The Guest Book
Do you write in the guest book when you stay at a villa?
We guess less than half of people do. It used to be a lot more. Too bad.
Aside from valuable feedback for owners (mostly positive, but not always) guest books are full of suggestions. Good restaurant experiences, and bad ones. Best beaches. Day trips that went great. Places to stay away from.
Guest books are an old fashioned TripAdvisor suited just to the next guests.
When you settle in to a villa, you should spend a few minutes reading the most recent entries. You’ll probably learn something.
And just before you leave, take a couple of minutes to write something. Yes, it’s pen and paper and there’s no spell check, but it’ll come back to you, and you might give the next guests an idea and put a smile on the owner’s face.
January 22nd, 2013 08:16
One of the first things I do after settling in the first night is read the Guest Book! It’s fun to hear how people enjoyed their stay and the feeling of ahhhhh, now it’s my turn.
Then I’m a little sad when it’s my turn to write in the book because it’s the last night of vacation and time to go home.
January 22nd, 2013 09:02
I love guest books….and paper postcards, and saving menu receipts and travel diaries.
January 22nd, 2013 09:14
Like Colleen, I adore reading the guest book. My hubby makes fun of me for “writing a book” when I sign it but I like to think there is someone like me who will enjoy it later on.
January 22nd, 2013 09:40
I always read the guest book and leave a note. I like to see where all the past guests were from!
January 22nd, 2013 12:43
I have had the good fortune to have written in 6 guest books. I always read the previous entries as I find them very useful. I try to be helpful also. The last time on island I praised the crew of Bad Kitty & the wonderful trip we had to the BVI. My signature always include a hand drawn picture of a hibiscus flower!
January 22nd, 2013 12:57
Love the guest book! I always seek it out when we arrive at the villa. We have learned some very important things about specific villas through the guest books: One villa had a resident tarantula in the guest cottage which we were happy to know about in advance, another villa had issues with nesting birds that were very territorial by the area where you would hang your towels and suits to dry…all, very useful information. Plus, as others have mentioned, it’s kind of a bittersweet moment, to write in the book on the last night or morning of departure.
And, I, too, love to see who has stayed there before and where they are from. Famous people, people from forums we frequent, it’s cool.
Oh, and it’s cool to return to a villa and read your own comments again. It’s like a mini-trip report but, unlike the interwebs, once you’ve written in the guest book, you can’t go back and see it again unless you go back to that villa.
January 22nd, 2013 13:29
We are villa owners as well and we love to read the guest book! We have also noticed that less and less people sign it. I hope villa renters read this and know that we appreciate all feedback and want you to write in our old-fashioned guestbook!
January 22nd, 2013 19:38
The guest books are great. I turn to our last entry and read all the new ones since our last visit. We also keep a daily travel diary which we write while relaxing on the beach.
January 23rd, 2013 07:38
I love guest books & reading what people have to say. I believe it would be useful for both owners and first time renters, so, why not take a few while having a cocktail and let people know your experiences on island…