Ep 66: Running a UK Beachside Airbnb from 100 Miles Away, with Ruben de Bruin

This week, we head to the other side of the world to meet Ruben de Bruin. For the past four years, Ruben has run Cozy Maisonette by the Sea, a one-bedroom beachside retreat in Boscombe West on the UK’s south coast—all while living in London.Ruben has turned long-distance hosting into a reliable system, combining a trusted local team, automation where it counts, and a personal touch where it matters. That same attention to detail also inspired a business: The Curated Host, which creates digital and printed guest handbooks for short-term rental hosts. These thoughtfully designed guides help reduce late-night questions like, “How does the heating work?” while improving the guest experience and supporting better reviews.Silvia and Ray talk with Ruben about remote property operations, the realities of the UK coastal market, and why a well-designed welcome book is one of the highest-leverage investments a host can make.How Ruben got into hosting—and why he chose Boscombe West on the Bournemouth coastThe types of guests a one-bedroom beachside retreat attracts and the seasonality of the marketRuben’s biggest surprises during his first year compared with nowManaging changeovers, maintenance, and day-to-day operations from LondonHow to find and vet reliable cleaners and handymen from a distanceBuilding a remote property team that can handle problems when they ariseWhere Ruben draws the line between automation and the personal touchThe gap in the market that led him to create The Curated HostDigital versus printed handbooks—and why guests use bothHow clear, well-designed communication can improve reviews and star ratingsThe essential sections every guest welcome book should includeHandling awkward guest conversations, including linen changes during longer staysWhy investing in quality pays off in short-term rentalsRuben’s number-one tip for buying your first remote investment propertyCozy Maisonette by the Sea on AirbnbThe Curated HostFollow Ruben on InstagramRay’s AirbnbSilvia’s Airbnb