Every amenity you add costs money, and not all of them move your income. For a Montreux owner, the useful question is not “what do guests like?” but “which upgrades earn back their cost in extra nights or a higher rate?” This guide gives a simple payback test and a priority order.
The payback test at a glance
- Method
- Payback (years) = upgrade cost ÷ extra yearly profit from added nights, a higher rate or fewer bad reviews
- Check first
- Reliability of the basics — Wi-Fi, beds, hot water, heating — before any extra
- Search filters
- Guests can filter listings by amenity, so a missing filtered item hides you from those searches[1]
- Swiss factor
- Few Swiss homes have air-conditioning, while hot days are becoming more frequent[2]
- Blockers
- Condominium (PPE) rules and landlord consent can limit outdoor units, EV chargers and parking[3]
- Rule of thumb
- Prefer upgrades that pay back within about two years; treat the rest as comfort spending
Short answer: the amenities that most reliably pay back are the unglamorous ones: fast Wi-Fi with a real workspace, good beds and linen, a fully equipped kitchen, and cooling for summer. Add parking or premium extras only after you have costed them against extra nights. All figures below are illustrative assumptions — get quotes for your own unit.[1]
Photo: Pexels
In this guide
A simple payback test
For each candidate upgrade, estimate three numbers: the installed cost, the extra nights or rate uplift you expect, and the running cost. The yearly gain is (extra nights × average nightly rate) plus any rate uplift, minus running costs and your management share. Divide the cost by that gain to get payback in years. This is a model, not a promise: use conservative inputs and compare against your own booking history in our pricing strategy guide.
Illustrative example (assumptions, not data): a portable cooling unit bought for CHF 600 that lets you keep three extra summer nights a year at CHF 220 adds CHF 660 before costs — payback under a year. If it adds no nights, the payback is never. Test the assumption before you buy.
Tier 1: the basics that protect your rating
Reviews drive visibility, so start with what guests complain about most: weak Wi-Fi, uncomfortable beds, poor hot water or heating, and missing kitchen items. Reliable broadband and a proper desk and chair serve remote workers and longer stays, which suits Montreux in the shoulder season (see our shoulder-season guide). Good mattresses and linen cost little relative to the nightly rate and protect your review score; see reviews and reputation. For budgets, our furnishing cost guide lists what to spend.
Tier 2: cooling and comfort
Most Swiss homes were built for cold winters and have no air-conditioning, while MeteoSwiss reports that hot days have become more frequent as temperatures rise.[2] For top-floor apartments, a quiet portable unit, ceiling fans or blackout blinds can be the difference between a sleepless night and a good review. Fixed split units are costlier and may need building or owner approval; check before committing.[3]
Tier 3: amenities that save you time
Some upgrades pay back through lower running costs rather than higher income: a washer-dryer reduces laundry logistics, a dishwasher speeds turnovers, and a smart lock removes key hand-overs (see smart lock guide and turnover operations). Count the hours saved at the price you pay a cleaner or manager.
Tier 4: parking, EV charging and extras
Parking can be a strong draw where street parking is scarce, but it depends on your building. EV chargers, outdoor furniture on a balcony and similar items often need the condominium community's approval; read short-term rental in a PPE first.[3] Treat these as optional until a quote and a rules check justify them.
What to skip
Skip anything that adds cleaning time, wear or liability without a clear income case: extra decorative items, complicated appliances or shared equipment you cannot maintain. Keep a short list in your listing of what you do offer, because accurate amenity information also reduces complaints.[1]
Not sure which upgrades pay back?
We run the numbers for Montreux apartments, from furnishing budgets to nightly-rate targets, and manage the work if you want it.
See our apartmentsRelated reading: Furnishing costs · Pricing strategy · Smart locks
10+ years in hospitality. BBA Hospitality (Glion), MSc Tourism (FHGR), MSc Data Science (HSLU).
Frequently asked questions
Which amenities increase Airbnb income the most?
There is no universal answer, but reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, a full kitchen and summer cooling most often protect ratings and occupancy. Test each upgrade with a payback calculation.[1]
Is air-conditioning worth installing in a Montreux rental?
It can be for top-floor or south-facing units, because hot days are more frequent. Start with a portable unit or fans, and check building rules before fixing equipment.[2]
Do I need approval to add an EV charger or outdoor unit?
Often yes, in a condominium. Shared parts of the building usually need the community of owners to agree, so check your rules and the regulations first.[3]
How quickly should an upgrade pay back?
A common target is within about two years, but this is a rule of thumb, not a standard. Cheap upgrades that protect reviews can justify a longer view.[1]
Can missing amenities hurt my listing visibility?
Yes. Guests can filter searches by amenity, so a listing without a filtered item is excluded from those results.[1]
Sources
- Airbnb Help Centre — amenities and search filters; how listings are shown to guests — airbnb.com/help
- MeteoSwiss (meteoswiss.admin.ch) — climate change in Switzerland, increase in hot days — meteoswiss.admin.ch
- Swiss Civil Code (fedlex.admin.ch), condominium ownership (Stockwerkeigentum, Arts. 712a ff.) — changes to common parts need owners’ approval; check your own regulations — fedlex.admin.ch