The Real Cost of Pool Heat, Extra Guests, Late Checkouts & Guest Perception
There’s a moment every short-term rental host reaches where a simple booking turns into a negotiation.
“Can we check in a little early?”
“Is pool heat included?”
“My daughter may join us for a few nights, is that okay?”
And suddenly you’re staring at your pricing structure wondering: Should I charge for this… or just say yes?
Charging for “extras” has become increasingly common across Airbnb and other STR platforms. Pool heating fees. Early check-in charges. Pet fees. Extra guest fees. Late checkout add-ons. Some listings read like airline pricing menus: base fare plus everything else à la carte.
But here’s the nuance: just because you can charge for something doesn’t mean you should. And just because you don’t charge doesn’t mean you’re leaving money on the table.
After nearly a decade of hosting, I’ve landed in a very intentional middle ground, and it didn’t happen overnight.
The Philosophy Behind Charging (or Not Charging) for Extras
Let me start with transparency:
I personally don’t charge for most extras.
I do charge for:
- A third adult guest
- A pet fee
That’s it.
No pool heat fees.
No early check-in charge.
No late checkout fee (unless it truly impacts cleaning).
And that’s not because I’m against hosts charging, it’s because I’ve found that for me, simplicity creates better guest experiences, fewer messages, and better reviews.
But it wasn’t always this way.
How I Changed My Occupancy Rules (and Why It Improved Everything)
For about three years in the very beginning of my hosting journey, my listing allowed:
- 4-person max occupancy
- A fold-out couch in the living room
On paper, this made sense. More flexibility = more bookings, right?
In reality, it created friction:
- Guests trying to “squeeze in” extra adults
- Unclear sleeping expectations
- More laundry
- More wear and tear
- More awkward conversations (“Where will my 4 year old daughter sleep?” This created technically 5 people for the reservation – just too many for the space).
Eventually, I made a deliberate shift:
- I upgraded to a non-sleeping sectional couch
- I adjusted max occupancy to 2 guests
This single change dramatically improved:
- Ease of cleaning/turning over
- Guest clarity
- My stress level!
- The overall quality of stays
It also reduced those “Can one more person sleep on the couch?” messages… mostly.
When Guests Ask for an Exception (And How I Handle It)
Occasionally, exceptions still come up.
For example:
A guest checked in yesterday for a 7-night stay and asked if their adult daughter could join them. They were upfront, respectful, and immediately offered additional payment.
They asked if she could use the cot (really meant for children), or sleep on the couch.
I didn’t see red flags. Communication was excellent. And because they acknowledged the impact of an extra person, I said yes.
In cases like this, I charge $25 per night for an additional adult guest, a fee designed to cover:
- Extra laundry
- Additional cleaning
- Slightly higher utilities
The key here isn’t the fee: it’s the tone and trust established in the conversation.
Why Extra Guest Fees Make Sense (Sometimes)
Extra guests aren’t free. They:
- Shower
- Use towels and linens
- Create more dishes
- Increase wear on furniture
- Extend cleaning time
Charging a reasonable extra guest fee is one of the most widely accepted add-ons across STR platforms… as long as it’s clearly disclosed and fair!
What Other Hosts Charge (Worldwide)
Here’s what hosts around the world commonly report charging:
- United States: $20–$40 per extra adult per night
- UK: £15–£30 per night
- Australia: AUD $25–$50 per night
- Europe: €15–€35 per night
Most hosts emphasize that transparency upfront prevents resentment later.
Pet Fees: Why I Raised Mine (and Guests Still Pay Happily)
I do charge a pet fee, and it’s one I feel very comfortable with.
Originally, in my first few years of hosting, I charged $30 per stay for up to 2 dogs or cats. For the past two years I’ve been charging $100 per stay.
Why the increase?
Because after a few very hairy pet stays, I found myself removing every couch cushion cover, washing everything, and vacuuming fur from places fur should never exist. One time a guest who brought a dog clearly allowed them on the couch despite my house rule “please do not allow pets on furniture,” and I found out because they had turned every couch cushion over to hide it. UGH.
And yet, guests are happy to pay it.
Why? Because:
- Bringing pets is emotionally valuable
- It’s far cheaper than boarding or pet sitters
- Many travelers won’t book without pet-friendly options
As pet owners ourselves (we travel with our two dogs), we gladly pay pet fees, and in my experience, most guests feel the same.
Common Extras Hosts Charge For (and Typical Price Ranges)
Here’s a snapshot of commonly charged extras across STRs:
Pool Heating
- $25–$75 per night
- Especially common in shoulder seasons
Early Check-In
- $25–$75 flat fee
- Depends on cleaner availability
Late Checkout
- $25–$100
- Higher fees if it disrupts same-day turnover
Event Fees
- $100–$500+
- Often paired with stricter rules and deposits
Hot Tub Use
- $20–$50 per night
- Covers chemicals and electricity
The Cleaning Fee Factor: Where Hosts Go Wrong
Here’s where hosts often miscalculate.
If guests are already paying:
- A nightly rate
- A cleaning fee
- Service fees
- Taxes
And then encounter:
- Extra guest fees
- Pet fees
- Pool fees
- Check-in fees
They may feel nickel-and-dimed, even if every charge is technically justified.
And that feeling doesn’t usually show up in messages.
It shows up later… in a 3 or 4 star review:
“Great stay, but lots of extra fees.”
The Psychology of Fees (This Part Matters)
Guests don’t evaluate value line-by-line; they evaluate how the stay made them feel.
- Did it feel welcoming?
- Did pricing feel fair?
- Did anything feel surprising?
A guest who feels taken care of will forgive imperfections.
A guest who feels nickel-and-dimed will notice everything.
Strategic Ways to Charge Without Hurting Reviews
If you do charge for extras, consider these best practices:
1. Bundle Where Possible
Instead of itemizing everything, slightly raise your nightly rate and include:
- Early check-in flexibility
- Pet acceptance
- Reasonable guest count buffer
2. Be Clear, Not Defensive
Explain why the fee exists, calmly and factually.
3. Reward Transparency
Guests who disclose extras upfront (an extra guest and they are happy to pay an additional fee) are often your best guests.
4. Make Exceptions Feel Like a Gift
Waiving a fee occasionally creates goodwill (and often great reviews). This ties into another subject, cancelation policies and fees. Read more in my article “Cancelation Policies Across Short-Term Rental Platforms: What Hosts Need to Know (and Why I Stick With Flexible on Airbnb).”
Final Thoughts: Fees Are Tools, Not Defaults
Charging for extras isn’t wrong.
But charging without intention can quietly erode guest satisfaction.
Every fee should answer one question:
Does this improve the guest experience, or just protect my margins?
The sweet spot is where it does both.
Happy hosting, friends!
– KP
