Airbnb reviews examples: 4 tips to get 5-star ratings | Smartness

Reviews and ranking on Airbnb

If you’re an Airbnb host (or manage a property on Booking.com or any other major vacation rental platform), you already know how important reviews are in building your property’s reputation. However, you might not be aware that the number of positive reviews also directly affects your Airbnb ranking—even if your listing is a hotel!

Airbnb itself has stated that the number of 5-star reviews, along with other factors such as price, location, instant bookings, and response speed, contributes to how listings appear in organic search results.

Put simply: the more 5-star reviews you have, the higher your listing will rank and the more it will outperform the competition.

But how can you improve your reviews, increase your 5-star ratings, and ultimately boost your visibility on Airbnb’s search results? Airbnb has provided an answer to this as well—watch the video.

In summary, the video explains that to get more positive and 5-star reviews, you should:

Maintain clear communication with guests to avoid setting false expectations.
Respond as quickly as possible to potential customers’ inquiries.
Make guests feel at home, especially by designing an intimate, guest-centered space.
Connect your property with the best local services (such as easy transport options, restaurant discounts, or exclusive deals with nearby cafés and bars).
Anticipate potential problems and be proactive in handling emergencies during a stay.

Of course, following these five rules won’t automatically increase your number of 5-star reviews—this isn’t an algorithm. However, adhering to them will help you provide a seamless guest experience that meets expectations with as little friction as possible.

Examples of Airbnb guest reviews

One commonly overlooked aspect of Airbnb reviews is that hosts can also write reviews—not just receive them.

That’s right: if you’re a property owner, manager, or operator, you can leave reviews for your guests!

At this point, you might be wondering: how does reviewing a guest help you get better reviews in return?

Guest reviews on Airbnb serve two key purposes:

They help you integrate into the host community, increasing awareness of your property. By reviewing a guest, you provide valuable insights to other hosts, positioning yourself as a knowledgeable figure within the Airbnb ecosystem.
Writing the first review for your guest can encourage them to reciprocate with a positive review. In many cases, this technique also serves as a useful reminder—how many times have you lost a 5-star review simply because the guest forgot to leave one?

How to write reviews for guests

At this point, you might be wondering how to write effective Airbnb guest reviews. You don’t need to be an expert copywriter to do it well, but following these four simple tips will help you achieve the best results.

First, a few technical reminders: You only have 14 days after check-out to leave a review. After that deadline, you won’t be able to review your guest. Once a review is published, you can edit it—but only within that 14-day period. Additionally, reviews must not exceed 1,000 words and must comply with Airbnb’s review policies.
Writing an effective review means writing a useful one. Provide information that benefits both the host and traveler communities. Was the guest punctual? Were they polite, cooperative, and respectful? Think about what kind of information you would want to read in a review before accepting a booking. If the guest was trustworthy, say so!
Be honest (but also positive). If something went wrong during the stay, don’t be afraid to mention it. On the other hand, if the experience was exceptionally positive, highlight that too. However, always try to soften criticism where possible. If the issues weren’t major, be generous in your feedback rather than placing unnecessary blame on guests.
If the stay was particularly negative, maintain a professional and respectful tone. Airbnb enforces strict content guidelines, and violating them could lead to penalties that negatively impact your business on the platform.

Managing Airbnb reviews with a property management system

There are many property management systems (PMS) on the market that help you handle different aspects of your rental operations—whether it’s a Channel Manager for distribution, a Booking Engine for direct reservations, or automated guest registration for legal compliance.

Among these, Octorate was one of the first systems in Italy to integrate a feature specifically for managing Airbnb reviews.

With Octorate, you can track your Airbnb reviews directly from the PMS, without needing to log in and out of your Airbnb account. In the booking details section, you’ll find a dedicated area for reading and publishing reviews, as well as notifications reminding you to leave a review within the 14-day window.

Not only will you be able to see which guests haven’t reviewed you yet, but you’ll also be able to write and submit guest reviews directly from the PMS to Airbnb—all in one place!