The Blue Ridge Mountains are a top vacation destination for today’s travelers, and the area is home to a wide variety of lodging options. Travelers in North Georgia today have their pick of condos, chalets and cabins, timeshares, hotels and motels, and private homes — all with many desired amenities on top of amenities guests expect. Renters are also more discerning with how they spend their money, demanding more amenities and better lodging — while spending less time searching for them.
If you want your property to draw in guests, why not offer them the most sizzle when it comes to amenities on their getaway in the mountains? Amenities that impress (beyond basic amenities) will have guests renting now and encourage them to return. And aren’t repeat guests at the heart of what we do?!
Not sure where to start when it comes to cabin amenities, conveniences, and competitive pricing thereafter? Give us a call at 1.800.580.5524! As a partner with Georgia Cabins for YOU, we can help give your North Georgia cabin that sizzle that sells. Read on to see how YOU can make your short-term vacation rental stand out!
1. A Gorgeous View
If your North Georgia vacation rental property is lucky enough to have an unobstructed Blue Ridge Mountains view (or a nice view of the city or a river), you already have a leg up! Guests love a great river or mountain view and will spend hours taking it all in from the deck since it’s something they can’t enjoy at home.
BUT if your beautiful view is blocked by trees, it won’t be a selling point for a classic mountain vacation. If you’re able (you own the adjoining property and have no HOA restrictions), hire a licensed, quality tree service to clear up the view.
2. Great Outdoor Spaces
Full outdoor living areas are gaining popularity with guests, offering TVs, great seating, picnic tables, fireplaces, firepits, porch swings, rocking chairs, landscape lighting, and even outdoor kitchens! Even if you can’t go all out on the deck, be sure you have plenty of comfortable, well-maintained seating on your well-maintained deck.
Big guest complaints come from broken/worn out, or lack thereof, deck seating that prevents them from being able to enjoy the great outdoors — which is a big reason why they came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the first place! And if you have a pet-friendly cabin, consider adding a fenced-in yard as a pet perk outside.
3. Gas/Charcoal Grills
Because the great outdoors is a big reason people visit the Blue Ridge Mountains, having all the top outdoor amenities (in great working order) is key. This includes a nice grill! Whether it’s gas or charcoal, be sure you have a nice grill — one that YOU would also enjoy cooking on — at the cabin.
Guests will appreciate being able to toss on steaks or fresh fish on their vacation, and it’s an amenity that is considered a “must-have” — not an extra. Give us a call to ensure your grill follows all local fire and municipal regulations.
4. A Steamy Hot Tub
Many guests enjoy a nice soak upon arrival. After a long drive, the last thing they want is a broken, unusable hot tub. All jets, heaters, and seats should work and be in great condition. If they aren’t, get them fixed ASAP. Let’s start with a great first impression!
Plus, soaking in a bubbly hot tub is the optimal way to spend time after exploring local hiking trails, shopping for hours, or walking around fun area attractions. Wouldn’t you agree?
5. A Swimming Pool
While not every cabin can have this, it provides a major sizzle if you can! Indoor or outdoor, private pools grab guests’ attention when browsing. And if you add fountains, waterfalls, swim-in grottos, underwater lights and seats, spa areas, a kiddy pool, an island, a few bridges, and loungers, your pool cabin will book! It’s also a great way to increase vacation rental profit because people will pay for cool pool extras.
6. Home Theater / Movie Room
If your property boasts a home theater or movie room, surround sound is a must. If you’re marketing a movie space, you need to offer guests a great movie-watching experience. Keep the controls simple, offer some comfortable sofas or theater-style seating, and ensure you have a big screen TV, Blu-ray player, and streaming service or movies on hand.
If you’re planning new construction, plan for a theater room. If you have a current cabin with space, consider using a spare bedroom. This is one amenity that really sizzles for guests! Give us a call if you need ideas!
7. Big Screen TVs | DVD + Blu-ray Players
Big screen TVs, or at the very least, flatscreen TVs, have become an essential amenity in short-term vacation rentals. Our rule: the bigger and flatter, the better! If you still have tube-style TVs throughout your cabin, they should be replaced ASAP. They stand out in online photos — in the worst way — and never provide a good entertainment experience for guests. Flatscreen TVs are inexpensive and an easy upgrade.
Tips for TVs
- Smart TVs are best: guests can stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more (must have great internet connection).
- Every bedroom should have a flatscreen TV (at least 32”).
- Living rooms and common spaces should have TVs at least 42”.
To pair with the upgraded TVs, cabins should have DVD and/or Blu-ray players for guests. They are at the top of the list, right next to hot tubs.
Tips for DVD/Blu-ray players
- Each TV should have 1 DVD/Blu-ray player.
- Luxury large-group lodges or deluxe cabins with theaters should have Blu-ray players.
- If you have a VCR — upgrade to a DVD/Blu-ray player immediately!
8. Game Tables: Pool, Air Hockey & Foosball
Guests — both kids and adults — LOVE a cabin well stocked with games. If you have the space for a game room or at least a pool table in an open space, it’s a popular amenity for guests.
Tips for Pool Tables
- Choose the largest size to fit the room.
- Keep felt and bumpers in good condition.
- Ensure the table is level.
- Provide ample cues, balls, and chalk, along with proper storage (mounted on the wall is great).
If you don’t have space for more than one game table, an air hockey table is a great pick. Guests of all ages can play it (as opposed to a trickier foosball table). Just be sure to choose a commercial-grade (or as close as you can) game so it can take some abuse. A foosball table is another fun option if you have additional space; again, choose the highest quality possible as it will get a lot of use.
9. Arcade & Video Games
A newer option to many cabin owners is the introduction of arcade games and video game consoles. They are both a HUGE hit with guests and help a property stay competitive and stand out from others with typical entertainment perks, like board games and card decks. If you have the budget for it, some great options include:
- Multicades – 50+ games, including classics and newer games
- Shooting games
- Driving (standalone or multi-racer) games
- Golden Tee golf
- Cocktail table arcade games (double as coffee tables)
- Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii – Great options; small and inexpensive; just remember, controllers will break and games will go missing, so set realistic expectations
BONUS: While these aren’t at the top of our list because of size and maintenance needs, some other games that you may consider if you have a lot of space and budget include shuffleboard (needs regular cleaning and wax), basketball games (take up space and can cause damage with balls flying around), and pinball (loud and high maintenance costs).
10. High Speed Wi-Fi
This is another must-have amenity for guests. Because almost every guest has Wi-Fi at home, they will expect this convenience at their cabin — be it a 1-bedroom cabin for a romantic getaway or a large cabin fit for a family reunion. Guests want to be able to stay connected, do some work, or go online to buy tickets, find area attraction hours, and more.
Just think if you would book a vacation rental without this comfort of home…it’s the same as providing linens, a washer and dryer, and an equipped kitchen/kitchenette these days. Many guests will simply pass up your cabin the moment they see it does not offer wireless internet.
11. Eco-Friendly Power
This is a new amenity to us as well, but we’re very excited about it! Green energy/solar power is unique and stands out to guests looking for a more eco-friendly place to stay. If trees don’t block your roof, consider having a solar power survey. Panels are a fraction of years’ past costs and offer nice utility savings for you.
