Things to Do List for Vacation Rental Guests: A Host's Guide
Local Guides · · 7 min read · By the Welcome Kit Pro team at PropKitCo
A things to do list for vacation rental guests is a short, curated guide to the restaurants, activities and essentials near your property, written in your own voice. The best ones are organized by guest type and distance, include practical details like hours and drive time, and live somewhere guests can find them in seconds, such as a welcome book or a QR code on the fridge.
This guide covers what to include, how to write each entry, a sample list you can copy, and how to keep everything current so guests never drive to a place that closed last spring.
Why a things to do list for vacation rental guests earns better reviews
Guests review the whole trip, not just the bed and the shower. When they find a great taco spot or a quiet trail because you pointed them there, that good memory gets tied to your place.
A thoughtful list also helps you in quieter ways:
- Fewer repeat questions. "Where should we eat tonight?" stops landing in your inbox at 7 p.m.
- Less decision fatigue for guests. Travelers on a short stay don't want to spend an hour scrolling map apps.
- It shows you care. Personal picks feel like advice from a friend who lives nearby, and guests often mention that in reviews.
- It sets expectations. If the nearest grocery store is 25 minutes away, guests can plan ahead instead of feeling surprised.
What to include: the 8 categories guests actually use
You don't need fifty entries. You need the right handful in each category. Aim for three to six picks per section.
- Breakfast and coffee. The first question most guests have on day one.
- Restaurants. A mix of price points, plus at least one spot that takes walk-ins on a busy night.
- Drinks and nightlife. Breweries, wine bars, live music or a good sunset patio.
- Outdoor activities. Beaches, trails, parks, boat rentals, scenic drives.
- Attractions and tours. Museums, historic sites, guided tours, local events.
- Family and kid-friendly picks. Playgrounds, ice cream, mini golf, easy hikes.
- Rainy day ideas. Indoor options save a trip when the weather turns.
- Essentials. Groceries, pharmacy, gas, urgent care, hardware store and a laundromat if your place has no washer.
If you're building a full guest guide, our walkthrough on how to make an Airbnb welcome book shows where this list fits alongside WiFi, check-in and house rules.
How to organize recommendations by guest type, season and distance
A long, unsorted list is hard to use. A little structure makes it feel effortless.
By guest type
Think about who actually books your place. A three-bedroom near a lake probably sees families. A downtown studio sees couples and business travelers. Tag entries with simple labels like "great for kids," "date night" or "dog friendly" so guests can scan for what fits.
By season
Your summer list and your winter list may look completely different. Mark seasonal spots clearly ("open May through September") or keep a short seasonal section you swap out a few times a year.
By distance
Distance is often the deciding factor. Grouping by travel time helps guests plan their day.
| Distance tier | What belongs here | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Walkable (under 10 minutes on foot) | Coffee, casual dinner, a park or beach access | Guests can go without moving the car |
| Short drive (under 15 minutes) | Groceries, main restaurants, top local activities | The everyday core of most stays |
| Worth the trip (30 minutes or more) | Day trips, a famous viewpoint, a special-occasion dinner | Helps guests plan one bigger outing |
Sample things to do list for a vacation rental (copy and customize)
Here's a template for a lakeside cabin. Swap the bracketed placeholders for your real favorites.
Coffee and breakfast
- [Your go-to café]: 5-minute drive. Opens at 7 a.m. Order the cinnamon roll early; they sell out by 10 on weekends.
- [Diner name]: 12-minute drive. Big portions, kid menu, cash and card.
Dinner
- [Casual pizza spot]: 8-minute drive. $. Call ahead for takeout on Fridays.
- [Lakefront restaurant]: 15-minute drive. $$$. Reserve a patio table for sunset.
Outdoors
- [Trail name]: 10-minute drive. Easy 2-mile loop, fine for kids and dogs on leash.
- [Kayak rental]: 6-minute drive. Seasonal. Bring water shoes; the launch is rocky.
Rainy day
- [Local museum or bowling alley]: 20-minute drive. Check hours before you go; they close early midweek.
- Board games and puzzles are in the hall closet.
Essentials
- Grocery: [Store name], 10-minute drive, open until 9 p.m.
- Pharmacy: [Store name], 12-minute drive.
- Urgent care: [Clinic name], 20-minute drive. For emergencies, call 911.
How to write each entry: hours, drive time, cost and insider tips
A good entry answers the questions a guest would ask before getting in the car. Follow these steps for each one.
- Name it clearly. Use the exact business name so guests can find it on a map.
- Add drive or walk time. Minutes are more useful than miles.
- Note the hours that matter. You don't need the full schedule. Flag the surprises, like "closed Mondays" or "kitchen closes at 8."
- Show the cost. A simple $, $$ or $$$ works for food. For activities, note if there's an entry or parking fee.
- Share one insider tip. The best dish, the quiet parking lot, the time to beat the crowd. This is the part guests remember.
- Keep it short. Two lines per entry is plenty. Guests are reading on a phone.
A quick formula: Name, distance, cost, one key fact, one tip.
Where to share the list: welcome book, QR code, digital guidebook and messages
Most hosts get the best results by putting the list in more than one place.
Printed welcome book
A printed book on the counter is easy to flip through over morning coffee. It's also handy when cell service is spotty. The downside is that printed pages go out of date, so keep time-sensitive details light.
QR code
A QR code on the fridge or a welcome sign sends guests straight to your list on their phone. It bridges your printed materials and a version you can update anytime.
Digital guidebook
A mobile guidebook is where a things to do list really shines, because guests can tap a phone number or open directions right from the entry. Welcome Kit Pro builds this from your property address: it fills in nearby restaurants and drinks, things to do and essentials like groceries, and you review and change the picks so the list reflects your own favorites. You get a print-ready PDF, a live mobile guidebook with tap-to-call and map links, and a QR code that links to it.
You can also build a list in a design template or another guidebook tool. If you're weighing options, see Welcome Kit Pro vs Canva and Etsy welcome book templates.
Pre-arrival and in-stay messages
A short message a day or two before arrival with your top three picks and a link to the full list gets guests excited. Check your booking platform's help pages for any rules about links or contact details in messages.
How often to update your list and avoid outdated recommendations
An outdated recommendation can do more harm than no recommendation at all. Nobody enjoys driving 20 minutes to a dark parking lot.
Use this simple checklist:
- Every quarter: confirm hours and that each place is still open.
- Each season: swap in seasonal activities and remove closed ones.
- After guest feedback: if a guest mentions a new favorite or a bad experience, adjust.
- When you visit: try something new near your property and add it if it's good.
- Before peak season: do a full pass so your busiest weeks get your freshest list.
Digital lists make this much easier. With a Welcome Kit Pro subscription, edits to your live guidebook republish right away, and QR codes you've already printed keep working after edits, so you never need to reprint a sign just because a café changed its hours.
Frequently asked questions
How many recommendations should a vacation rental things to do list have?
Three to six picks per category is a good range for most properties. That gives guests real choices without overwhelming them, and it keeps the list easy to maintain.
Should I include chain restaurants and big-box stores?
Include them in the essentials section, since guests often need a familiar grocery or pharmacy. For food and activities, focus on local favorites that guests can't find at home.
Is a printed or digital things to do list better?
Both work best together. A printed book is easy to browse in the house, while a digital guidebook with a QR code lets guests take your picks with them and lets you update details anytime.
How do I keep my list from going out of date?
Review hours and closures every quarter and swap seasonal items a few times a year. Keeping the list in a digital guidebook means you can fix a detail in minutes instead of reprinting.
Do I need design skills to make a nice-looking list?
No. A clean layout with clear headings and short entries matters more than fancy design, and tools with ready-made themes handle the formatting for you.
Next steps: add your things to do list to a digital welcome book
Start by jotting down your favorites in each of the eight categories, then add drive time, cost and one tip for each. Once you have a draft, put it where guests will actually see it.
Welcome Kit Pro can get you there quickly. Enter your address and house details, review the local picks it suggests, and choose from four themes: Modern Minimal, Coastal, Cabin and Classic B&W. It works for Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com and direct-booking rentals, on the web or in the iPhone app with one account across both.
Your first welcome book is free, and the PDF is yours to keep. On the free plan, the live guidebook and QR code stay online for 14 days. A subscription is $9.99/month or $79.99/year, covers up to 25 properties, and keeps every guidebook and QR code online and editable. Create your first welcome book free and give your guests a things to do list they'll actually use.