A digital guidebook gives guests instant access to property information, house rules, local recommendations, and emergency contacts without cluttering your space with paper binders. The display device you choose affects how guests interact with your guidebook and how effectively it communicates important information. Here is a comparison of the most popular options.
Dedicated Tablets
A mounted tablet is the most versatile guidebook display option. The Amazon Fire HD 8 or Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a large enough screen for comfortable reading at an affordable price point. Mount the tablet on the kitchen counter or near the front entrance using a commercial tablet stand or wall mount with a security bracket. Use a guidebook app like Hostfully, Touch Stay, or YourWelcome to create a polished, interactive experience. These apps support photos, maps, links to local businesses, and emergency information organized in an intuitive interface.
Smart Displays
Amazon Echo Show 8 or Google Nest Hub combine guidebook functionality with smart speaker capabilities. Guests can view your guidebook on the screen and ask voice questions about the property. The Echo Show supports Alexa Skills that you can customize with property-specific information, while the Nest Hub integrates with Google Photos to display a rotating slideshow of local attractions and property highlights when not in active use. The downside is that smart displays offer less screen real estate and less flexible guidebook formatting than tablets.
Digital Photo Frames
A digital photo frame like the Skylight Frame or Nixplay can serve double duty as a guidebook and decorative piece. Upload a series of slides containing key property information, house rules, WiFi credentials, and local recommendations. The frame cycles through these slides continuously, ensuring guests see the information even if they never pick up a remote. The aesthetic advantage of a digital photo frame is that it blends into the property's decor like artwork rather than looking like a piece of technology.
Wall-Mounted Screens
For high-end properties, a small wall-mounted screen near the entrance creates a concierge-like experience. Use a 10 to 13-inch display running a kiosk-mode guidebook app. Mount it at eye level where guests will naturally notice it when entering the property. This approach works particularly well in properties with modern or minimalist design where a tablet on a stand might look out of place. The installation is more involved but creates a polished, professional impression.
Printed QR Code Cards
The simplest digital guidebook approach requires no hardware at all. Create your guidebook using a web-based platform like Touch Stay or Hostfully, generate a QR code that links to your online guidebook, and print that QR code on a small card placed on the kitchen counter. Guests scan the code with their phone and access your complete guidebook in their mobile browser. This approach costs virtually nothing, works with every guest's device, and never needs charging or maintenance. The trade-off is that some guests may not scan the code, missing important information.
Content Essentials for Any Format
Regardless of which display option you choose, your digital guidebook should include WiFi network name and password prominently on the first screen, check-in and checkout procedures, house rules including quiet hours and parking instructions, emergency contacts and the property address for 911 calls, appliance operating instructions for anything non-obvious, local restaurant and activity recommendations, trash and recycling schedules and procedures, and thermostat and HVAC instructions. Update your guidebook seasonally to keep local recommendations current and add information about any new amenities or property changes.
Maintenance and Power Management
Whatever display device you choose, it needs reliable power. Mount tablets and smart displays near an outlet and use a permanently attached charging cable. For tablets, enable guided access or kiosk mode to prevent guests from exiting the guidebook app, changing settings, or accessing personal apps. Update guidebook content remotely through the app's cloud platform rather than visiting the property. Replace the display device every two to three years as screens dim and batteries degrade. Include the display device in your turnover checklist so cleaners verify it is powered on and displaying correctly before each guest arrival.