Hospitality
How to Ask Guests for a Review After Their Stay: Wording and Timing
By MAXORI Studio · Updated 21 October 2026 · 5 min read
The simplest way to ask guests for a review is a short, warm message one or two days after check-out: thank them, say that an honest review helps future travellers, give the link and make clear it is optional. Below you find the timing, an example, and the practices to avoid.
Thank first, ask second
A review request lands better when it follows a genuine thank-you. If you can, send a short thank-you on the day of departure, then the request a day or two later, while the stay is still fresh.
A request that arrives weeks later, or in the middle of a long message about other topics, is easier to ignore.
What a good request contains
Keep it short enough to read on a phone, and keep it about the guest, not about your ratings.
- The guest's name and the name of the property
- A sincere thank-you for staying
- One sentence on why honest feedback helps (future travellers and your own improvements)
- The direct link to the review page of your platform
- A clear line that it is optional
Example: short request
Hello [Name], thank you again for staying at [property]. If you have a few minutes, I would be grateful if you shared your honest experience here: [link]. Whatever you write, thank you for your time. [Your name]
If a guest has not replied after about a week, one gentle reminder is enough. After that, let it go.
Practices to avoid
How you ask matters as much as the wording. Many booking platforms have rules on this, so read the ones that apply to you.
- Do not offer a discount, gift or favour in exchange for a review
- Do not ask only the guests you think were happy: send the same request to everyone
- Do not tell guests what to write or which rating to give
- Do not pressure guests or repeat the request many times
When a guest was only lukewarm
If a guest tells you privately that something was disappointing, thank them for their honesty, acknowledge the point and say what you will really do about it. Do not argue and do not promise what you cannot deliver.
Keep this separate from the review request. Fixing the issue is useful on its own, and later you can tell the guest what has changed.
Questions
When is the best time to ask for a review?
One or two days after check-out is a common choice: the stay is still fresh and the request does not feel rushed. Adapt it to your own routine.
Can I offer a discount for leaving a review?
It is not recommended, and many platforms do not allow rewards in exchange for reviews. Check the rules of your platform.
How many reminders are acceptable?
One gentle reminder at most, about a week later. If there is still no reply, leave it.
Should I ask only guests who seemed happy?
No. Asking everyone in the same way is fairer and avoids the practice of selecting who may write a review.
Ready-made tools for this
The Post-Stay Thank-You & Review Request Message Kit is a printable PDF and a TXT file in five languages. It has 7 after-stay moments (thank-you, polite review request, one reminder, reply to lukewarm feedback, follow-up, lost item, return-guest invitation), each with a short and a long message, 14 in total. It promises no results.
