Heat Up Your Vacation Rental: How Outdoor Saunas Elevate Guest Experiences
AirBnb, VRBO, and other vacation rental platforms provide a great avenue for reaching guests and supporting the logistics of bookings, but in 2024, owners and managers of vacation rental properties are dealing with increasingly fierce competition, as well as managing cash flow due to lower occupancy rates during slower seasons.
If you've been on the hunt for ways to boost bookings and delight your guests, we have a potential solution to light a fire for your rental business. It's all about integrating those standout amenities that set your property apart, and one option that's been gaining popularity in recent years is the sauna.
Adding a sauna to your vacation rental property can significantly enhance its appeal, leading to increased revenue and booking rates. Here, we’ve compiled the top 10 reasons that vacation rental owners tout the benefits of adding saunas to their offerings:
1. Luxury Experience
Saunas add a sense of luxury and sophistication to your property, appealing to guests seeking a premium vacation experience. Imagine your guests sinking into the warmth of a cedar sauna, enveloped in luxurious, delicious full-body warmth that elevates their entire vacation experience. Every vacation rental can benefit from bringing that special, unforgettable experience for guests.
For a luxury sauna experience, check out our Northern Lights - 8' Red Cedar Barrel Sauna.
2. Year-Round Attraction
Unlike some amenities that are only seasonally available, saunas can be enjoyed year-round, making your property a hot location in all seasons. Saunas can be enjoyed on a nice summer evening, or can be a chance for your guests to warm up after a long day on the slopes or the trails, whether they’ve been on skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. Everyone can use a good warm sauna session after a day out in the cold of our Canadian winters!
3. Deepen the Relaxation Experience
Guests are drawn to properties that offer relaxation amenities such as saunas and hot tubs, providing them with a tranquil retreat during their stay. You can visualize your guests unwinding in the serene ambiance of your property's outdoor sauna, experiencing a level of relaxation that leaves them rejuvenated and refreshed, creating lasting memories of tranquility that will make them not want to leave, and certainly want to come back.
4. Wellness Focus
Saunas align with the growing trend of wellness-focused travel, attracting health-conscious guests who prioritize self-care during vacations. In a world where wellness is becoming increasingly attractive, offering a sauna demonstrates your commitment to the well-being of your guests, attracting health-conscious travellers who seek a holistic vacation experience that nurtures both body and soul.
5. Increased Bookings
With a sauna, your property stands out from the competition, attracting more bookings and reducing vacancy rates. Vacation home owners find that having more amenities available for their guests increases the perceived value that guests have when confirming a booking. Vacation rental owners also notice increased repeat guests, who want to return after experiencing such wonderful sauna benefits & memories during their getaway. Vacation rentals with saunas and hot tubs are frequently the most highly rated properties available on rental platforms.
6. Repeat Guests
Guests who have enjoyed the sauna experience are more likely to return to your property for future vacations, increasing repeat bookings and fostering guest loyalty. As well, adding a sauna can help you to attract a more diverse clientele. People want vacation rentals for a variety of reasons - perhaps they need a relaxing getaway, a place to sleep after a long day of hitting the slopes, or a place to gather with friends to celebrate a special occasion. Whatever the reason may be, adding an amenity like a sauna can make the trip extra special and memorable.
7. Positive Reviews
Providing unique amenities like saunas can result in glowing reviews from satisfied guests, further boosting your property's reputation and attracting more bookings. Imagine your vacation rental house receiving reviews such as these…
“The sauna was a great treat for the fall and cooler temperatures… We certainly would consider coming back!”
“The sauna and hot tub were a highlight of the trip”
“Perfect winter getaway. By far, the best cottage my family & I have stayed in…The hot tub & sauna was loved by all. Great week spent with the family and after the crazy past few months of covid & whatnot, it was the perfect place to relax and shake things off. Highly recommend!”
“The fireplace, hot tub, and sauna are a great way to relax in the evening! I will definitely book here again!”
“Your cottage deserves a 5 rating. We really enjoyed our stay! Oh and the sauna, which was amazing! Well worth the 6 hour drive! Maybe we'll have to come back next year when the color peaks in the fall.”
8. Higher Rates
By adding a sauna to your vacation rental, you offer a unique and desirable amenity that sets your property apart from the competition. Guests are often willing to pay a premium for the added luxury and wellness benefits, allowing you to justify charging higher rates and maximizing returns on your investment. Additionally, we’ve found that the allure of a sauna attracts longer bookings and repeat guests, further enhancing the value proposition for your rental, bringing significant benefit to your business in the long run.
9. Competitive Edge
Saunas are a unique selling point, and help your place stand out from the rest! Offering a sauna sets your property apart in a crowded market, giving you a competitive edge and positioning your rental as a top choice among travellers seeking a memorable and rejuvenating getaway. Having a unique sauna that is trendy and “Instagram-able” will help create organic word-of-mouth marketing for your property for future bookings. For the most social media-worthy sauna for your vacation rental, we recommend the True North Panoramic barrel sauna to really show off your show-stopping views.
10. Low-maintenance
Investing in a sauna for your vacation rental promises both guest satisfaction and minimal hassle for you as an owner. A well-designed sauna is inherently low maintenance, and with some very simple preventative measures, it's incredibly easy to keep your sauna clean and enjoyable to be in. With a quick sweep and occasional wipe down, maintenance becomes a breeze, leaving you more time to focus on other aspects of enhancing your guests' experience. Simple measures like advising guests to use towels on the benches can significantly reduce your periodic cleaning efforts. With our saunas, you can enjoy the benefits of offering a premium amenity without the stress of constant upkeep and monitoring, ensuring both relaxation for your guests and ease of management for you.
Turn Up the Heat with Luxury and Wellness
Incorporating a sauna into your vacation rental undoubtedly elevates the overall guest experience, amplifying your property's allure and value, especially with some quality photos and a title indicating the sauna added to your listing. By investing in this unique amenity, you can attract a wider audience, maintain year-round bookings, and ultimately boost your revenue. As the demand for wellness-focused accommodations continues to soar, it’s no wonder that more and more vacation rental owners are turning up the heat and adding this luxurious feature to cater to discerning guests seeking the ultimate relaxation retreat.