This guide helps you write one short message about how the house works, sent before arrival, and shows what to put in the listing so nobody is surprised. Public reviews for this type of property are few, so read the examples here as signals.
Where guests get confused, in their own words
The main problem is plumbing and hot water that guests don't understand. A solar heater or weak pressure reads as a fault when nobody explains it first. Guests also mention staff they couldn't reach, and in older buildings, soft mattresses and no lift.
- «There were some special instructions to get hot water either from solar or electric heating» Mind of a Hitchhiker (travel blog)
- «We were asked to always wash off in the outdoor shower first to not clog up the pipes with sand.» Mind of a Hitchhiker (travel blog)
- «Το μπάνιο ήταν μικρό αλλά καθαρό, με ταχυθερμοσίφωνα για ζεστό νερό, αλλά χωρίς το ντούζ να έχει αρκετή δύναμη και πίεση.» Trip.com review
Before arrival, send a short note on the solar switch and the best time of day to shower, plus the bin and why it is there. Mention weak pressure and the lack of a lift in the listing too, because guests who are warned complain less than guests who are surprised. And give guests one number that is always answered, even when you are out in the fields.
The questions every Crete guesthouse answers on repeat
If you host on the island, you have answered these more times than you can count:
- How do I get to you from Heraklion or Chania airport? Is there a taxi or transfer?
- We arrive by ferry at Heraklion port or Souda. How long is the drive to you?
- Do we need a rental car? Where do we park if the village lanes are too narrow?
- How far is the nearest beach? Is Balos or Elafonisi worth the trip?
- We'll arrive late. Can we check in after 10pm?
- What time is breakfast? Where should we eat nearby?
- It's windy today. Which beach is more sheltered?
The right answer depends entirely on where you are. A guesthouse in Rethymno answers differently from one in Sfakia. That's why AI must work from your own facts instead of guessing. The pack includes a prompt for exactly this: you give it your property details, and it answers guest questions using only that information.
Example: a pre-arrival message tailored to Crete
Here is what a pre-arrival message can look like once AI has helped you adapt the template to your guesthouse:
Hi Anna, we're looking forward to welcoming you on Friday! A few practical notes: from Chania airport, the drive to us takes about [time]. The last stretch is a winding road, so allow a little extra time, especially after dark. At the entrance to the village you'll see the public car park. We're a two-minute walk from there, and we'll help with your luggage. Check-in is from 3pm. If your flight or ferry is delayed, just send us a WhatsApp and we'll leave the key at [place]. Breakfast is served 8:00–10:30 in the courtyard. Safe travels, Giorgos
You fill in the bracketed details once. After that, the message is ready for every booking.
A different guest for every season
The season on Crete isn't one long block, so your messages don't need to stay the same all year:
- Spring: walkers, hikers and guests looking for quiet. They ask about trails, gorges and what's already open. For the Samaria Gorge, always point guests to the official opening dates.
- Summer: families and couples. Questions turn to beaches, heat, air conditioning and parking.
- Autumn: guests chasing warm sea without the crowds, often returning visitors.
Many of your guests come from Germany, France and Italy. That's why the 6 guest-message templates come in English, Greek, German, French and Italian. There's also a prompt for natural translation, so your messages don't read like machine output.
Review replies that show who you are
Future guests read a warm, specific reply to a review too. Take a typical comment for a village guesthouse: 'Lovely place, but the road there was tough.'
Thank you so much for your kind words about the courtyard and breakfast! You're right, the road up to the village is winding. After your feedback, we've added detailed directions to our pre-arrival message. We hope to welcome you back!
The pack includes templates for positive, mixed and negative reviews, Greek versions of the positive and negative replies, and 5 rules for answering reviews well.
Honest Booking.com and Airbnb listings
Honesty leads to better reviews. If the beach is a 10-minute drive, say so. If you recommend a car, say that up front. The 7-part listing framework helps you write copy that highlights what makes your guesthouse special, whether that's the mountain view or the home-made breakfast. You also get 6 Google Business Profile post templates.
FAQ
Will guests notice it was written by AI?
Not if you personalise it. The templates are a starting point. You add your own details and your own voice, and you always review the text before sending.
Do I need a paid ChatGPT subscription?
No. The setup guide shows you how to work with the free versions of ChatGPT or Claude.
How do I use this day to day?
You save the texts as quick replies in WhatsApp Business, Booking.com and Airbnb. The one-page setup guide walks you through each step.
Can AI answer guests on its own?
Philoxenia, a WhatsApp guest assistant that answers from your own property details, is in the works. It isn’t available yet and has no price. To hear when it opens, get the free sample and tick “occasional emails”. Free sample →
— Gal Tuvyahu, Promethe