Going Digital with Your Airbnb: Saying Goodbye to Printed Guest Guides

Running a successful Airbnb or holiday rental in Australia isn’t just about offering comfortable beds and fresh sheets. It’s about creating an experience that helps your guests feel welcome and well-informed from the moment they walk through the door.

Traditionally, many hosts have relied on printed guidebooks—often placed on a coffee table or kitchen bench—to provide visitors with information about local attractions, dining options, and house rules. While there’s something undeniably appealing about a beautifully bound guidebook, those physical copies can also become costly, outdated, and prone to wear and tear.

In this post, we’ll discuss why printed guides might be ready for retirement and explore a few digital alternatives that are easy to set up, cost-effective, and—best of all—simple for your guests to use. We’ll also delve into a specific iPad solution that requires no monthly subscription, giving you the freedom to share important details without locking yourself into ongoing fees.

The Appeal (and Pitfalls) of Printed Guest Guides

A physical guest guide can look lovely when placed in your living area.

Guests may sit down with a cuppa and leaf through pages filled with local recommendations, maps, and perhaps even a few handwritten notes. It’s personal, tangible, and can give off a homely vibe that many travellers appreciate.

However, printing physical booklets comes with a fair few headaches:

Repeated Printing Costs

Having a professional-looking guidebook isn’t always cheap. You’ll likely pay for layout design, printing, binding, and possibly delivery if you order in bulk. Even on a budget, these costs add up over time—particularly if you manage more than one property.

Damage, Loss, and Wear

Printed materials can be wrecked by accidental spills or torn pages. They might even end up in the rubbish if a guest mistakenly shuffles them in with takeaway menus or other brochures. You could find yourself having to reprint the entire booklet more frequently than you’d like.

Risk of Outdated Recommendations

Your top-rated café might suddenly shut down, or a new hotspot could open around the corner without warning. Once your guidebook is printed, you have no quick way to update it. Your guests may end up with out-of-date suggestions or miss out on the latest must-try experiences in your area.

Limited Engagement

Physical guides are static. You can’t add clickable links, interactive maps, or real-time tips. Although you could include QR codes, you’re still bound by the limitations of a paper booklet.

Despite these drawbacks, many hosts keep on with printed guides because it’s what they know. If you’re feeling hesitant to switch, the good news is that going digital doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Let’s explore why it’s well worth your consideration.

Why Switch to Digital?

Real-Time Updates

The moment you discover a great new bistro or learn that your favourite bakery has changed its hours, you can edit your digital guide. No reprints, no fuss. This ensures guests always have the most accurate local intel at their fingertips.

Less Ongoing Expense

While you might spend money on a device (like a tablet) or a digital photo frame upfront, you won’t be up for printing fees every time you need to adjust your information. That’s a big win for hosts who already fork out sizeable service fees per booking.

Interactive Experiences

Digital guides can feature embedded videos, interactive maps, photo slideshows, or even direct links to websites. Guests can check current menus, see up-to-date ticket prices, or navigate Google Maps without leaving the couch.

Eco-Friendliness

By avoiding reprints and minimising paper usage, you’ll do your bit for the environment. Many travellers appreciate hosts who adopt more sustainable practices, which can boost your listing’s overall appeal.

Easier Management

If you operate multiple properties, you can manage them all from a single platform or device. Gone are the days of juggling stacks of guest binders and trying to remember which ones need updating.

Guest-Friendly Setup Matters

One common worry is that guests might not engage with a digital guide—especially if they’re unfamiliar with technology. The trick is to make your setup as simple and obvious as possible. Think about placing a digital device in a clearly visible spot such as the kitchen bench or living room coffee table, with a small sign or label along the lines of “Welcome! Tap here for all the info you need.”

Not only does this make your guide easy to find, it also reassures guests who might be reluctant to scan QR codes or type in long URLs on their phones. They’ll see a dedicated device or screen and realise instantly, “This is where I go if I have questions.”

A Tablet with a One-Off Purchase App

One of the simplest ways to provide a digital guide for your Airbnb is to dedicate a tablet—an iPad or Android device—that remains in your property permanently. You can load it with information about your home, local attractions, eateries, and anything else guests might want to know.

Choosing the Right Device

Recommended Model: An Apple iPad (9th Generation) offers a good balance of performance and price.

Approximate Cost: AU$500–AU$600 (new) at major retailers like JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks.

Features: User-friendly, reliable, and can be locked down so guests only access your guide.

One-Off Cost: You’ll pay for the tablet itself. If you choose your app wisely, you won’t face monthly or annual subscriptions.

Setting It Up

Create Your Guide

You can compile your tips, photos, and instructions into a PDF, a slideshow (Keynote or PowerPoint), or a simple, offline-friendly web page.

Find a Suitable App

Kiosk Pro Basic (one-time purchase on the App Store)

Approximate Cost: AU$40–AU$60 (varies by App Store region).

Transforms your iPad into a “kiosk” that displays PDFs, images, or local web pages in a locked-down interface.

iOS’s Built-in Guided Access (free)

Can be used alongside a PDF reader or Keynote.

Locks the iPad to one app without any extra software costs.

Lockdown Mode

Kiosk Pro Basic offers extra settings to customise your interface and prevent guests from exiting your guide.

Guided Access (in Settings > Accessibility) disables the Home or side button and locks the device to just one app.

Ongoing Updates

If you store the PDF or presentation in a cloud service (like iCloud or Dropbox), changes sync automatically to the iPad.

Simply lock the device back into Guided Access or kiosk mode, and you’re all set.

Why It’s Great

Guest-Friendly: Most guests know how to tap and swipe on an iPad.

No Subscription: You buy the tablet and (optionally) a one-off kiosk app—no monthly fees.

Flexible: You can include videos, links, or an offline map, depending on how fancy you want your guide to be.

A Dedicated Digital Touchscreen

If you’d prefer a device that’s built specifically for displaying information (rather than a repurposed tablet), consider a digital signage solution or a small touchscreen kiosk. These products are designed for slideshows, menus, or interactive content in retail or lobby settings, but they also work well for Airbnb guests.

Why Choose This?

Purpose-Built Hardware: Because these screens are made for displaying info, they often include built-in software or come with easy-to-use web dashboards.

No Subscription: Many models simply let you upload content for a flat, up-front cost.

Professional Look: Some digital signage platforms come with templates that can give your guide a sleek, consistent design.

Example: ViewSonic TD Series Touch Monitor

Approximate Cost: AU$400–AU$700, depending on screen size and features.

What Is It? A touchscreen monitor that you can connect to a small media player or mini PC. This setup can be used to display presentations, slides, or PDFs in an interactive format.

One-Off Cost: You’ll pay for the monitor (and potentially the mini PC if needed) with no ongoing subscription fees.

Editing Content: Make your updates on your computer, then push them to the device as needed.

A Digital Photo Frame with Remote Content Updates

A modern twist on the digital frames of old, newer models come with Wi-Fi connectivity, touchscreens, and easy app support that allows you to send photos or slides from anywhere.

Introducing… Frameo

Approximate Cost: AU$150–AU$250, depending on frame size and retailer.

Touchscreen & Wi-Fi: With a Frameo digital photo frame, you can display images, slides, or short captions. Guests can tap and swipe through them, much like a tablet—no complicated apps required.

Remote Updates: If you discover a new restaurant or local attraction, snap a photo and add a quick caption. Send it to the frame via the Frameo app, and your guests will see the updated info in minutes.

No Recurring Fees: You buy the frame outright and use the free companion app to upload content.

Benefits for Hosts

Engaging Visuals: Guests can swipe through pictures of local attractions, read short notes on house rules, or get directions to the closest supermarket, all in a visually appealing slideshow.

Personal Touch: Insert a “Welcome!” slide featuring the guest’s name, making their stay feel special as soon as they arrive.

Simple Setup: Place the frame on the kitchen bench or entry table—where guests are guaranteed to notice it.

Keeping Content Fresh

Regardless of which digital option you choose, staying up-to-date is key:

Monthly Check

Add a quick calendar reminder to review your guide each month. Update local info, adjust house rules, or refresh photos as needed.

Ask for Guest Input

Encourage visitors to let you know if they discover new cafés or activities. Incorporating their tips can make your guide even more helpful and personal.

Rotate Photos

If you’re using a digital frame, swap out your images every few weeks. Returning guests will appreciate seeing fresh content each time they visit.

Provide a Brief Tutorial

Add a simple note near the device that says, “Tap the screen to explore” or “Swipe left and right for more info.” A little guidance goes a long way for those who might be less tech-savvy.

What Will You Do?

While printed guest guides once felt like the pinnacle of hospitality, times have changed. With digital options now more affordable and user-friendly, there’s no reason to cling to paper booklets that might quickly end up in the bin or become out of date. Whether you opt for a dedicated iPad with a kiosk app, a specialist touchscreen monitor, or a modern digital photo frame like Frameo, your guests will appreciate having the latest local info at their fingertips—and you’ll appreciate the freedom to make instant updates without any extra printing costs.

Are you ready to go digital? Perhaps you’ll start small with an iPad PDF and iOS’s Guided Access, or jump straight into a sleek digital signage display. We’d love to hear your thoughts and any clever solutions you’ve tried. Feel free to share in the comments below!

Thanks for reading, and happy hosting!

May your new digital guide elevate your guests’ experience and earn you glowing reviews, all while saving time, money, and paper.