Ten Must Have's in Setting Up Your Vacation Rental Kitchen

Staying in a vacation rental means having a house be home for guests. Make sure to set up your kitchen for success!

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When I stay at a vacation rental, I'm all about feeling like I'm at home. I'm probably cooking a few meals - and there is nothing more annoying than not having what I need! Planning for how people will use your space - and what they'll need, can be tricky because we don't all live our lives the same or approach our tasks alike. But with a bit of forward thinking, setting up your vacation rental kitchen to accommodate a wide variety of needs will help you get those five star reviews!

Coffee Pot. Invariably, some folks like to make a full pot of coffee while others live and die by their single-cup maker. Solve this dilemma by offering both! We use the Hamilton Beech Flexbrew at home and at every rental property. We’ve stayed at rental properties with fancier machines - and struggled to figure out how to use them! So, unless your market specifically demands something different, this is a great go-to option to meet your guests needs.

Accommodating larger groups? Then you probably need more than one coffee pot! At my largest rental, we have a Flexbrew in the kitchen plus a larger - reservoir Keurig in the dining area - no line ups trying to get coffee in the AM.

Electric Kettle. Speaking of hot drinks, there are lots of folks who appreciate an electric kettle - and if you cater to international travelers, having an electric kettle is a must! Make sure it has auto-shut off and boil dry protection, like this sleek beauty.

Dishwashable Everything. Avoid items that can’t go in the dishwasher. Guests aren’t going to care for dishware that can’t go in the dishwasher. So avoid all things not dishwashable - including those wooden cutting boards. I prefer these inexpensive cutting boards that I replace annually to ensure they remain fresh looking.

Nonstick pans that are dishwasher safe and can take a beating are a must in your vacation rental. And if you accommodate a crowd, make sure you have enough pots and pans for cooking for a crowd, durable and dishwasher safe. A set with some bakeware is handy - not everyone is going to bake, but if you accommodate families or longer stays, having options is helpful! The ability to bake a cake or muffins while delight your guests.

Blender. Be it smoothies or icy mixed drinks, a blender is an absolute must in your short-term rental kitchen! I like to store the “quick start” guide that comes with it taped to the inside of the cabinet where the blender is stored so folks unfamiliar with the brand have a reference if needed.

Griddle pan. Vacation mornings conjure the smell of pancakes and bacon - so make sure your guests have all they need for a leisurely breakfast or two while staying. A double burner griddle is helpful for making lots of pancakes all at once and make sure you’ve got some mixing bowls for pancake mix.

Pizza Pans. Especially in a family-friendly rental, having the option to heat up pizza as a quick meal at the end of a long day, or for the teens while Mom and Dad head out for a romantic dinner for two is a must! Stash a couple pans - and don’t forget the pizza cutter as well.

Dishware. Folks on vacation may not be as diligent about doing dishes, so make sure you have a couple of meals worth of dishes in the cupboard - meaning, for your maximum occupancy, times two. I use the same brand in my budget and luxury rentals - the unbreakable, time tested Corelle. They are light weight - my Grandmother struggles with her arthetic hands, so I think its way better than heavy stoneware, and it can take a banging. Many beautiful options, colors and styles to choose from. My current favorite is Ocean blues - of course, white is a terrific addition to any kitchen!

Unbreakables. Kid-friendly? Pool or hot tub? You definitely need some unbreakable dishware and glassware options in your short-term rental. I still get a bit irked about a kid-friendly rental that was advertised as “our second home” complete with a fun bunk room - with only heavy stone wear dishes, breakable glasses, and nary a kid-friendly dish to be found (and after digging in discovered it wasn’t anything close to a second home - more like an 18th they probably had never even slept in!). Our newest rental has a pool, so we also want to make sure we don’t get broken glass in the pool area - so we have a rule of no glass in the pool area. But realistically, we know folks will take drinks - minimally with them to hang out. So we make sure to stock lots of non-breakable options for kids and adults both!

Silicone pot holders. I believe in making my cleaners job as easy as possible - and potholders that can be tossed in the dishwasher is an awesome approach to helping keep cleanliness easy. Check these out at https://amzn.to/3ISDvtV and also grab some pretty trivets while you are at it!

So there you have it - 10 ideas to help ensure you are considering all the possibilities for your vacation rental. Surveys show having access to a fully usable kitchen is a key reason guests choose vacation rentals over hotels - so make sure you are meeting this need! Even if you don't drink coffee or buy frozen pizza, your guests may so make sure you are able to accommodate those needs.

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Hey Boss! I'm Kate over at The CEO Host, my business to help folks succeed with their own vacation rental business. I left my 27 year career - my last position being CEO, and leverage my experience and MBA to support others as a coach and consultant as well as provide information and education about vacation rentals. I LOVE to connect with others in the industry - and to help you with whatever you need. Check out all we offer over at The CEO Host and let me know if I can help!

Categories: : Set Up Your Rental