The Best Streaming Services To Include In Your Airbnb
For the host who wants to create the ultimate home feel in their Airbnb, there is an amazing way to spend just a little money per month to remind the guests of their own homes. You can make the guests enjoy their stay by giving them the option to watch their favorite streaming services from the comfort of your Airbnb. It will make your property more appealing and may just be the differentiating factor when the guests are weighing their options on the website.
Why include streaming services?
Imagine sitting down to watch an exciting new show or something familiar that you have seen a million times before with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Your guests will love the option of just relaxing with their favorite shows at the end of a long day. They will be sure to leave great reviews on your Airbnb if they experience something like that.
Sometimes when the weather is bad, your guests would like to stay inside and not do any outdoor activities. If they have no options, they might take out their frustrations with the trip on your review score when they leave. Giving them an option to stay inside and watch TV is a great way to prevent boredom. Also, if you keep them occupied then there is a good chance that they won’t create trouble for you.
Some guests might be binging on something currently and would not like to put a gap just because of a trip. Maybe they don’t have a laptop or don’t like to watch TV on a small screen. A new show may have released while they are on a trip and they would like to stay up to date on it. There may be a lot of different reasons for the guests to expect a streaming service.
You might get some people that may disregard your Airbnb or complain of not having streaming options. For the small cost of around $10 per month, you can make sure that you don’t miss those odd guests and run your property at full occupancy.
Some guests might not be able to afford a certain subscription. If they see that you are offering one, they might be tempted to book yours just for the chance to watch something they have missed.
If you have a TV meant for your guests, then you might need to get Cable or some kind of subscription because people will expect it. They may be confused at being offered a TV but with no way to use that TV.
What to look for?
Look for services that are affordable and that have plenty of trending shows to watch. If you are unsure of what to get, ask someone who watches a lot of streaming to know what shows are trending in the zeitgeist.
Look for services that offer accessibility and security features like closed captions and child lock. The more robust the service, the more you can control access to it.
Suggestions:
Netflix: Netflix is the original streaming service that ushered in the new era of streaming. It is the most widely watched streaming service and you cannot go wrong with it. It is also very affordable with the cheapest plan starting at $8.99/month. Netflix has the most extensive selection, with literally thousands of titles to choose from. Netflix has licensing deals with CBS, ABC, Fox, NBC, Starz, BBC, Sony, and DreamWorks, all of which contribute titles to the library.
Amazon Prime Video: Amazon Prime Video is included in the Amazon Prime subscription. So you can benefit from a prime subscription for your regular Airbnb needs and get this as a bonus for your guests! Amazon Prime costs $99 for a year, so it might be a stretch to get it just for the streaming.
Hulu Plus: Hulu Plus has its own licensing deals to provide content from Fox, NBC, Disney, MTV, and a bevy of cable channels. Hulu Plus also updates its library more frequently than its competitors, which means you get to see the latest episodes of your favorite shows faster than you would if you were using Netflix. This makes Hulu Plus a great alternative to cable. It has almost the same price as Netflix.
HBO Now: HBO is the premium subscription that has its own award-winning shows. HBO is considered premium because it is expensive compared to other services and HBO shows are some of the most followed and watch TV series in the world. Adding an HBO subscription adds real value to your Airbnb and will make it stand out amongst other listings.
Precautions to take:
It makes sense to switch services out on a rotating basis depending on which shows are trending. Ask your guests what they would like to watch regularly.
Make sure the TV is a place that is not a bother to you. Guests watching TV can be quite a distraction.
If you give them an account on your own personal plan, then you have to create a guest account for them. With a guest account, you can control access and make sure they are not going through your watching history. This is a privacy issue.
Add an HDMI cable to your TV or some kind of external dongles like a Chromecast or a Roku so that people can stream from their laptops to their tv. This way they can stream from their own accounts and you don’t have to worry about privacy.
Make sure your internet plan has enough data use available for streaming. If you blow through your data caps, it may lead to throttling of your internet or worse yet extra charges.
Make sure the subscription supports child locks or adult filters if you run a family-oriented Airbnb. Guests will be shocked and angry if their kids end up finding adult content.
Be upfront about the rules regarding operating the devices. Set times in case the sound is going to bother you and mess with your sleep schedule.
