Travel days can be busy, and we know guests want a smooth, easy arrival where everything “just works.” However, vacation rentals operate very differently from hotels. Each home is unique, each community has its own expectations, and check-in instructions are tailored specifically for your reservation.
To make your stay seamless, it’s essential to review everything we send you.
This guide explains why preparation matters—and why simply showing up at the doorstep without completing our pre-arrival steps will not work with any property managed by StellarStay.
🔑 1. Vacation Rentals = Unique Homes, Not Hotels
Hotels have on-site staff and standardized rooms. Vacation rentals don’t.
Each property may have:
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a different entrance
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a different keypad or access method
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different parking rules
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different HOA or city requirements
Reading your instructions ensures you know exactly how to enter, where to go, and what to expect.
🔐 2. Your Access Code Is Created for Your Reservation
We generate secure, customized codes for each stay.
If guests do not respond to messages or confirm basic pre-arrival requirements, the access code cannot be activated.
This is a safety measure to protect both you and the property.
📘 3. Airbnb Requires All Guests to Follow House Rules
Many guests don’t realize that Airbnb has its own mandatory guest obligations—not just the host’s rules. The official policy is here: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2894 A key section states: “Follow the host’s standard house rules.” This is not optional and applies to every reservation. House Rules are part of the booking agreement; Airbnb requires guests to read them, understand them, and respect them.
Unfortunately, many travelers skip over all of this, which often leads to avoidable confusion. That’s why we ask every guest to confirm that they have read and acknowledged:
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Airbnb’s Guest Responsibilities (link above)
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our House Rules
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our check-in procedure
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our occupancy and parking limits
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our quiet hours and community expectations
We are not making up our own system. These are Airbnb’s standards—and we enforce them consistently.
🏡 4. Listing Descriptions Contain Critical Information
Skipping the listing description is the #1 reason guests feel surprised.
But this is where we clearly explain:
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where the entrance is
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how many cars are allowed
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HOA restrictions
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what amenities exist
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what is not included
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important neighborhood notes
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any limitations the owners must legally disclose
Reading the listing prevents misunderstandings and sets clear expectations.
💬 5. Questions Are Always Welcome
If something feels unclear, please reach out. We answer quickly and want to help you enjoy your stay. It is always easier to clarify things before arrival than after you’ve already driven to the front door.
🧾 6. Our Pre-Arrival Procedure Is Mandatory
This is extremely important.
Showing up at the doorstep without reading anything, without responding to messages, and without completing required steps will not work with any property we manage.
Before check-in begins, every guest must:
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complete our short pre-arrival questionnaire
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confirm the number of guests and number of cars
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read and acknowledge the listing description
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read and acknowledge our House Rules
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acknowledge Airbnb’s Guest Responsibilities at https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2894
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confirm understanding of access instructions and expectations
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check the Airbnb inbox for updates or safety notes
This is not bureaucracy—this is essential for:
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security
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community compliance
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owner requirements
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insurance
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city/HOA rules
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guest safety
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property protection
If these steps are not completed, we cannot finalize your access code nor allow check-in.
📭 7. Not Responding May Lead to Delays
When guests do not open messages or do not provide required confirmations, we cannot:
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activate your check-in code
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finalize cleaning or occupancy reports
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complete HOA-mandated verifications
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send neighborhood-specific instructions
This may delay your check-in entirely until requirements are completed.
📝 8. We Document Every Attempt to Reach You
For transparency and guest protection, we document all:
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check-in instructions sent
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follow-up messages
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reminders
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policy links
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unanswered questions
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required confirmations
This ensures a clear record showing that we made proactive efforts to prepare you for arrival.
✨ 9. Preparation = A Relaxed, Smooth, Stress-Free Stay
A few minutes spent reviewing information now leads to a calm, seamless, enjoyable start to your trip.
We truly want your stay to be wonderful, and preparation ensures everything works perfectly when you arrive.
