Airbnb Superhosts Down Under

About Airbnb Superhosts Down Under

Hosted by Ray & Silvia Superhosts Down Under is a podcast that guides and inspires aspiring Airbnb hosts on how to successfully set up and run an Airbnb in Australia. Each episode features engaging stories, lessons, and insights from different guests — from seasoned hosts to industry experts — sharing their unique experiences in short-term rental hosting. Join Ray and Silvia as they explore Australia’s most remarkable Airbnbs and uncover the stories of the owners who make them possible.

Publisher

Ray Yee Consulting

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Nov 2023

Latest episode

4 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

68 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Ep 68: Stargazing Domes and Building Host Port, with Tristan Kavanagh

   Tristan Kavanagh helps run two stargazing dome stays in NSW. He also built Host Port after struggling to find affordable booking management software for small hosts. He joins Ray and Silvia to talk about hosting, direct bookings, and building the tools he needed. We discuss his path into hosting, managing bookings across different platforms, guest communication, and how much to automate when you run a small accommodation business. Connect with Tristan Host Port website (http://www.hostport.co) Host Port on Instagram — @host_port (https://www.instagram.com/host_port/) Tristan’s stays Romantic Stargazing Dome Retreat — Megalong Valley (https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1438723901524218678) Beyond Bubbles Stargazing Dome with Hot Tub — Bucketty (https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/42647791) Stay with Ray and Silvia Ray’s properties (https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb) Silvia’s Sydney Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X) Follow the hosts Ray on Instagram — @rayzworld (https://www.instagram.com/rayzworld/) Superhosts Down Under on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/superhosts_down_under/) Follow Superhosts Down Under for more conversations with hosts across Australia and beyond.

2. 

   20 Sept 2026

   Ep 67: If You Don't Own the Data, You Don't Have Anything, with Carlos Castillo

   This week Silvia and Ray open with a myth worth killing: that hosting and property management run on autopilot, and that anyone in the business is really just a rent collector. Ray goes back to collecting cash rent from a roofer at twenty one, Silvia makes the case that it is a job that takes real experience, and Carlos adds the line that frames the rest of the episode. Automation does not remove the work, it just moves it. The judgment layer is the real job. From there we turn to Carlos Castillo, co-founder of DirectBookMe, a subscription based direct booking platform he and his wife launched in October 2024 with no tech background, no real estate background and no outside funding. Around 150 hosts are on the site today. Carlos is candid about the parts most founders leave out: the valley you walk into after the idea high, hiring web development agencies when you cannot write the code yourself, and the fact that growth has been slower than he expected. He is equally clear that he is not asking anyone to leave Airbnb. Run direct alongside it, move fifteen to twenty percent of your bookings across, and own the guest relationship that the big platforms keep for themselves. What we cover The myth that hosting runs on autopilot, and why the labour never disappears Ray on collecting cash rent at twenty one, and why doing the job yourself makes you a better client later Whether AI can take over hosting, and where the human part starts The moment Carlos realised he was building on rented land How DirectBookMe works, with no commission on either side The two pricing tiers, and why subscription rather than per booking How payments work, with Stripe for subscriptions and the booking left to the host What stays on the host: rental agreements, deposits, insurance, damage coverage Why the platform is deliberately not algorithm driven Owning your guest data, and capturing repeat guests Trust and safety, and the gap where AirCover sits Running direct alongside the OTAs, iCal sync and PMS integration Building a platform with no technical background What is next: ID verification, easier onboarding, and a vetted partner resources page Find Carlos DirectBookMe: https://www.directbookme.co (https://www.directbookme.co) Instagram: @directbookme (https://www.instagram.com/directbookme) Sponsor This episode is recorded with Riverside. Use code RAY15 for 15% off. Stay with us Ray's place, Scandinavian Suite in South Yarra: https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb (https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb) Silvia's Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X (https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X) Follow the hosts Ray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayzworld (https://www.instagram.com/rayzworld)

3. 

   6 Sept 2026

   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 coast The types of guests a one-bedroom beachside retreat attracts and the seasonality of the market Ruben’s biggest surprises during his first year compared with now Managing changeovers, maintenance, and day-to-day operations from London How to find and vet reliable cleaners and handymen from a distance Building a remote property team that can handle problems when they arise Where Ruben draws the line between automation and the personal touch The gap in the market that led him to create The Curated Host Digital versus printed handbooks—and why guests use both How clear, well-designed communication can improve reviews and star ratings The essential sections every guest welcome book should include Handling awkward guest conversations, including linen changes during longer stays Why investing in quality pays off in short-term rentals Ruben’s number-one tip for buying your first remote investment property Cozy Maisonette by the Sea on Airbnb (https://airbnb.com/h/cozy-maisonette-by-the-sea) The Curated Host (https://www.thecuratedhost.com/) Follow Ruben on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thehostcurator/) Ray’s Airbnb (https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb) Silvia’s Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X)

Who has been a guest on Airbnb Superhosts Down Under

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Catharine
• Kelly Maree
• Merrydith Callegari

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

90

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Airbnb Superhosts Down Under

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  📌 Property and Mortgage Insights Australia

• 

  Thanks For Visiting

• 

  Host Nation

• 

  She's On The Money

• 

  The Mel Robbins Podcast

• 

  The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Questions about Airbnb Superhosts Down Under