What Can Guest Reviews Tell Me About Vacation Rental Design?

You may look at star ratings and call it a day. But are you actually reading the reviews to understand what guests value? If not, that's a missed opportunity.

Reviews are free market research. They tell you exactly what guests loved, what they expected, and what they wish had been different. If you're not reading them, you're missing insights that could directly impact your design strategy.

Intentionally styled coffee station designed to attract guests that value unlimited coffee.

Stop Skimming. Start Reading.

Don't just look for red flags. Read reviews to understand what makes guests rave about a property.

What do they remember? What do they mention in the first sentence? What do they say made the stay worth the price? Those patterns tell you what your market values.

How to Mine Reviews for Design Insights

• Read 20 to 30 five-star reviews from top-performing rentals (similar to your property). in your market. Look for patterns.

  
  

• If everyone mentions the outdoor space, the coffee setup, or the lighting, that tells you what your market values. Design for that.

  
  

• If guests consistently mention things like "felt like home," "perfect for groups," or "the hot tub was amazing," you know what experiences resonate. Build your design around those expectations.

Why This Works

Your competition's reviews will tell you exactly how to beat them. They show you what's working, what guests wish were different, and where the gaps are. And gaps are opportunities.

A bedroom designed to recharge guests that need recovery in a downtown vacation rental.

This is one of the first things I do when I take on a new project. I read reviews to understand the market, identify what guests value, and spot opportunities to differentiate.

Because designing without understanding what your market actually wants is costly guesswork.

Guest reviews reveal what drives bookings and rate in your market. Read them strategically to inform your design decisions.