Beyond the review. Into the experience.
Beyond Five Stars
In-Person Guest Stay
There is a difference between a beautiful place to stay and a place you can't stop thinking about after you've left.
Through The East Experience In-Person Guest Experience Evaluation, I spend a minimum of three nights experiencing your Airbnb, VRBO, cottage, cabin, boutique inn, or small hospitality property exactly as your guest would.
I sleep in the bed. I make the coffee. I use the shower. I sit on the porch. I experience the property in the morning and again after dark. I notice the lighting, the sheets, the scent of the space, the sounds at night, where I naturally want to put my suitcase, whether there's an extra blanket—and yes, whether there's enough toilet paper.
Because the tiny things aren't really tiny.
They're the experience.
My goal isn't to arrive at your property looking for everything you've done wrong. Quite the opposite.
I want to discover what's already wonderful, identify the little things that may be creating friction for your guests, and uncover opportunities to make their experience even more thoughtful, comfortable, cozy, and memorable.
Because ultimately, I'm always asking one question:
How does it feel to be here?
ONE STAY. THREE PERSPECTIVES.
I experience your property as a guest.
I evaluate it through the eyes of a hospitality professional.
And I tell its story as a photographer and writer.
That's what makes The East Experience different.
This isn't a quick property inspection or a generic list of recommendations.
I actually stay.
I live in the property for three nights and experience all those ordinary little moments that make up a stay.
And that's where I believe the most valuable insights are found.
THE THREE-NIGHT EXPERIENCE
A minimum three-night stay gives me time to actually experience the rhythm of your property rather than simply walking through it with a clipboard.
I'll experience arrival and settling in, morning coffee, bathing, sleeping, relaxing, using the kitchen, enjoying the outdoor spaces, navigating the property after dark, and eventually checking out.
I'll see your property in the morning light and at night.
I'll discover which chair I naturally gravitate toward.
I'll figure out whether I can make coffee without searching through every cabinet.
I'll notice what I reach for and can't find.
And I'll begin to understand what makes your property feel distinctly yours.
YOUR 100-POINT GUEST EXPERIENCE EVALUATION
Your property will receive my comprehensive 100-Point East Experience Evaluation, examining the entire stay through the eyes of your guest.
I'll evaluate areas including:
Pre-arrival experience
Arrival + entry
First impressions
Cleanliness
Comfort
Lighting
Bedroom + sleep experience
Bedding + linens
Bathroom experience
Kitchen functionality
Coffee + morning rituals
Guest essentials
Storage + luggage
Outdoor experience
Communication
Checkout
Thoughtful details
Sense of place
Cozy factor
Memorable moments
But I won't simply hand you a score.
I'll explain why something matters and help you understand where your time, attention, and investment could make the greatest difference.
THE FIVE SENSES EDIT
A property is about so much more than what we see.
One of the foundations of The East Experience is looking at a space through all five senses.
SIGHT
I'll consider natural light, lamps, overhead lighting, visual warmth, styling, clutter, artwork, views, flowers, greenery, and how the property changes throughout the day.
And yes, we'll talk about the big light.
SCENT
I'll evaluate the property's overall scent experience, including bedding, laundry products, cleaning products, ventilation, artificial fragrance, and the aroma of the space when a guest first walks through the door.
I believe vacation rentals should begin with an aroma-neutral baseline.
Clean doesn't need to smell like anything.
SOUND
I'll listen to the property during the day and at night, considering road noise, HVAC, appliances, neighboring properties, outdoor sounds, and the sleep environment.
TOUCH
Sheets.
Pillows.
Mattresses.
Towels.
Blankets.
Furniture.
Bath linens.
Toiletries.
Everything a guest touches contributes to how a property feels.
TASTE
I'll consider the simple rituals around coffee, tea, drinking water, kitchen essentials, local treats, welcome offerings, and those little food-and-drink moments that often become part of someone's memory of a trip.
THE I KNOW COZY EDIT
I love cozy.
But cozy isn't a decorating style.
It's a feeling.
It's warm pools of light instead of one giant overhead fixture.
It's a blanket exactly where you want one.
A wonderful chair beside a window.
Books.
Natural materials.
Flowers clipped from the garden.
A porch you don't want to leave.
A coffee mug you reach for every morning.
Through my I Know Cozy Edit, I'll look at lighting, texture, temperature, comfort, seating, natural elements, outdoor spaces, and all the subtle things that make us want to settle in and stay awhile.
And importantly, I won't recommend adding things simply for the sake of adding them.
Sometimes creating a better experience means adding something.
Sometimes it means taking something away.
STYLED PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPHY
I don't only want to photograph what your property looks like.
I want to capture what it feels like to stay there.
During my visit, I'll create a collection of styled lifestyle photographs centered around the experience of your property.
Morning coffee beside a window.
Flowers on the kitchen table.
Sunlight falling across the bed.
A book and blanket beside the fireplace.
The porch in the evening.
The garden.
The details that make the property yours.
You'll receive a curated collection of 25 professionally edited lifestyle photographs for use on your website, property listing, social media, and marketing.
YOUR STORY ON THE EAST EXPERIENCE
Your property won't only be evaluated.
I'll tell its story.
Following my stay, I'll write and publish a dedicated editorial feature about the property and my experience on The East Experience on Substack, where I've built an engaged community around intentional living, travel, beautiful spaces, flowers, gardens, photography, and noticing the beauty in everyday life.
This isn't intended to read like a generic hotel review.
I want to tell my readers what it felt like to be there.
The morning light coming through the bedroom.
The corner where I wanted to sit with my coffee.
The garden I wandered through.
The things you got exactly right.
The surrounding places worth discovering.
And the little moments that made me want to linger.
The story will feature my original photography from the stay and include a direct link for readers to discover and book your property.
My editorial coverage will always reflect my genuine experience, and hosted or compensated stays will be appropriately disclosed.
Because the trust I've built with my readers matters to me.
YOUR CUSTOM WELCOME BOOK
After experiencing the property myself, I'll also create a customized digital guest welcome book designed around the way your guests actually use the space.
Depending on your property, it may include:
A personal welcome
Wi-Fi
Property essentials
Helpful instructions
Checkout information
Local restaurants
Coffee shops
Markets
Favorite nearby experiences
Local recommendations
Thoughtful details specific to your property
My philosophy here is simple:
Tell me what I need when I need it.
Your welcome book should make someone's stay easier—not feel like homework.
You'll receive a finished digital PDF that can be shared with guests electronically or printed for the property.
YOUR FINAL EAST EXPERIENCE REPORT
After my stay, I'll bring everything I've noticed together into your complete property evaluation and recommendations.
And I don't want to hand you 100 observations and leave you wondering where in the world to begin.
We'll organize your recommendations into:
FIX NOW
The little friction points that are relatively simple or inexpensive to correct.
IMPROVE NEXT
Changes that deserve a little more planning or investment.
DREAM ABOUT IT
The bigger ideas that could elevate your property over time.
I'll also highlight:
KEEP DOING THIS
The things you're already doing beautifully.
Because an evaluation shouldn't only tell you what to change.
Sometimes the most valuable thing I can tell you is:
This is special. Don't lose it.
YOUR EAST EXPERIENCE INCLUDES
Three-Night Immersive Property Stay
A true guest experience of your property during the day, evening, and overnight.
100-Point East Experience Evaluation
A comprehensive look at the complete guest journey.
The Five Senses Edit
Sight, scent, sound, touch, and taste.
The I Know Cozy Edit
Comfort, atmosphere, lighting, warmth, and those hard-to-define details that make people want to stay awhile.
Complete Written Property Report
Including what's working, where there's friction, and where I see opportunity.
Fix Now / Improve Next / Dream About It Plan
A practical way to prioritize your improvements.
25 Edited Lifestyle Photographs
Styled original imagery capturing the feeling of your property.
Dedicated East Experience Substack Feature
An original editorial story about the property and my experience, accompanied by my photography and a direct booking link.
Customized Digital Guest Welcome Book
A beautifully simplified resource designed around your property and destination.
60-Minute Private Follow-Up Consultation
We'll walk through the evaluation together, discuss my recommendations, and answer your questions.
INVESTMENT
$2,500
+ a complimentary minimum three-night stay at your property
Travel expenses outside The East Experience's local service area are quoted separately.
Properties requiring extensive travel, additional overnight stays, multiple structures, or unusually large properties may require a custom proposal.
A limited number of evaluations are accepted so that I can give each property the time and creative attention it deserves.
WHO IT'S FOR
The East Experience is especially suited for independently owned:
Airbnbs + VRBOs
Vacation cottages
Cabins
Farm stays
Guest houses
Boutique inns
Bed-and-breakfasts
Historic homes
Garden properties
Design-forward rentals
Unique stays
You don't need a perfect property before inviting me in.
Actually, that's rather the point.
You simply need to care about the experience you're creating and how people feel while they're there.
READY TO GO BEYOND FIVE STARS?
If you're ready to take your guest experience "beyond five stars", I'd love to hear about your property.
Whether you own a cozy cottage tucked away in the mountains, a beautiful Airbnb by the coast, a cabin in the woods, a historic home, boutique inn, or a little stay somewhere in between, I'm interested in the same thing:
"How does it feel to be there?"
Tell me a little about your property, what you love about it, where it's located, and what you'd like your guests to feel when they stay with you.
Maybe you know something is missing but can't quite put your finger on it. Maybe you've created a beautiful space and are ready to take the experience a little deeper. Or maybe you're simply curious about what I would notice if I walked through your front door as a guest.
That's exactly what The East Experience is about.
Together, we'll look beyond the review and into the actual experience—the lighting, the sheets, the morning coffee, the scent of the space, the little moments of comfort, and all those tiny details that quietly tell someone:
"We thought of you."
Fill out the form below and introduce me to your property. I can't wait to see where you are and hear the story behind your space.
Let's create a place people don't just give five stars—a place they feel, remember, and can't wait to return to.
Tell Me About Your Property
Name
Property Name
Property Location
Property Website / Airbnb / VRBO Link
Type of Property
Which East Experience service are you interested in?
Tell me a little about your property and what you'd love to improve about the guest experience.