Digital vs paper welcome books for holiday lets
Printed folders still have a place, but a digital guide solves the problems hosts most often have with them. Here's how the two compare.
By GuestsGuide · · 5 min read
The short answer
Most hosts get the best results from a digital guide that guests receive before they arrive, backed up by a small printed card or sign in the property that points to it. Paper on its own is hard to keep current; digital on its own can be forgotten once guests are inside.
Where paper welcome books work well
- Guests can pick them up without a phone or signal.
- They suit guests who prefer reading on paper.
- A well-made folder can feel personal and match the style of the property.
Where paper welcome books fall short
- Guests usually only see them after they've arrived — too late for directions, parking and key collection.
- Every change means reprinting. Out-of-date restaurant tips and old Wi-Fi passwords are common.
- Pages go missing, get stained or end up in the wrong drawer.
- Long Wi-Fi passwords have to be typed by hand.
What a digital guide adds
- Guests can read arrival instructions before they set off.
- Updates are instant: change a detail and the next guest sees it.
- Phone numbers and email addresses can be tapped, and Wi-Fi passwords copied.
- Map links open directions straight from the guide.
- Guests can zoom text and use their phone's accessibility settings.
The trade-offs are that guests need a phone with a browser and some signal or Wi-Fi to open the guide, and a guide shared by link can be forwarded, so it shouldn't contain anything you'd want kept private.
Cost
A printed folder costs printing and replacement each time it's updated or damaged. A digital guide usually has a subscription cost but no reprinting. GuestsGuide charges a one-off setup fee and a monthly subscription per property; the current amounts are always on our pricing page. Building and previewing your guide is free, so you can see whether it suits your property before paying.
Using both together
A simple combination covers almost everyone:
- Send the digital guide link with your booking confirmation and again before arrival.
- Place a printed QR code sign on the kitchen table or by the door so guests can reopen the guide inside.
- Keep a one-page printed sheet with the Wi-Fi details and emergency numbers for anyone without a phone.
GuestsGuide includes a printable A4 sign with your property's QR code for exactly this. Read more about creating a QR code guest guide.