Vacation-rental hosts know that the more amenities they have, the more selling points they can use to market their listings. Most hosts would love to offer surefire guest magnets like a pool or hot tub, but not all are ready for such big-ticket items.
Fortunately, an array of guest-pleasing amenities are available for under $300 – some of them significantly under. Here’s a selection of them. Prices listed are Amazon prices and are subject to change.
Outdoor Amenities for Vacation Rentals Under $300
- Fire Table
Firepits have become quite popular as amenities, but can raise safety concerns, as well as being labor-intensive to establish and maintain. A fire table is a solid alternative and can be especially suited to small, intimate guest groups.
They can also be used on decks and patios, where firepit use would be risky, if not impossible. Fire Tables range in price from about $150 to $600+. The Ciays Propane Fire Pit model is $189.99 for the 28” version (also come in 32”). Ciayas notes that the table can also help keep food warm, and beverages can be placed on the surface. Fire comes up through lava rocks to spark everyone’s imagination.No products found.
- EV charger
Have you noticed that more and more guests are asking if you have an EV charger for their electric cars? Some experts are even saying EV chargers are a necessity, not just an amenity. The demand for electric vehicles has grown exponentially, to the degree that car manufacturers have been caught up short. If yours is an area in which EV use is increasing significantly, a charger can be a compelling selling point for your guests. The Morec 15A Home Electric Vehicle Charging Station ($159) is portable and sturdy.No products found.
- Tree swing. If your property has a tree suitable for hanging a swing, you have the opportunity to create a whimsical, old-fashioned experience for kiddos. Options range from a traditional one-person swing to models like the Trekassy 700lb Giant 60″ Platform Tree Swing that can hold five kids or two adults. Users say it’s easy to assemble,and the kids love it so much they are spending less time looking at screen devices. Can also be used indoors. $129.99.
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- Patio table + chairs. Finding an outdoor dining table UNDER $300 for groups of 6 and up is challenging, but if your STR’s occupancy is 4 or lower, you can find a nice wrought-iron set for 4 for around $275, like the Incbruce 5-Piece Outdoor Dining Set Wrought Iron Patio Dining Set, which is an excellent size for an outdoor breakfast table and includes a hole for an umbrella.
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- Outdoor heater. In colder climates, decks and patios tend to lose their appeal as temperatures drop; thus, an outdoor heater can extend the deck-and-patio season for your guests.
They’re available in both propane and electric models like the EAST OAK Patio Heater 1500W Portable Tower that sells for about $155. Propane and electric models are comparably priced, ranging from about $125 to $300.No products found.
Top Kitchen Amenities for Your Short Term Rental Under $300
- Keurig coffeemakers
Keurigs are extremely popular with hosts and guests alike for their ease of use and variety of flavors of k-cup pods. The coffeemakers range from $60 for single-cup models to $1,000 or more for a commercial model.
The K Classic Coffeemaker makes 6 cups at a time and costs $99.99. It can be programmed to turn off automatically after 2 hours.No products found.
- Ice machine
Because cold beverages are a mainstay of vacation-rental stays, both hosts and guests find ice machines highly useful. They churn out ice much faster than the freezer can.
The Silonn Ice Maker Countertop model ($89.99 on Amazon) makes ice in six minutes and in two sizes. It’s also self-cleaning.No products found.
- Rice Cooker
Fully equipped “Gourmet” and “Chef’s” kitchens have become significant vacation-rental selling points, especially for guests booking longer stays. Providing small appliances that go beyond the standard coffeemaker, toaster, and blender takes your vacation-rental kitchen to the next level.
Rice cookers are popular because they’re easy to use and make less of a mess than traditional rice-cooking methods. Some hotels, especially in areas that bring in large numbers of Asian tourists, are even providing rice cookers. The Aroma Housewares Aroma 6-cup 1.5 Qt. One-Touch Rice Cooker is under $20 and cooks much more than just rice, including farro, quinoa, bulgur wheat, couscous and rice pilaf.No products found.
- Kitchen Aid Mixer
Many hosts provide hand-mixers for guests, but those seeking to lure “foodie” guests may want to consider a high-end standing mixer, like the KitchenAid Classic Series Stand Mixer ($249). Users say it’s a gamer-changer that enables items like bread to be made so much more easily than without it. It doesn’t require the strength of hand-mixing and frees up hands to multi-task while ingredients are mixing.No products found.
- Air fryer
Air fryers are completely on-trend these days, and as such can be just the thoughtful amenity that will lure guests to your STR. One of the biggest reasons for their popularity is that they make for healthier cooking by requiring very little oil, enabling cooks to replace fatty, deep-fried foods with more healthful alternatives; they also cook faster than other frying methods. The COSORI Pro II Air Fryer Oven Combo, 5.8QT Max Xl Large Cooker, which sells for just under $100, offers a dozen presets. Users find it easy to cook with and rave about the food it produces.No products found.
Best Electronic Amenities for
- USB outlets
While USB chargers are almost standard equipment in vacation rentals, some hosts don’t like to provide them because they’ve experienced theft of those they’ve supplied. Thus, USB outlets can be a solid solution.
While an outlet is not completely theft-proof, guests are less likely to swipe something that needs to be unscrewed from the wall. The QINLIANF Outlet Extender offers five electrical outlets and four USB charging ports, including one for USB C. At less than $20, these outlets comprise a “bang-for-the-buck” amenity.No products found.
- Bedside lamps w/charging docks
Another charging amenity that helps prevent charger theft is a set of bedside lamps with charging and electrical outlets. A guest would have to be pretty brazen to steal a lamp. Since guests often charge their devices overnight, they love the convenience of a bedside-table charger.
You may also have noticed the phenomenon of guests unplugging electrical items in your vacation rental so they can plug in their own; a handy electrical outlet on the lamp may prevent that. HAITRAL USB Table Lamps Set of 2, Modern Bedside Lamps with Dual USB Ports, AC Outlets is one such lamp set ($39.99). Each lamp base has one electrical outlet and two USB charging ports.No products found.
- Surround-sound speakers
Hosts are increasingly offering theater rooms as a way to attract guests, but even if you don’t have such a room, you can create a cinematic experience for guests with a surround-sound system. The Raineverry Surround Sound System for Home Theater model here ($239.99) can be connected to phones or other mobile devices with Bluetooth, as well as to TVs and gaming systems. Users describe it as a high-quality and attractive system for a relatively low price.No products found.
- Towel warmer
Mmmmmm, what guest wouldn’t want to wrap up in a warm towel after bathing or showering in cool weather? Towel-warming racks typically come in either free-standing or wall-mounted models. The Mobider model, a wall-mount, comes in 4-, 6-, and 10-bar versions and not only warms towels but dries them, allowing guests to reuse towels without their smelling mildewy. The 6-bar model in matte black is $168.90; other finishes are also available.No products found.
Amenities that Give a Luxury Feel for $300 or Less
- Luxury spa robes
In hotels, spa bathrobes are considered the mark of high-end luxury. The same can certainly be true of vacation rentals. Guests will feel enveloped in luxury as they step out of bath or shower and into a plush robe.
The Monarch Cypress Luxury Spa, Hotel Robe offers unisex styling and comes in sizes ranging from extra-small to extra-large. Users cite the comfort and roominess of these robes, which sell for a little under $100.No products found.
- Spa Eye Patches
These eye patches fall into the category of “thoughtful special touches that guests love.” They are also inexpensive; 30 pairs sell on Amazon for $11.99.
A host who provides them says many guests private message her about how much they love them. She provides Permotary Crystal Collagen Under Eye Masks.No products found.
- Bidet. A bidet is another thoughtful special touch for guests seeking a particular level of hygiene. It’s also an attractive feature for hosts who book a lot of European guests, given that bidets are common there.
A true, self-contained bidet involves plumbing and expense, but an inexpensive ($37.66) toilet attachment like the LUXE Bidet Neo 120 Fresh Water Non-Electric Mechanical Bidet Toilet Attachment is a viable alternative. With guests using the bidet, you may even save money on toilet paper.No products found.
Indoor and Outdoor Games for Your AirBNB Under $300
- Ping-pong table. Ping-pong (also known as table tennis) games are extremely popular with guests and sell at a wide range of prices. You’ll find a number of models under $300, including the GoSports Mid-Size Indoor/Outdoor Portable Table Tennis Game ($149.99).
Because it’s not as large as some models (about two-thirds the size of a regulation model), it will take up less space in your game room or other location, and its portability enables you to move it if you decide on a new location, including outdoors. Users praise its durability and the bounce the surface provides for ping-pong balls.No products found.
- Giant Connect 4
Connect 4 is a game similar to tic-tac-toe in which two players alternately place pieces on a vertical board 7 columns across and 6 rows high. A giant version multiplies the fun and can be played both indoors and outdoors. It’s not just a mindless game, but one that stimulates strategic and problem-solving skills. Users of the Giantville Giant 4-in-a-Row Connect Game ($179.89) say that both kids and adults love it.No products found.
- Outdoor Jenga
Most of us are familiar with the table-top tower-stacking game, Jenga, but may not know it comes in a giant version, especially for outdoor play. Sport Beats Large Tower Game Life Size Lawn Yard Outdoor Games for Adults and Family comes in three sizes, medium (5.7 x 5.7 x 18 inches tower when full set up; $30.99), large (6 x 6 x 23.5 inches; $39.99)), and giant (7.2 x 7.2 x 26 inches; $74.99).
A few users were surprised the finished tower isn’t larger, but all versions of the outdoor game, including the one made by Jenga, are of comparable size. Large size:No products found.
- Nintendo Switch
Many families are excited about the opportunity to play video games on host-supplied systems, so a game console like the Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red JoyCon ($299.99), especially if it comes with a variety of games for the whole family, can truly help your vacation rental stand out.
Parenting author Kari Wilmot writes of the Switch, “It’s a versatile system that kids and families can play together. The Switch can connect to television for traditional game play. It also has a screen and can be used as a portable, handheld gaming system. Finally, the Switch’s ‘Joy-Con’ controllers have motion sensors for movement games.”No products found.
- Foosball Table. Foosball, a table game resembling soccer in which the ball is moved by manipulating rods to which small figures of players are attached, has long been a staple among fun amenities in vacation rentals.
Players enjoy the competitiveness of it and how active it is. Users cite the B08MT16X5D Triumph Sports Foosball Table as a great value for the price ($84.30).No products found.
- Air Hockey
These games, also a mainstay at game-oriented vacation rentals, come in a wide variety of models, types, and prices. Players enjoy the competition, moderate physical activity, and entertainment value of air hockey. Users like the NHL theme and play value of the 48″ Mid-Size NHL Rush Indoor Hover Hockey Game Table ($105.25).No products found.
Miscellaneous
- Indoor swing/chair swing
Indoor swings, especially those in the form of chairs, are attractive for both kids and adults and add a “wow factor” in vacation rentals. Swinging on one is like being wrapped in a cocoon and gently rocked. Users cite the sturdiness and suitability for children of the Mertonzo Knitted Macrame Hanging Swing Chair for Indoor, which has a capacity of 230 lbs. and can also be used outdoors.No products found.
- Karaoke machine. It’s hard to imagine an amenity that can being guests together in a more super-fun way than a karaoke machine. Karaoke is a highly social musical activity that’s fun for both good singers and those who aren’t quite ready for prime time.
Users love the sound quality of the JYX Karaoke Machine with Two Wireless Microphones, Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Shoulder Strap ($95.99)No products found.