81 Ideas for a Killer Vacation Rental Listing Description

It’s no secret that having a captivating vacation rental listing description draws potential guests to browse your website. So how can you create a killer vacation rental listing description for your property?

You’ll want to write your description as though you were talking directly to your guest.  As a result, you’ll make them feel at ease as they read your listing.  It should sound natural and inviting, not harsh and restrictive.  

You don’t have to be an English major to capture the attention of your potential guests. 

The recipe for a captivating vacation rental description just takes a dab of psychology and a little bit of wordsmithing. 

No, really.  Hear me out.

A Dab of Psychology

Just as a successful author knows how to engage the readers emotions, the same holds true when writing a killer vacation rental description.

For instance, consider what your ideal guests are searching for in a vacation, not just your property.  In order to attract them to your property, you have to first sell them on the experience.

Most importantly, what emotions will guests experience from your property’s views, amenities, furnishings, floorplan, local attractions, outside amenities or the wildlife?

• What will your guests see?
• Are there inviting sounds they will hear?
• Think of some smells will they experience?
• Most importantly, what will they feel (physically and emotionally)?

Descriptions that Speak to the Emotions

Whatever your property’s captivating features are, write your listing in a way that strikes the reader’s emotions.  As a result, your listing will make them feel like they are already there.

Make your vacation rental listing description stand out among the hum-drum, same ole boring text of your competitors.  Just be sure to keep your descriptions accurate.  In other words, don’t mislead or oversell by making your property sound more appealing than it really is.

For instance, elaborate on the amenities that make your property special.

Maybe it’s the coziness of the magnificent stone fireplace, with hand-selected locally sourced stones. 

Perhaps it’s the breathtaking mountain vistas, from your 4,000 ft. elevation, they’ll experience from the expansive balcony.

What about your highly entertaining gameroom that will keep the kids busy while the parents relax while watching their favorite movie on the gigantic screen in the theater room.

Or the powdery white cross-country ski trails that are just a few steps away from the back door.

What’s Unique About Your Vacation Rental?

Certainly, there is something unique or outstanding about your property.  As you write your listing description, expand upon those differences and use them as selling points.

Grab a piece of paper and a pen.  Imagine yourself being at your vacation property.  Again, what do you see, hear, smell, feel?  Write some notes about what you’re thinking for inspiration.

For example, which of these descriptions is more interesting?

• Watch the magnificent sunsets from Awesome Rental’s relaxing deck.
• After an exciting day exploring City, pour a glass of wine from the local XYZ Winery.  Sink into the cozy wooden rockers as you breathe in the fresh mountain air while watching the stunning sunset in the distance.  

If this was the view from your vacation rental, how would you describe it?  

What do you see? What would you hear?

Does the view from your vacation rental invoke similar emotions? 

Wordsmithing 

I’ve done most of the homework for you on the wordsmithing part.  I created a Vacation Rental Thesaurus that has 81 ideas for descriptive words to use in your listing.  

Get my 81 Vacation Rental Description Ideas here.

I have chosen some “hum-drum” words that are overused in vacation rental listings.  My list gives you alternatives that will play upon the emotions of your potential guests.

81 Ideas for a Killer Vacation Rental Listing Description

The Trendy Hospitality Vacation Rental Marketing Thesaurus is a handy tool to keep in your marketing toolbox.  It contains 81 ideas for descriptive words to use as alternatives to the overly dry narrative you’ll find in most vacation rental listings.

This tool will be a helpful reference as you read though your current listing.  Consider how you can beef up your vacation rental listing description to make it more inviting.  You can easily generate excitement about booking your property if you put some psychology into the mix.

I’d love to see your before and after text of your vacation rental listing.  Email me at connie@trendyhospitality.com or leave it in the comments below!