What the Smoobu Guest App is
The Guest App isn't something guests download — it's a mobile-optimized web page you set up per property in Smoobu. Each booking gets its own unique link that opens a digital guidebook in the guest's browser, covering check-in instructions, Wi-Fi credentials, house rules, appliance use, and local recommendations.
The advantage over a printed guidebook or PDF is that content lives in one place and updates instantly for every future booking. Change the Wi-Fi password, for example, and you update it once in Smoobu instead of reprinting ten binders. The link can also be sent automatically to every guest via a message template.
Step 1 — Activate the Guest App
The Guest App is turned on per property, not account-wide.
- In Smoobu: go to Settings → Guest App (in some account languages also labelled "Digital Guidebook").
- Select the property you want to set it up for.
- Toggle it on for this property. If you manage several properties, you'll need to repeat this for each one.
Whether the Guest App is included in your current plan or requires an add-on depends on the tier you're on — check current plan details at smoobu.com/pricing, since feature availability can shift between plans.
Step 2 — Fill in the basics
The Guest App is only as useful as the content you put into it. Budget 20–30 minutes per property for the initial setup.
- Check-in / check-out: exact times, directions to the property, key handover or access code (if you also use a smart lock, you can point guests to the auto-generated code here).
- Wi-Fi: network name and password as its own field — this is usually the first thing guests look for.
- House rules: quiet hours, smoking policy, trash disposal, guest limits, pet policy.
- Appliance instructions: short how-tos for heating, washing machine, coffee machine, TV/streaming access — anything that works differently in your specific property.
- Emergency contact: your phone number or a co-host's for urgent issues outside your normal response window.
Write everything so it's understandable without prior knowledge of the property — not "the usual heater," but the exact steps for this specific unit.
Step 3 — Add local recommendations
Most Guest App layouts include a section for local recommendations. Use it for what guests need in the first few hours after arrival: nearest supermarket, pharmacy, a few walkable restaurant picks, public transport stops with a connection to the city centre, and a note on parking if relevant. Keep the list short and curated (5–8 entries) rather than exhaustive — it reads as more personal and actually gets read.
Step 4 — Customize branding (optional)
Depending on your plan, you can add your own logo and an accent colour to the Guest App so it matches your brand instead of looking generically like Smoobu. Whether this is included in your plan is easiest to check directly in the Guest App settings — a locked field there usually indicates an upgrade is needed.
Step 5 — Send the link to guests automatically
The Guest App link is booking-specific — every guest gets their own link tied to their booking's data. To avoid copying it manually, insert it into an automated message.
- In Smoobu: go to Automation → Messages → Templates.
- Open your booking confirmation or pre-arrival message template — either works, depending on how early you want to share the link.
- Insert the Guest App link placeholder using the variable picker (don't type it manually, to avoid a broken URL).
- Save the template. The link is now generated and attached automatically to every new booking.
Some hosts send the link twice: once in the booking confirmation (for early planners) and again 48–72 hours before arrival, when it's actually needed.
Optional: printing a QR code for the property
A printed QR code pointing to the booking link is a nice supplement to sending it digitally — but since this link changes per booking, a permanently printed code only works as a generic entry point, not for booking-specific content like the Wi-Fi code. A more practical option is a sticker linking to a static short version (e.g. just Wi-Fi and emergency contact), if your Smoobu plan supports it — otherwise a printed sheet with the key info is a reasonable fallback for guests without signal.
Frequently asked questions
Guest can't find the link or deleted it
Open the booking in Smoobu under Bookings → [select booking] and copy the Guest App link again to resend it manually. To avoid this going forward, send the link twice as described in Step 5 — once early, once shortly before arrival.
Does the guest need to install an app?
No. The Guest App opens as a normal web page in the guest's phone browser. No download from the App Store or Play Store is required — that's one of its main advantages over standalone guidebook apps.
Can I offer the Guest App in German and English at the same time?
The Guest App displays content in whatever language you entered when filling it in. For bilingual guidebooks, enter both language versions in the same field (e.g. German text, then the English translation below it), or check whether your account supports multi-language input per field — this can vary by account setup.
What's the difference from a classic guidebook (PDF/printed sheet)?
A PDF guidebook is static — changes require reprinting or resending a file manually. The Guest App is maintained centrally in Smoobu, updates instantly for all future bookings, and gets sent automatically. Keeping a printed copy in the property as a backup for poor signal is still worthwhile — the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Can I see whether the guest actually opened the Guest App?
Whether and how granularly Smoobu shows open/view status per guest depends on your account version — check the booking details for a view status indicator. Don't rely on this as your only signal that the guest is informed; sending the link twice as described in Step 5 remains the more reliable safeguard.