Airbnb Check-In Message Template: The Best Script (2026)
This page is just the template — one focused message you can copy, paste, and send. If you want the full playbook on check-in hardware and the strategy behind a smooth arrival, see our complete Airbnb check-in guide instead. This one is purely the message.
The core template
When to send: the morning of arrival day, or the evening before for early risers, international travelers, or anyone flying in overnight. Earlier than that is a mild security risk; later invites a panicked message from the driveway.
Hi {guest_first_name}, today's the day! Here's how to get into {property_name}:
Address: {full_address}
Check-in: after {check_in_time}
1. {parking_step} — e.g. "Park in spot #4, directly in front of the unit."
2. Walk to the {door_location} — e.g. "front door with the blue frame."
3. Enter code {door_code} on the keypad, then turn the handle.
4. Wifi network and password are on the card next to the router (I'll also message them separately).
If anything at all goes sideways — code doesn't work, can't find the door — message or call me at {phone_number} and I'll sort it out right away.
Enjoy your stay!
{host_name}
Customization tip: Attach a photo of the actual door and keypad. Guests who skim past paragraphs do look at pictures, and "which door is it?" is the single most common arrival-day question after the code itself.
Variant: gated community or callbox
Standard templates fail here because the guest has to clear two access points, not one.
Hi {guest_first_name}, today's the day! Getting into {property_name} has two steps — the community gate first, then the unit.
Step 1 — gate: {guard gate: you're on the list under "{guest_last_name}"; callbox: dial {callbox_code}, it rings my phone; code gate: enter {gate_code} at the keypad}.
Step 2 — the unit: {directions_inside}. Door code is {door_code}.
Heads up: after {time}, {after_hours_note}. Stuck at the gate at any hour? Message or call {phone_number} — I'd rather you wake me than wait outside.
{host_name}
Variant: international guests
Add two lines most check-in templates skip — they matter more for guests flying in from another country than almost anything else in the message.
{Standard template above, plus:}
One more thing since you're traveling internationally: outlets here are {voltage_and_plug_type} — there's a universal adapter in the {location} if you didn't pack one. And if your flight lands late or gets delayed, just message me here any time — I'd rather hear about it than have you standing outside at 2am.
{host_name}
Variant: late-night or red-eye arrival
Hi {guest_first_name}, since you're landing late tonight — the code and directions below work exactly the same at midnight as they do at noon, so don't worry about the hour.
{core template}
One extra note for a late arrival: {the porch light stays on / there's a motion light at the door}, so it won't be dark when you pull up. And my phone stays on — message any time, I mean that.
{host_name}
Variant: host meets guest in person
Hi {guest_first_name}, looking forward to meeting you today! I'll be at {property_name} from {check_in_time} to show you around and hand over the keys. If your arrival time changes, just message me — I'm flexible and would rather adjust than have you wait.
{host_name}
Common mistakes this template avoids
- Sending the code too early. A door code sent a week before arrival is a security risk that serves no one — send it the morning of, or the evening before at the earliest.
- No emergency contact. Every version above ends with a phone number and a real invitation to use it.
- No photo of the actual door. Text directions alone leave room for "which door?"
- Burying the wifi password in a wall of text. Put it on its own line, exactly as typed, and note that it's case-sensitive.
Automating this message
Because check-in timing is fixed relative to a reservation, it's one of the easiest messages to automate. Airbnb's own scheduled quick replies support a "check-in" trigger with a time offset — see our guide to automating Airbnb guest messages for setup steps. What it can't do is answer the follow-up questions that show up an hour later. HostReply handles that layer: it answers check-in questions instantly using your actual property details and reservation data (via a live Hospitable or OwnerRez connection), and texts you directly if a guest is genuinely stuck.
FAQ
What should an Airbnb check-in message include?
Address, check-in time, step-by-step entry instructions (parking → door → code), wifi details, and an emergency contact number. Keep it scannable — numbered steps beat paragraphs.
When should I send the check-in message?
The morning of arrival day is the standard timing, or the evening before for early risers and international travelers. Sending it more than a day or two early means a live door code sits unused in an inbox longer than it needs to.
Is this different from the check-in message in the templates pillar?
It's the same core idea with more variants worked through — gated communities, international guests, late-night arrivals, and in-person greetings each get their own version here. Our full template library covers the entire guest journey if you need the other 14 messages too.
How do I handle check-in for a gated community?
Write it as two explicit steps — the community gate, then the unit — and pick the matching sub-line for guard gate, callbox, or code gate rather than assuming one applies. Add an after-hours note, since gate procedures often change at night.
Can I automate the check-in message?
Yes — Airbnb's scheduled quick replies support a check-in trigger with a time offset, so the core template can send automatically every time. It sends the identical message regardless of variant, so properties needing the gated-community or international version typically still edit per booking.