How to Get Your First 10 Reviews (and Why It's Crucial)

A new property on Booking.com or Airbnb faces the classic "cold start" problem. Without reviews, guests don't trust it enough to book. Without bookings, there are no reviews. This vicious cycle is the biggest hurdle for new vacation rental hosts in Croatia.

The first 5 to 10 reviews function as foundational social proof. They signal to the platform's algorithm that your property is active and legitimate, and to guests that it's a safe choice. Overcoming this initial barrier requires a deliberate strategy, not just waiting and hoping.

This guide provides a structured approach to systematically gathering those first, most important reviews, based on data and the practices of successful hosts.

— 01Low-Price Strategy: How to Attract Your First Guests

A temporarily discounted price, about 15-25% below the competitive market rate, is the most effective tool for attracting the first guests to a property with no reviews. This strategy shouldn't be seen as a loss of revenue but as a targeted marketing expense to acquire a crucial asset: trust and visibility.

When a potential guest searches for accommodation in, for example, Rovinj, they are faced with dozens of options with high ratings. Your new listing, with zero reviews, will be skipped if its price is the same as one with a 9.5 rating and 200 reviews. A lower price serves as an incentive for the guest to take a "risk" and try a new property.

Real-world example: An apartment for four people in Trogir in July has an average price of 160 EUR/night. A new host could set an initial price of 125-135 EUR/night for the first 3-4 bookings. After collecting the first 3-5 positive reviews, the price can be gradually increased toward the market average.

Dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs (service cost is around 19 EUR per month per unit) can help with market analysis, but for this initial phase, a manual analysis of competitors directly on Booking.com and Airbnb is sufficient.

— 02Friends and Family: What Do the Platforms Allow?

Using friends and family to write reviews is against platform rules unless it's a legitimate, paid stay. Booking.com and Airbnb strictly prohibit reviews that don't result from a real transaction and stay, as this undermines the integrity of the entire rating system. Attempting to bypass this can lead to suspension or a permanent ban.

The only correct way is for a friend or family member to go through the entire process like any other guest:

1. 1 Booking via the platform: They must find your property and book it publicly.
2. 2 Paying the full price: The reservation must be paid through the platform's system, including all fees and commission (which on Booking.com is between 15% and 18%).
3. 3 Actual stay: They must physically stay at the property for the reserved dates.
4. 4 Guest registration: Like any other guest, you must register them in the eVisitor system within 24 hours of arrival.

Platform algorithms are advanced and can detect suspicious activities, such as bookings from the same IP address, use of linked bank cards, or unusually fast bookings immediately after a listing goes live. The risk is simply not worth the potential penalty.

— 03How to Actively Ask for Reviews (Without Being Pushy)

Proactively requesting reviews through personalized, timely messages significantly increases the response rate. Many guests forget to leave a review not because they were dissatisfied, but because they've returned to their daily routines. The key is in the timing and tone of your message.

The best time to send a message is within 24 hours of checkout, while the experience of the stay is still fresh in the guest's memory. The message should be short, polite, and direct.

Here are a few templates you can adapt:

Template for Booking.com (More Formal):

Dear {Guest Name}, I hope you had a pleasant journey home. Thank you once again for choosing our apartment for your stay in {City}. If you have a moment, we would be extremely grateful if you could share your experience by leaving a review on Booking.com. Your feedback is incredibly important to us as it helps us improve, and it also helps future guests make their choice. We wish you all the best. Kind regards, {Your Name / Property Name}

Template for Airbnb (More Personal):

Hi {Guest Name}, I hope you had a smooth trip back home! It was a pleasure hosting you in {City}. If you have a moment, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave a review about your stay. Your feedback is super helpful for us and for future travelers thinking about visiting. Thanks again for staying with us! Best, {Your Name}

Never offer discounts, gifts, or any other compensation in exchange for a review. This is strictly forbidden and is considered review manipulation.

— 04What Never to Do: Buying Reviews and Fake Stays

Buying reviews or creating fake bookings to write your own ratings is the fastest way to get your property permanently removed from the platforms. This is considered serious fraud, and platforms have a zero-tolerance policy for such activities.

Platforms use sophisticated fraud detection systems that analyze hundreds of signals, including: - IP addresses: Matching IP addresses of the guest and host. - Payment data: Use of the same or linked credit cards. - Review patterns: Unusually positive, short, and generic reviews that arrive in a short period. - User history: "Guest" profiles created just before booking with no other history.

Besides a platform ban, such practices also violate Croatian laws. The Hospitality and Catering Industry Act and the Consumer Protection Act mandate truthful advertising of services. Fake reviews constitute a misleading business practice.

Instead of looking for shortcuts, focus your energy on providing outstanding service. A clean and well-equipped space, prompt communication, and small gestures of hospitality (e.g., a bottle of water or a local product upon arrival) will naturally generate positive reviews.

— 05A Realistic Timeline: How Long Until You Get 10 Reviews?

On average, a new apartment in Croatia takes between 4 to 8 weeks during the high season (June-September) to collect its first 10 reviews. This period depends on the location, pricing strategy, minimum night stay, and occupancy rate.

A property in the center of Split with a 3-night minimum stay might reach this goal in less than a month in July. On the other hand, a vacation home in the Istrian countryside with a 7-night minimum might need two months in the pre-season.

Here is a rough estimate based on property type and location:

Patience is key. Once you cross the 10-review threshold and maintain a high average score (ideally above 9.0 on Booking.com), the algorithm will start to favor you, leading to greater visibility, more bookings, and, consequently, an organic flow of new reviews.

The journey to your first 10 reviews is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires strategic pricing, excellent service, and consistent communication. Once that foundation is laid, it becomes a flywheel that will power your property's success for years to come.