Evolving the guest essentials kit at Kindred

At Kindred, everything we build is designed to make travel feel more human, thoughtful, and sustainable. When we first introduced toiletry kits, they were a small complimentary amenity we offered to make every stay feel a little more special. Given how small our community was in the early days, we could bear covering the cost of these kits without charging for them in our service fees.

But as our community has grown, so have the costs and complexity of continuing to provide them at scale. To keep offering the kits to every member on every trip, we would need to increase service fees. And in conversations with our members, it became abundantly clear that while complimentary toiletry kits were a nice touch, they weren’t essential — certainly not essential enough to justify increasing service fees or the environmental cost of shipping tens of thousands of them around the world.



So, after a lot of reflection and conversations with our community, we’re making a change.

What’s changing

Trips that start on or after November 1, 2025 will no longer receive a complimentary toiletry kit for each stay. This means that:

• For hosts: You’ll no longer need to coordinate with Kindred to receive a kit. Please just ensure basic toiletries — like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash — are available for your guests, along with other everyday essentials like toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels.
• For guests: You can expect those same everyday essentials at every Kindred home you stay in. Of course, you’re always welcome to bring your favorites too.
• For trips already confirmed that start on or after November 1, 2025 and haven’t yet received a toiletry kit, Kindred will automatically add a one-time $25 credit to the host’s account to make stocking up on essentials a little easier.

Below we've put together this list of frequently asked questions to provide you with quick and easy answers on this change.

FAQs

1. What’s the toiletry kit?
   1. It’s the small “Guest Essentials” bag with travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion that cleaners used to set out during check-in cleans.
2. How does this affect my hosting experience?
   1. Not much! You’ll simply provide basic toiletries for guests, just like toilet paper or paper towels. Everything else about hosting stays the same - we’ll still coordinate your cleanings, send you a hosting kit (with linens, towels, etc.), and be there to support you every step along the way.
3. Will I still get a hosting kit with linens etc. as a host?
   1. Yes - this change only affects the toiletry kits. When you confirm your first hosting, you’ll still receive a hosting kit with linens, towels, and other essentials as usual.
4. What can I expect as a guest?
   1. Hosts will now provide basic toiletries (like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) instead of Kindred sending a kit. You’ll still arrive to a clean, well-prepared home with all the essentials you need for a comfortable stay. You are, of course, welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
5. What toiletries am I expected to provide for my guests when hosting?
   1. Hosting members will expected to have toiletry basics available to their guests. This includes: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, toilet paper, paper towels, sponges, dishwashing soap, and any other basics or essentials that the average friend would need to have a comfortable stay
6. Does this change the service fee I pay when I take a trip?
   1. No. The toiletry kits were never part of the service fee - Kindred provided them as an extra touch, at no cost to members. This change doesn’t affect pricing or fees in any way.
7. What happens to the thank you note?
   1. We’ve moved thank-you's in-app so it’s easy to share appreciation after each stay. But we still love personal gestures - members are encouraged to leave a small token or handwritten note if they’d like.
8. Why are you making these changes?
   1. As our community has grown, so have the costs and complexity of continuing to provide them at scale. Removing them helps us focus on what really matters - thoughtful, well-prepared homes and meaningful member connections.
9. What happens if I had a confirmed trip to my home when I received this update?
   1. Hosts who have not yet received a toiletry kit for a trip that they confirmed to their home before Nov 1, 2025 will receive a $25 coupon