Visitor tools / Family stay checklist

Twelve things worth asking.

The questions we wish every family asked before booking any vacation rental. Tick them off as you go — your ticks stay in this browser, on this device, and nowhere else.

Full disclosure: this is our own site and Lucky Villa is our home — use this list on any rental.

• 01 Count real beds, not the guest number

  Why it matters: A “sleeps 16” listing can reach 16 with sofa beds and an air mattress. Count beds against the people who need one to themselves.

  Lucky Villa: Up to 16 guests in 6 bedrooms, with 9 beds as listed on Airbnb: 2 king, 3 queen, 1 twin-over-twin bunk bed, plus 1 futon sofa, 1 pull-out sofa and 1 air mattress.

• 02 Work out baths per person

  Why it matters: Mornings are the pinch point. Much more than four or five people per bathroom and somebody is always waiting.

  Lucky Villa: 4.5 baths — 4 full and 1 half, including 3 en-suite bathrooms.

• 03 Ask how many cars actually fit

  Why it matters: Groups arrive in two or three cars. Driveway space and street rules vary by home, and a hotel would charge you per car, per night.

  Lucky Villa: Free parking on premises.

• 04 Read the quiet hours before you book

  Why it matters: A late flight, a pool evening or a loud game night can run straight into them. Better to know the window now.

  Lucky Villa: Quiet hours are 10 PM–8 AM.

• 05 Be clear about the kind of gathering allowed

  Why it matters: Every home draws its own line between “the family is over for dinner” and “a party”. Ask before you plan anything with a guest list.

  Lucky Villa: Small gatherings welcome; please be respectful of neighbors.

• 06 Ask whether the pool is heated

  Why it matters: A Vegas pool is wonderful in summer and genuinely cold from late fall into spring. Heating is often an extra — or not offered at all.

  Lucky Villa: The private free-form pool is not heated.

• 07 Confirm the pet policy in writing

  Why it matters: “Pet friendly” can still mean a size limit, a fee, or one dog only. Get it in the message thread, not in your head.

  Lucky Villa: Pets allowed.

• 08 Look hard at the kitchen and the fridge

  Why it matters: Cooking for a dozen people needs counter space and fridge shelves. The kitchen is where a whole home quietly pays for itself.

  Lucky Villa: Three kitchens, including a modern open kitchen.

• 09 Ask about a pack ’n play or crib

  Why it matters: Flying with a travel crib is nobody’s favorite part of the trip. Plenty of hosts have one — but only if you ask ahead.

  Lucky Villa: Pack ’n play / travel crib available on request.

• 10 Ask where any security devices are

  Why it matters: You should get a straight answer about anything recording outside, and a clear “none” for inside, before you arrive.

  Lucky Villa: Exterior security cameras may be present; no cameras inside the home.

• 11 Pin down check-in and checkout

  Why it matters: These two times decide whether your first and last day are usable, especially around a late flight.

  Lucky Villa: Check-in 4 PM, checkout 11 AM, self check-in with a smart lock — confirm current times on the Airbnb listing.

• 12 Remember it is somebody’s street

  Why it matters: Rentals sit in real neighborhoods. Parking considerately and arriving quietly is what keeps homes like these available to families at all.

  Lucky Villa: Quiet hours 10 PM–8 AM, no smoking inside, and neighbors treated like your own.

House rules and amenities change. Whatever a list like this says, the Airbnb listing and your host’s messages are the current word.