic ones, you're contributing to a better rental community for everyone. 
Encouraging reciprocity: When you review a guest, we send them an email notification. This helps remind guests to reciprocate and increases the likelihood they'll review their stay.
Building your reputation: Consistently leaving fair and thoughtful reviews showcases your professionalism and attention to detail.

Review guests like a pro

If you want your guest reviews to build up your reputation as a fair and honest host, tact is key. So when crafting your guest reviews, keep these points in mind:

Be honest but kind: If there were issues, address them constructively. 
Focus on the rental experience: Comment on communication, cleanliness, and adherence to house rules. 
Be specific: Mention particular positive behaviors or areas for improvement. 
Keep it concise: A few sentences are usually sufficient. 
Stick to best practices: Check out our Vrbo content guidelines for more detailed information on leaving thoughtful guest reviews.

Harnessing the power of positive reviews

In today's vacation rental landscape, reviews are currency. They build trust, drive bookings, and help you continually improve. By actively participating in the two-way review process, you're not just helping your own business — you're contributing to a more transparent and trustworthy vacation rental community.

So, the next time a guest checks out, be sure to ask them for a review, and don’t forget to leave a review of your own and respond to any guest reviews you receive.

Your feedback matters. It's a crucial part of creating exceptional travel experiences for everyone — and a key factor in earning the kind of five-star reviews that drive more bookings for your business