Luxurious rentals can earn you more money, but you first need to invest in items that will create that lux look and feel. One of the luxury amenities that can justify a higher price and attract big spenders is a hot tub.
But which hot tub can give you the best value for your money? We’ve managed to find the best hot tub for Airbnb—the Essential Hot Tubs 50 Jets Polara Hot Tub. Read on to learn how we arrived at this finding!
The Benefits of Buying a Hot Tub for Your Airbnb
If you’re still thinking through your decision to buy a hot tub, you should consider these benefits:
- You’ll stand out among the competitors by providing something extra.
- The more amenities you tick off, the more bookings you’ll get, since the guests who are looking for rental space with a hot tub will be led to your listing.
- Luxury or upscale amenities such as a hot tub, pool, and similar can be a valid reason for increasing the price per night of your rental.
- When guests are taken out of their routine and have a memorable and relaxing stay thanks to amenities such as a hot tub, you can expect more 5-star reviews.
- You can add luxurious pool towels and bath robes to create a full spa experience for your guests.
The Difference Between a Hot Tub, Jacuzzi, and In-Ground Spa
A hot tub is a large tub of warm water with jets or bubblers, but it can also have no extra features. It is used for massage, hydrotherapy, or relaxation. Some may call any type of hot tub ‘a jacuzzi,’ but Jacuzzi is a trademark brand name, and they sell hot tubs, regular tubs, pools, saunas, and much more.
In-ground spas are installed in the ground and have that ‘spa’ look with built-in benches and jets. The difference between the in-ground spa and hot tub that will probably concern you the most is that in-ground spas take longer to warm up and demand more energy to remain heated which means a higher electric bill.
How to Maintain a Hot Tub
Ideally, a hot tub service can take care of the maintenance. You want to find a reliable service with great reviews, or if you already have a pool cleaning service, they can take on the hot tub maintenance as well.
You can also clean it yourself, but you’ll need to be very skillful at getting into those nooks and crannies. There are specialized products you can buy, but regular vinegar can also do the trick. Besides the cleaning products, you’ll also need an underwater vacuum for cleaning debris, chemical test strips, and a surface skimmer.
Is a Hot Tub a Liability for an Airbnb?
You should update your house rules once you get a hot tub since you can’t expect guests to know the ‘hot tub etiquette.’ For starters, put down how many people can get into the hot tub so it doesn’t overflow.
The guests should also shower off before using the hot tub. Otherwise, the cleaning service will need to refill the hot tub after every booking party—and you’ll have to pay for that.
For safety reasons, you should cover up the tub while it’s not being used so that children don’t fall into it. Also, you should let the guests know that children shouldn’t use the hot tub unattended to prevent any drowning incidents.
Speaking of liabilities, in case of any unfortunate event related to the hot tub (slipping and falling, electric shock, etc.), you want to have good insurance that can cover it. Aside from liability insurance, you should also make sure that the property aspect of your insurance covers any potential damage to your hot tub and other amenities.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Hot Tub for Your Airbnb
Before you commit to a hot tub, it would be good to weigh these factors:
Types – Hot tubs can be acrylic, rotomolded, inflatable, or in-ground. These are the most popular type, and this is what differentiates them:
- Acrylic – Acrylic hot tubs have a wooden (or wood imitation) exterior and a glossy finish. Acrylic hot tubs are heavy and more expensive than vinyl or plastic tubs. However, they do compensate for the price with great temperature retention which lowers the energy needs.
- Rotomolded – These tubs are more affordable and easier to install since they can run on 110V power. Their downside is that they don’t look as nice as acrylic ones.
- Inflatable – As the name suggests, these hot tubs are portable and installed by inflating them with an air pump. They are affordable but also easier to damage.
- In-Ground – These hot tubs are set in the ground which gives them a great aesthetic appeal, but these tubs are the most difficult (and most expensive) to install.
Durability – You can expect a longer lifespan from in-ground, rotomolded, and acrylic spas than from inflated ones. That durability also justifies a higher price.
Power Outlet Required – Depending on where you plan to install a tub, you need to check what type of outlet you have in that area. Do you need a tub that goes into a standard or 240V outlet? If you only have standard outlets, narrow your search by that feature.
Size – If your Airbnb sleeps six or more people, it may look inconsiderate if you get a tub for two to four people. The size of the hot tub should depend on how many guests you accommodate.
Design/Aesthetic – Looks are important when it comes to Airbnb hot tubs because you want to entice your guests to book your rental. However, most guests aren’t hot tub connoisseurs, and even a basic model with an attractive appearance will catch their eye when scrolling through the listings .
The Best Hot Tub for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
If you want your investment to pay off, we suggest the Essential Hot Tubs 50 Jets Polara as the best choice. For an upscale rental, you can upgrade to a luxury option with 67 jets and a Bluetooth sound system.
Essential Hot Tubs 50 Jets Polara
This is why we picked the Essential Hot Tubs 50 Jets Polara hot tub as the winner:
Suitable for Year-Round Use – It has a powerful heater so that guests can enjoy the tub during every season.
Attractive Design – This classic wood-white combo looks amazing and will stand out in the listing photos.
Seats 6 People – This hot tub is suitable if you accommodate more people so that no one among the guests feels left out!
Easy to Use – Guests can set up the water temperature, jet power, and lighting with a press of a button on a digital display.
Different Chairs – Your guests will have a personalized hot tub experience as they can pick a Lounger Chair (3 back jets and 12 leg jets), 13-Jet Captain Chair (11 back jets and 2 leg jets), or 9-Jet Captain Chair (2 shoulder jets, 5 back jets, and 2 leg jets).
Safety Features – A heavy-duty tapered cover with locking clips will minimize the chance of any accidents when the hot tub is not being used.
Other Airbnb Hot Tub Alternatives
If you want to test the waters before you take the plunge, you can check out our worthy runner-ups.
Bueno Spa Jersey 46-Jet Hot Tub
When it comes to sturdiness, you can’t go wrong with the Bueno Spa Jersey 46-Jet Hot Tub. It is made of UV-resistant polymer material. In addition to durable material, what makes this tub stand out is its color therapy lighting feature which can add to the aesthetic of your rental and give your guests another functionality to try out.
Essential Hot Tubs 20-Jet Arbor Hot Tub
Do you want the best value for your money? Then the Essential Hot Tubs 20-Jet Arbor Hot Tub is a fantastic choice. It may not have that classic hot tub look (wood-white combo), but the price makes up for it. You can use a standard outlet to get it up and running, and the round design takes less space even though the tub seats six people.
If you want to avoid the installation hassle, this Bestway SaluSpa Miami Hot Tub is one of the best-looking inflatable tubs you can find. It is inexpensive and yet very durable for an inflatable tub. It has a digital control panel, power-saving timer, and 120 powerful bubble jets.
Final Thoughts
Are hot tubs a cheap and simple investment? No. Will they pay off through increased bookings and a higher price per night? Yes. If you want to upgrade your rental property, a hot tub is a perfect feature for that purpose.
You will notice that there is a hot tub for every need and budget, but if you’re looking for an overall best value for price item, we suggest our top pick, the Essential Hot Tubs 50 Jets Polara Hot Tub, as the ideal choice.
