Airbnb Wi-Fi to protect rental revenues and properties

Guest Wi-Fi for holiday rentals

Airbnb homes or hotels have become one of the most popular amenities requested by holiday rental guests. There are 14,000 new hosts joining Airbnb each month in 2022, and over 7 million listings on Airbnb worldwide in 2022, including vacation rental homes. Whether you’re hosting an Airbnb or holiday rentals revenue, ratings and reviews are everything. It would be an error to underestimate the importance of good Wi-Fi, especially If your guests are having trouble connecting or having a bad experience, it can seriously damage your reviews, future bookings and revenue potential. Problematic Wi-Fi is listed in the top six Airbnb guest complaints by iGMS**, and a survey by Hotel Internet Services*** found that 80 percent of hotel guests continued to encounter unsatisfactory Wi-Fi experiences. As the market becomes saturated, It's becoming harder to make your Airbnb or holiday rental stand out from the crowd. Smart home technology can help you do that, by adding convenience and connectivity, as well as cutting down your running costs. 

Todays mobile, laptop device apps and wireless routers require the ability to support for higher data rates, for example 4K video streaming, online gaming, video calling, conferencing, watching movies, uploading or downloading large content and keeping all your smart home devices connected – all putting greater demand on your Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi for some Airbnb guests, is one of the most important requirements or questions asked “do you have Wi-Fi, what speed and what is the Wi-Fi code please”, from guests either travelling for business or leisure … experience from an Airbnb host. 

That’s why as an Airbnb or holiday rental host you will need to install guest Wi-Fi or upgrade your wireless to the latest standard (Wi-Fi 6 or AX) in your property at some point if you want to keep attracting and generating a profitable amount of bookings. 

Airbnb Wi-Fi standards

In an attempt to standardise Airbnb Wi-Fi speed, Airbnb launched its Wi-Fi speed test within their app in late July 2021. As the necessity for fast Wi-Fi continues to boom, Airbnb has now made the use of this tool mandatory rather than optional.

If the Airbnb Wi-Fi test results in 1-6 Mbps, your Wi-Fi is slow. This will only allow guests to check messages and browse the web.

The third category, 7-24 Mbps, is a decent range to fall in. Airbnb says this is a solid Wi-Fi speed. At this speed, guests can even stream HD videos - maybe for movie nights, but it might not be ideal for those who are planning to work online during their stay.

Next up is 25-49 Mbps. Airbnb lists this as “snappy Wi-Fi speed.” With this speed, you can confidently state that your vacation rental is equipped with a good internet connection. Your guests will be able to stream 4K videos and even make video calls.

Lastly is the 50+ Mbps category. This is the maximum listed speed for Airbnb Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is anywhere in these numbers, make sure you give your property and high-speed connection a humble brag in the listing description. Your guests will love that they can stream any 4K video they want, make video calls, and browse the internet on multiple devices. 

Demand for better Wi-Fi - The negative effects of bad Wi-Fi

While most hosts offer complimentary Wi-Fi service to guests, it's often not up to par with what people are used to having in their own homes. Airbnb hosts do not want guests to waste valuable time complaining or trying to fix Wi-Fi, and while it can be tempting to buy the cheapest option, if it is not fit for purpose, it can cost you more than you will save.

Wi-Fi is not merely about getting a connection for your guests, it’s also about the overall quality of the guest experience. These days, people expect a 'home away from home ' experience of comfort and amenities - Wi-Fi is an expectation. Without a strong and reliable Wi-Fi connection, guests will be less likely to recommend your accommodation to others, leading to fewer bookings in the future. Let's face it we have all experienced poor internet connections, weak signal strengths and slow speeds, resulting in webpages and content either opening frustratingly slow or not at all.

Many people expect more than just basic Wi-Fi access, especially longer-term guests, a business traveller needs to attend video / zoom meetings without breaking up or freezing, parents want to stream movies while keeping the kids entertained with video games, fitness enthusiasts want to follow online classes…and so much more. These features are simply part of the standard set of amenities that guests expect an Airbnb host to provide. Ensuring you are offering the best Wi-Fi experience for your guests is a comparative small investment that will actually return you higher revenue rewards and ratings.

Realistically as an Airbnb host the minimum, you should look to replace your router every three to four years.

So why is Wi-Fi connectivity a challenge?

In the past, people were only connecting a few devices to Wi-Fi. Now, that number can easily be three or more per person: a laptop, a tablet, and a phone. Even Bluetooth-connected items such as smart watches can drive up Wi-Fi usage. Wi-Fi standards have moved on and routers that were sufficient even just a couple of years ago are no longer optimal.

Another contributor to Wi-Fi problems is management. Wi-Fi that is hard to understand, set up, maintain, and troubleshoot, not only annoys guests and hosts, it also takes up valuable host time, which is bad news for a busy Airbnb owner located miles away. It can be frustrating to deal with a Wi-Fi router that refuses to connect and not know what the problem is. 

Best options for providing reliable, fast and secure Wi-Fi internet access to your guests

Upgrading your Wi-Fi using the latest smart wireless technology such as a Wi-Fi 6 router is the best way to improve and future proof your Wi-Fi offering. EAGLE PRO AI Wi-Fi 6 is smarter, safer, faster, and more affordable than ever, D-Link's EAGLE PRO AI range will have no trouble handling all of your guest's devices. Combining the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology with AI and a 4G Cat 4 backup network, the EAGLE PRO AI range, offers a variety of options for  incredible Wi-Fi coverage and speed that’s always optimising and improving, for reliable, fast, and efficient Internet coverage that keeps you connected.

Here is a list of features and benefits that you absolutely need if you are buying a router in 2022 and beyond:

- coverage, performance (fast reliable access)

- content control (not used for illegal websites/content)

- media streaming – gaming, movies and music

- video surveillance camera support

- secure guest Wi-Fi access

- wireless network segregation

Easily add more Wi-Fi coverage

From flats to 4 storey houses, to basements to gardens, D-Link Eagle Pro out of the box provides coverage for up to 796 square feet (M32-3) and can be extended further with E15 extenders. Simply add extenders to extend the connectivity to anywhere further away. Enjoy seamless, high-speed Wi-Fi coverage that keeps you connected as you move from room-to-room, and eliminate blackspots in those hard-to-reach areas throughout your home. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi extenders, D-Link uses Smart Roaming technology and creates one seamless network, automatically connecting you to the strongest signal as you move through your home.

Wi-Fi 6 - Next-Gen 1.5 Gbps Speeds

Today's apps require high data rates, for example 4K or 8K streaming, VR gaming, video calling, up or downloading larger files and keeping all your smart home devices connected – all making greater demand on your Wi-Fi network. D-Link Wi-Fi 6 capable wireless routers solve these problems. Equipped with the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 6, for faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion.

EAGLE PRO AI AX1500 dual-band router reaches even faster speeds up to 1.5 Gbps (1201 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band)

Connect More Devices

Wi-Fi 6 technology provides more data to more devices using revolutionary OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology, reducing lag / buffering of your content.

Continual Internet access, even if your broadband Wi-Fi connection goes down

EAGLE PRO 4G - G415 & G416 Wi-Fi 6 routers

The new EAGLE PRO 4G range provides two solutions, the first is to replace your ISP Broadband as the gateway for your internet. If you are constantly let down by ISP broadband speeds, 4G can replace this connection altogether, and be used as the gateway to your mesh network. The second use is as a back up, so you stay connected to the internet when your fixed broadband line goes down. Seamlessly switch to a fast 4G+ LTE Cat 4 or 6 backup connection, delivering speeds of up 300 Mbps.

Security & privacy

Naturally, installing guest Wi-Fi in your Airbnb or holiday rental home always carries a certain risk. Guests or other people might misuse the internet access and make you liable as a consequence. However, D-Link provides a secure and reliable Wi-Fi connection, helping you avoid any bad scenario altogether. Secure your router – once your Wi-Fi is all set up, change the default username and password to something more secure. This will protect your router’s settings from any curious guests who might attempt to modify the configuration.

D-Link's built-in easy device manager and AI get you setup in no time without any advanced technical expertise. Includes the latest advanced WPA3 Wi-Fi security standard, which encrypts your traffic and protects your wireless network from outside threats. WPA3 also has a new protocol built-in to verify and secure your devices’ connections and your network from attacks.

Separate your personal network from the guests

Use a guest network – If you live in the property and are sharing the Wi-Fi with visitors, consider setting up a guest network for your Airbnb. That way you can share the broadband connection without guests being able to see what you’re doing on the rest of the network.

For example, up to four private sub-networks (SSIDs) can be created within an EAGLE PRO Smart Router, each one completely private, so that no one’s data or devices are inadvertently exposed. There can be one SSID for the host, one for guests, one for staff, and one for other connected devices – for instance, wireless door entry or surveillance cameras. Look for other security features, including support for the latest WPA 3 wireless security standard.

AI Convenience

Easily turn on or off the intelligence that conveniently improves and optimises your network automatically. Intelligent Quality of Service Features - (QoS) allows you to prioritise important traffic to ensure that real-time applications are receiving the best bandwidth possible.

Remote Home Wi-Fi management

Setup is quick and easy with the free D-Link Wi-Fi app. Follow the on-screen step-by-step instructions to get everything up and running in no time. Our free EAGLE PRO AI app brings you a personal AI Assistant to help you manage your Wi-Fi, with added voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Ideal for anyone managing multiple guest locations, D-Link makes it a breeze to remotely monitor, reboot, or reconfigure Wi-Fi networks, and the majority of any trouble-shooting tasks can be easily fixed from a laptop or via the app. 

Update your router

It’s equally important to keep your router up to date since updates are used to improve security systems. Hackers will often search tirelessly until they finally find a crack they can slip through to invade someone else’s network. Regular updates will protect the user from such cyber-attacks by sealing the open cracks.

Are you unsure about whether there’s an update available for your router? Simply go to your configuration panel to check and make sure.

Define your guest Wi-Fi terms and conditions

Of course, the last thing travellers on holiday want to do is read a rule book when they are finally ready to switch off and relax. However, you still need to agree with them with your guest Wi-Fi terms and conditions regarding internet usage that they need to abide by during their stay at your Airbnb home. If you don’t do this you might end up with some guests going rogue and downloading illegal material using your Wi-Fi connection.

Round Up

Your Airbnb guests will want a reliable internet connection, with solid Wi-Fi throughout the property, so it pays to invest in a decent system. If you’re not near to your rental holiday or vacation home, we recommend getting a wireless router that has remote management. Being able to get into the router’s management from anywhere in the world means that you can troubleshoot problems, even rebooting and restart fresh the entire system. This kind of rapid response, if needed, can keep visitors happy and solve their Wi-Fi wobbles quickly.

We advise going for the R15 (broadband) or G415/G416 (4G) for your main smart router, which lets you add a SIM card as a backup in case the main internet connection goes down. Simply add Eagle Pro 2-pack / 3-pack M 15-2, M15-3 Mesh for seamless Wi-Fi 6 coverage throughout your property.