If you have ever stayed in a property for short-term rent – Airbnb, Vrbo, HomeStay, etc. – It is likely that you have not spent much time watching TV during your vacation. But on a rainy day or a lazy evening after a day of sightseeing, sometimes good streaming television the session is in order.
Enter the Rock. You may have noticed that many holiday homes are equipped with Roku. And those who aren’t, probably should be. How do Airbnb hosts choose which streaming platform to use? We do not recommend expensive Apple TV box in this cozy villa on the beach. A Chromecast with Google TV or an Amazon Fire TV are also options, but a Roku is our best choice for people with holiday rentals thanks to the affordable price of these devices, ease of use and convenient guest mode.
That’s why so many Airbnbs come with Roku devices and why we think it’s the best choice for vacation rental hosts. And if you are a host, read on for three reasons why you should take our advice.
Read more: The best Roku to buy in 2022
1. Roku devices are cheap
First, Roku smart TVs and streaming devices offer great value – a small Roku TV costs less than $ 200. If you want to spend and create a more luxurious experience for your guests, you can buy a larger model Roku TV. Our favorite Roku TV is from TCLbut Roku smart TV models are also available from other brands.
Roku has many streaming devices that work with any TV, but our choice is this Roku Express 4K Plus. It costs between $ 30 and $ 40 and has basically everything you need in a streamer. This is the cheapest Roku with a remote control, which can also control any TV, which means that guests do not have to juggle clickers.
The most basic streaming device is the Roku Express, which is available for $ 25. Although it lacks 4K and the voice control feature of its siblings, it is easy to install with an HDMI cable. The downside is that there is no remote control of the TV, so we think the transition to Express 4K Plus is worth it.
$ 30 Roku Voice Remote Pro it is also worth considering. It can be added to any Roku streamer or TV and provides a few more guest-friendly benefits, the coolest being the remote viewfinder. If the remote is lost – which can easily happen when there is a constant flow of guests coming and going – you can determine its location by simply calling it. The Remote Pro also has a headphone jack so guests can watch their favorite shows or movies without disturbing others.
2. The Roku system is the easiest to use
Although the options for Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast are also reasonably priced, Roku outperforms them in simplicity. Roku devices work smoothly and are a click to adjustbut the best part is the intuitive interface on the main screen. Guests of all ages can easily navigate to apps by clicking on the icons Hulu, SpotifyHBO Max, Apple TV Plus or Disney Plus.
Roku’s simple network of applications wins the rest. Compared to Amazon’s cumbersome (and slightly infuriating) Prime Video search process, it’s easy to find Roku titles or genres. And Chromecast with Google TV has a home menu that focuses on the content, not the streaming apps themselves, so it can be cluttered with shows and movies that guests may not find appropriate.
3. Roku Guest Mode is the best friend of the host
Hosts who do not want to share their login credentials with visitors can activate guest mode (formerly known as auto-exit mode) on any Roku TV or streaming player. This feature allows guests to sign up for their own subscriptions to services such as Netflix, Sling or Hulu. Guest mode can be activated for any Roku-connected device in any room of your rental property. Redbit’s Airbnb hosts are giving it a thumbs up.
To set up this feature, you will first need to add a PIN to your Roku account and then launch it directly on the device or remotely. Because the PIN is attached to the owner’s personal account, guests will not be able to access the owner’s account to view content or make purchases.
Once guests click on guest mode, they will be prompted to enter a check-out date, which means that Roku will automatically log them out of their account when they leave. They also have the option to leave manually at any time before the departure date. In both cases, their login credentials will be removed from the system.
The home screen has default channels, such as Netflix and Prime Video, but guests can add channels or stream from their personal Roku library. If they forget to go out at the end of their stay, the host can do it for them.
Google Chromecast devices offer guest mode, but it’s not as advanced as Roku’s – it’s mainly designed to make it easier for people to stream from their phones to their TV. Fire TVs require an Amazon account to work, although you can set a PIN to prevent purchases.
And because Roku devices are cheap, it may not hurt so much if a guest decides to grab the host’s device when he leaves. At least you can disable access from anywhere in the world.