Winter is on its way. Whether your guests are winter vacationers, New Year’s holiday travelers, or even Black Friday shoppers heading to your city for the deals, there are a few things you need to do to get your listing ready for them.
Earlier this year, Airbnb’s Winter 2026 report noted that Canadian travelers continue to show strong interest in domestic winter trips, cabins, and chalets. So we’ve put together a winter checklist to help you create a great guest experience and earn those five-star reviews.
1. Start with safety
Winter brings risks that guests may not think about, so cover the basics before anything else.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries. This matters most if you use a fireplace, wood stove, or gas heating.
- Check fire extinguishers and make sure guests can see where they are.
- Service your heating system. Have the furnace, heat pump, or fireplace inspected before the cold arrives, not after a guest reports a problem.
- Add a clear emergency sheet with local emergency numbers, the nearest hospital or urgent care, and your contact details.
2. Make the entrance winter-ready
Guests judge your place from the moment they arrive, and in winter that moment often happens in snow and ice.
- Clear and salt walkways, steps, and driveways before every check-in. Consider a snow removal service for heavy-snow areas.
- Light the path. Days are short, so guests will often arrive in the dark. Check that porch and pathway lights work, or add motion-sensor lights.
- Create a landing zone inside the door: a boot tray, a mat, hooks for coats, and a place for wet gloves and hats.
- Offer a snow shovel and an ice scraper if guests will be parking at your property.
- Make self check-in easy. Cold fingers and lockboxes don’t mix. Make sure the keypad or lockbox works in freezing weather.
3. Keep the house warm and protect your pipes
- Seal drafts around windows and doors with weatherstripping or draft stoppers.
- Set clear thermostat guidance. Tell guests the recommended temperature and ask them not to turn heat off or very low when they leave. Frozen pipes are expensive.
- Insulate exposed pipes and know where your main water shutoff is.
- Prepare for gaps between bookings. Keep the heat at a safe minimum in empty periods, and ask your cleaner or co-host to check the property regularly during cold snaps.
- Prepare a backup plan for power outages: flashlights, extra blankets, and instructions for guests.
4. Create a cozy experience
Comfort is what makes winter guests write great reviews.
- Add layers to the bed: extra blankets, a duvet, or a throw, plus a few extra pillows.
- Provide warm touches: slippers, a basket of throws on the sofa, and warm lighting.
- Set up a hot drink station with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and nice mugs.
- Stock the essentials guests forget in cold weather: moisturizer or lip balm, extra towels, and a space heater only if it is safe and has an automatic shut-off.
- Think about drying space. A drying rack or a spot near the heat for wet clothes and boots is a small detail guests appreciate.
5. Prepare for the winter activities in your area
Guests who travel in winter often have a plan: skiing, skating, holiday markets, or shopping.
- Create a local winter guide with trails, rinks, ski hills, holiday events, markets, and cozy cafes.
- Offer storage for skis, snowboards, and boots, or a spot for wet gear.
- Include shopping tips for Black Friday and holiday visitors: the best malls and stores, parking advice, and late-night restaurant options.
- Share winter driving tips such as road conditions, winter tire requirements in your region, and where to find fuel and groceries.
6. Add seasonal touches without overdoing it
- Keep decorations simple. A small tree, string lights, or a wreath create atmosphere. Keep them neutral and safe, with no open flames or cluttered surfaces.
- Leave a small welcome gift: a few cookies, a hot chocolate packet, or a handwritten note.
- Respect different traditions. Not every guest celebrates the same holidays, so “seasonal” decor works better than religious or specific themes.
7. Update your house manual and communication
- Add winter instructions: heating, fireplace use, parking in snow, trash and recycling schedules during holidays, and quiet hours.
- Send a pre-arrival message with weather and road conditions, parking details, and check-in instructions.
- Be available. Winter problems are time-sensitive. Respond quickly when a guest reports a cold house or a locked door.
8. Review your listing, calendar, and pricing
- Update photos. If your listing only has summer photos, add winter or cozy interior shots so guests know what to expect.
- Update your description and amenities: heating, fireplace, hot tub, parking, snow equipment, and workspace.
- Check your calendar and minimum stays for holidays, New Year’s, and peak shopping weekends.
- Review your pricing for peak dates, and consider small discounts for longer stays during slower weeks.
- Check the local rules. Some areas have changing regulations for short-term rentals or seasonal permits.
9. Don’t forget cleaning and turnover
- Allow for extra time. Snow, salt, and mud mean more cleaning, especially at the entrance.
- Check supplies: extra towels, bedding, and cleaning products, so you don’t run short during busy weeks.
- Wash blankets and throws regularly, since guests will use them more.
as Sansa and Jon discuss in last season of Game of Thrones: Well, father always promised winter is coming, didn’t he?
now we are ready for it. here is your checkpoint list:
- ☐ Smoke and CO detectors tested
- ☐ Heating system serviced
- ☐ Pipes insulated, drafts sealed
- ☐ Walkways cleared, salt and shovel available
- ☐ Entrance lighting working
- ☐ Extra blankets and cozy touches added
- ☐ House manual updated for winter
- ☐ Local winter guide created
- ☐ Listing photos, pricing, and calendar updated
- ☐ Emergency and backup plans ready
image is created by AI.