The welcome book is your rental’s user manual — and, done well, it is also a little local guide that saves everyone time. In Annecy, where many travellers discover the region for the first time, a good digital welcome book cuts down on questions, avoids unpleasant surprises and improves the experience (and therefore the reviews). Here is what it should contain.
The home’s practical information
- Access and arrival: exact address, directions, parking, building code, how the key box or smart lock works.
- Wifi: network name and password, clearly visible.
- Appliances: heating, hot water, kitchen appliances, TV, washing machine — how they work.
- House rules: check-in/check-out times, pets, parties, smoking, recycling and collection days.
- Safety: location of the meter, fire extinguishers, emergency numbers.
- Departure: what is expected of the guest (bins, dishes, where to leave the keys).
The local guide: the real added value
This is what turns a “compulsory” booklet into a genuine plus: shops and services nearby (bakery, mini-market, pharmacy), recommended restaurants, the old Annecy markets, the lake beaches, walks and hikes to suit different groups (from the lakeside loop on foot or by bike to the summits around Annecy), activities by season, transport. A few well-chosen addresses beat an endless list.
Digital, not paper
A digital welcome book (link, QR code, app) is easy to update, can be read on the guest’s phone, can be multilingual — useful in Annecy given the share of foreign travellers — and doesn’t get damaged. Paper still has its place for the essentials (wifi, emergencies), but the bulk of the content lives better online.
Have it done for you
Writing and keeping a good welcome book up to date takes time and requires knowing the neighbourhood. It is one of the things a local concierge service such as Yes Conciergerie prepares for you: a personalised digital welcome book, kept current, with the right local addresses — Annecy and the whole Annecy basin. See our full concierge service in Annecy and our dedicated Airbnb management. To give your guests ideas: our guide on things to do in Annecy in summer and the article on hiking around Annecy.
