When you start crossing off items on your vacation rental kitchen checklist, you are bound to come to the glassware task. Having a set of wine and drinking glasses is an Airbnb essential, but when you start looking for glassware that is durable, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing is when things get tricky.
We have searched far and wide for the best glassware for Airbnb, and we finally reached the end of our search when we found the following top picks:
- Best Wine Glasses Overall: JoyJolt Spirits Stemless Wine Glasses
- Classic Wine Glasses with Stem Option: Amazon Basics All-Purpose Wine Glasses
- Budget Option: C CREST All-Purpose Wine Glasses
- Best Drinking Glasses Overall: ALIMOTA Plastic Glasses
- Stylish Tempered Glass Option: Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar Stackable Beverage Glasses
- Budget Drinking Glasses Option: US Acrylic Classic 8-piece Premium Quality Plastic Tumblers
Why Should You Buy Glasses for Your Airbnb?
You can always reuse the extra glasses you have at your home for your Airbnb, or add the free wine glasses you collected from wine tastings, but that will impact the aesthetic of your short-term rental. Your kitchen will look more put together if guests open the cupboard and find a nice set of glasses.
Everything that adds to the guests’ experience at your rental is a worthy investment. Imagine guests walking into your apartment and being welcomed with a bottle of wine or champagne and stylish glasses. This is what some Airbnb hosts do to earn more points with their guests and to create a more luxurious feel in their rental.
There’s no need for you to splurge on expensive glassware because guests won’t know and don’t care how much the glasses cost. Focus more on getting a set of drinking and wine glasses that will add to the relaxing ambiance of your vacation property.
Factors to Consider When Buying Glassware for Your Airbnb
Plastic or glass, expensive or cheap, stylish or basic—there are so many questions that appear when you start thinking about which glassware to buy. We are here to break it down for you so you know what to look for when buying wine and drinking glasses for your short-term rental.
Durability – There’s a pretty big chance that your guests will break the glasses, especially if they’re thin-walled. If you want to lower the risk of breaking, aim for shatter-resistant glasses, plastic drinking glasses, or stemless wine glasses. Some hosts choose the sturdier stainless steel option for outdoor spaces (the barbeque or chilling around the fire pit) or unbreakable plastic for around the pool.
Versatility – For those who don’t want to get separate glasses for red and white wine, we recommend a single style that’s suited for both—and even non-alcoholic beverages like water and juices. If you have a fully-stocked bar, you should get distinct glasses for red and white wine (plus champagne flutes, highball glasses, whiskey glasses, and beer mugs if you want to get really fancy) as this is what guests will expect if they see your listing advertising a full bar.
To complete your drinkware inventory, in addition to wine glasses and mugs, you’ll need regular drinking glasses suitable for water, juice, tea, soft drinks, and more.
Ease of Cleaning – Look for dishwasher-safe glasses because even if you warn the guests that the glasses shouldn’t go into a dishwasher, there’s a high chance they’ll forget about that reminder.
Style – Fancy glasses don’t go with rustic or farmhouse-themed rentals, just as basic plastic cups will ruin the luxury ambiance. Every item in your Airbnb should complement the style of your rental, and that includes glassware.
The Best Wine Glasses for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
We’ve reviewed many options, and, after careful consideration, we’ve picked the JoyJolt Spirits Stemless Glasses as the best wine glasses for Airbnb.
JoyJolt Spirits Stemless Glasses
Here’s why we picked the JoyJolt Glasses as the best all-around glasses for vacation rentals:
Shatter-Resistant – Not only does the stemless design make them harder to break, but these glasses are also shatter-resistant.
Elegant Design – The sophisticated but modern design of these glasses makes them suitable for different styles of short-term rentals. They will fit in with any interior design and decor.
Versatile – These glasses can be used for both red and white wine. The 15-ounce size makes them versatile enough to also serve as drinking glasses for water or juice.
Convenient Set of 4 – Since they come in a set of four, you can easily purchase a quantity that suits your number of guests. If your rental accommodates 2 people, you can get one set, and if it accommodates 4 or 6, you can get two sets. The number of glasses should always be double or more than the number of guests.
Dishwasher Safe – You can safely wash them in the dishwasher, and their simple design makes them easy to clean.
1-Year Warranty – You get a 1-year customer satisfaction guarantee.
Other Airbnb Wine Glasses Alternatives
We also have a couple of runner-ups that are worthy of mentioning, and they are the Amazon Basics All-Purpose Wine Glasses and C CREST All-Purpose Wine Glasses.
Wine glasses with stems are easier to break, but they give a more elegant aesthetic, especially if you put them on display. If you prefer standard wine glasses with a stem, our top pick is this set of Amazon Basics All-Purpose Wine Glasses.
They come in a set of four, are dishwasher-safe, hold 19 fluid ounces, and are lead-free (which is important for optimal wine enjoyment). These glasses could work great for properties in wine-tasting areas.
The C CREST All-Purpose Wine Glasses come in a set of 8 and are a great budget-friendly option. Despite their affordable price, they are high-quality glasses and they are scratch-resistant. They have that timeless classic wine glass design, but that doesn’t take away from their versatility. These glasses check the dishwasher-safe box, so they’re easy to clean.
The Best Drinking Glasses for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
When it comes to everyday drinking glasses, our top pick are these ALIMOTA Plastic Glasses. These are glasses that can endure Airbnb challenges while adding to the aesthetic of your rental at the same time.
This is why we chose the ALIMOTA Plastic Glasses as our top pick:
Durable – They are made of crystal-clear premium quality acrylic, have a 3mm thick cup wall, and are fully shatterproof—everything that Airbnb owners need to minimize the chance of having to repurchase glasses every few weeks. Even if the glasses are dropped or knocked, these tumblers will not break or chip.
Modern Design – Despite being plastic, they look as if they are made of glass and they have a stylish swirl design.
Fit Well in Hand – Since they are lightweight and have a tapered shape, they are less likely to slip (a very important feature when families with kids rent your place).
Versatile – These glasses can be used for any kind of drink—water, juice, iced tea, smoothies—and thanks to the modern design, they can double as cocktail glasses. Since they are made of plastic, ALIMOTA glasses are also fitted for outdoor use.
Easy to Store – The stackable design makes them easy to store and carry (if your guests want to use them outside, for example).
Dishwasher-Safe – The glasses can be thrown into a dishwasher and the smooth surface makes them easy to clean.
Other Airbnb Drinking Glasses Alternatives
Do you want to see more options for Airbnb drinking glasses? Here are our contenders.
If you want a more fancy set of glasses, the Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar Beverage Glasses with French bistro style fit into that description. They are 12.5 oz tall glasses which makes them suitable for any type of drink. In addition to versatility, they are made of premium quality tempered glass. You can store them with ease thanks to their stackable design, and they can be washed in a dishwasher.
In case you have a strict glassware budget and want to invest more in wine glasses and less in drinking glasses, we suggest the US Acrylic Classic 8-piece Premium Quality Plastic Tumblers. These glasses have a very basic look, but this set of 8 comes with four 12oz glasses and four 16oz glasses. The difference in sizes gives you both drinking glasses for soft drinks and cocktails, and also glasses for whiskey and spirits. They are made of plastic, so guests can use them inside or outside without the fear of breaking them.
Final Thoughts
There’s so much to think about when buying glassware. Still, if you draw the line after the three main criteria—style, durability, and price—our top picks are the JoyJolt Spirits Stemless Wine Glasses and ALIMOTA Plastic Drinking Glasses. Durability should be the priority for short-term rentals since guests are bound to drop the glasses, so if they’re hard to break that will ultimately cut the costs of repurchasing glassware. With all that in mind, these options will give you the most value for your money.
