Every country has their own words and ways of doing things and sometimes this can cause confusion or be misinterpreted so it's always best to include further details.
A few examples include:
Cot
A cot in some countries such as the USA is a spare bed, which folds up, whereas in the UK it is a bed for babies with sides on it.
Double room
The term double room can mean different things in different countries. It can mean there's room for two people, with a double bed or two single beds (which has a different term in the UK, and is called a twin room) or, as I have experienced with a past guest, it can be understood to mean an extra large bedroom, so I now list it as a room with a double bed.
Also bear in mind the size of rooms can vary from country to country, for example, what could be classed as an average size room in the UK, could be regarded as small to someone from the USA.
Washing Up
Washing up in the UK means washing the dishes but this sometimes causes confusion in my Airbnb and my guests think I am offering to wash their clothes for them and leave them out for me to wash.
Plug sockets
Plug sockets in the UK require the plug to be in and a switch turned on at the wall. In a bid to be green I don't always leave sockets turned on and this has confused some guests as many countries don't have a switch for their plug.
I now put a little note by the plug and instructions in the Welcome Book.
It's also an idea to put a note next to plugs you don't want turned off, as I learned when a guest turned off my fridge freezer.
Kettle
There are different ways to boil water for drinks, including electric kettles, stovetop kettles, microwaves, hot water boilers and dispensers. I provide an electric kettle and as some of my guests haven't used one before I have added the instructions in the Welcome Book. Although if they need help, they tend to just ask me to show them how to use it.
Water
Some countries have tap water that's safe to drink, others don't. So let your guests know if your tap water is safe for them to drink and brush their teeth. In the US they use the word faucet instead of tap.
Keys
Different countries use different ways to open their front door, whether it's using a key or a keypad. Some of my guests from overseas, particularly from countries such as South Korea, haven't used a key before so like to practice using it whilst I'm there in case they encounter any difficulties.
Toilet
Different countries have different sewerage systems and toilets can't always cope with some things being thrown in them. I put a little sign by the toilet to say what can and can't be thrown in the toilet. Nobody wants a blocked toilet!
Shoes
Shoes on or off in the home is both a cultural and personal preference. Whilst I don't insist people take off their shoes at the door, some people want to anyway and so I provide a shoe rack in the hallway to give people a designated place to put their shoes. It's especially useful when you have guests who come back with muddy shoes.
Do you have any other examples to add? I'd love to hear them in the comments below 😃
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