Paid extras: boost your revenue per Airbnb stay
6 min · StayParlo Journal
Why paid extras are a game-changer for hosts
Increasing occupancy rates is often the first thing hosts think about, but it's a slow and competitive strategy. Increasing revenue per stay, on the other hand, is entirely up to you. By offering well-thought-out add-on services, you can easily generate an extra 15 to 40 euros per booking — sometimes much more — without having to rent out a single additional night.
Today's travelers are accustomed to personalization. They select options when booking flights, upgrade their hotel rooms, and purchase experiences online. Your property can follow the same logic. A host who anticipates their guests' needs and offers the right options at the right time stands out from the competition while boosting their bottom line.
The most popular and profitable extras to offer
Some services are universally popular with guests: a welcome basket filled with local products, a bottle of wine, or pastries for the next morning sells easily for 20 to 50 euros depending on its contents. A baby kit with a travel cot and high chair is highly sought after by families and justifies a supplement of 15 to 25 euros. A mid-stay cleaning, airport transfer, or bicycle rental are also reliable options, especially in tourist or rural destinations.
More original services can also perform very well: booking a table at a local restaurant, organizing an activity such as a cooking class or private guided tour, grocery delivery before arrival, or a bouquet of flowers for a birthday. The key is not to overwhelm guests with ten options at once — choose three to five extras that are consistent with your destination and the typical profile of your guests.
How to price your add-on services
Pricing an extra must cover your actual costs — purchasing, time, and travel — include a comfortable margin, and still feel fair to the guest. A simple rule: if you spend 20 euros assembling a welcome basket, offer it for 35 to 45 euros. You're charging for your time spent selecting, preparing, and delivering it. Guests don't know your cost price; they assess perceived value — and a beautifully presented local basket is easily worth that price.
Avoid prices that are too low, which undermine the perceived quality of your offer, and prices that are too high, which discourage impulse purchases. Test, monitor the conversion rate of each extra, and adjust accordingly. An acceptance rate of 20 to 40% on a well-targeted service is an excellent benchmark. Don't hesitate to create bundles: a 'Romantic Package' (flowers + a bottle of wine + breakfast) sold at a slight discount compared to the three items separately, but with a higher overall margin.
When and how to present your extras to maximize sales
Timing is everything. The ideal moment to introduce your extras is after the booking is confirmed, between 48 hours and one week before arrival. The guest is in an enthusiastic anticipation phase — they're thinking about their stay, planning activities, and are therefore receptive to your suggestions. A personalized message along the lines of 'Your stay is coming up! Here are a few services to make it even more enjoyable' works really well.
Presentation matters just as much as the offer itself. Carefully chosen photos and short, emotionally engaging descriptions — such as 'A basket of local produce to start your stay on the right foot' — convert far better than a plain price list. A digital welcome guide like StayParlo lets you automate the presentation of your extras directly within the interface guests browse before and during their stay, without you having to follow up manually for every booking.
Managing your extras without burning out: organization is key
The main thing holding hosts back from offering extras is the fear of becoming overwhelmed. The solution: only offer what you can deliver reliably and stress-free. Start with one or two simple extras that can be prepared in advance, such as a welcome basket or a baby kit. Set a clear order deadline — for example, 48 hours before arrival — to give yourself enough time to organize everything.
For services you can't handle yourself — such as transport, activities, or grocery delivery — build a network of trusted local partners. You become the recommender, sometimes earning a commission, while guests benefit from a quality point of contact. This approach is particularly effective for property management companies overseeing multiple listings: it creates value without adding operational complexity, and positions your rental business as a genuinely premium offering.
Frequently asked questions
Do platforms like Airbnb allow paid extras?
Airbnb has a built-in feature for adding services at the time of booking, such as a cot or parking. For more personalized extras, many hosts invoice these outside the platform via bank transfer or cash payment, by mutual agreement with the guest. Make sure to keep your communication transparent to avoid any disputes.
Which extra offers the best return on investment?
The welcome basket is often the most profitable, as it requires little logistics, can be prepared in advance, and creates a strong emotional impact on guests the moment they arrive. It also contributes to excellent reviews, which has a significant indirect value for your future bookings.
Should you offer the same extras all year round?
No — adapting your offering to the seasons is an excellent strategy. In summer, bicycles or a beach kit work really well. In winter, a basket with herbal teas, hot chocolate, and a cozy blanket can be very appealing. Tailoring your extras to the context strengthens their relevance and boosts their conversion rate.
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