After accepting a booking, whether through an agent or one you’ve generated yourself, you should provide guests with a pre-arrival information pack containing the following:

• A map of the local area and instructions how to find the property. If it’s in a small village where signposts are all but non-existent, you may also need to erect signs. Holidaymakers who spend hours driving around trying to find a place are unlikely to return or recommend it! Maps are also helpful for taxi drivers, who may not know the area.
• Information about local attractions (available free from tourist offices);
• Emergency contact numbers in your home country (e.g. the UK) and Cyprus if guests have any problems or plan to arrive late;
• The keys or instructions about where to collect them on arrival.

It’s ideal if someone can welcome your guests when they arrive, explain how things work, and deal with any special requests or problems.

Post-arrival

You should also provide an information pack in your home, explaining the following:

• How things work, such as kitchen appliances, television set and video or DVD player, heating and air-conditioning;
• Security measures;
• What not to do and possible dangers (for example, if you allow young children and pets, you should make a point of emphasising dangers such as falling into the pool);
• Local emergency numbers and health services such as a doctor, dentist and hospital;
• Useful contacts such as a general repairman, plumber, electrician and pool maintenance person (or a local caretaker who can handle any problems);
• Details of recommended shops, restaurants and attractions.

Many people provide a visitors’ book for guests to write comments and suggestions, and some send out questionnaires. If you want to impress your guests, you can arrange for fresh flowers, fruit, a bottle of wine and a grocery pack to greet them on their arrival. It’s personal touches that ensure repeat business and recommendations; you may even find after the first year or two that you rarely need to advertise. Many people return to the same property year after year. Simply do an annual mail-shot to previous clients. Word-of-mouth advertising is the cheapest and always the best.