Floating Freedom: How Swedish Sauna Operators Automated Self-Service with igloohome + Rentalbuddy
Overview
Grebo Bastubåt and Bastuflotten Mariestad are two floating saunas in Sweden that have transformed how guests book and access their saunas — no staff, no keys, no waiting.
By combining Rentalbuddy’s automation software with igloohome’s Smart Keybox 3, both operators now run their businesses entirely self-service, even in remote lakeside environments without Wi-Fi.
The Challenges
For Grebo Bastubåt, managing bookings went beyond unlocking the sauna. The day's bookings required someone to be on-site to prepare firewood (stored outside the sauna) — guessing how much each guest would use and loading it beforehand. This routine task consumed a few hours each week and restricted dynamic booking flexibility.
“Before, we had to guess how much wood each guest would use and load it in advance, which limited how many we could accommodate and when.”
Meanwhile, Bastuflotten Mariestad wanted to offer self-service access for its custom-built sauna without adding complexity to their gate entry, heater controls and door hardware. Their goal was a system that was quick to set up, reliable, and didn’t require complex installs — something that could fit easily into their modern lakeside sauna experience.
“We wanted to create something beautiful and accessible for everyone — without having to be there in person to handle every booking.”
The Solution
Both operators implemented Rentalbuddy’s online booking and automation platform, paired with the igloohome Smart Keybox 3, to deliver secure self-service access codes to guests automatically upon booking.
At Grebo Bastubåt, a single Keybox was installed on the firewood storage, turning a manual preparation process into a fully automated, self-service system.
At Bastuflotten Mariestad, the Keybox was simply mounted onto their sauna structure — no wiring or modification required. Setup took minutes, and once connected to Rentalbuddy’s workflow, each guest received their own access code instantly after booking. Multiple keys were available to unlock the various spaces within the facility.
Because igloohome’s locks use AlgoPIN technology, the Keyboxes work offline and don’t rely on Wi-Fi to generate credentials, making them ideal for remote waterside locations.
The Results
Grebo Bastubåt: Hours Saved Each Week
By automating firewood access with one igloohome Keybox, Grebo BastuBoat eliminated approximately 3 hours of manual work weekly. At an average labor cost of USD 20/hour, that’s about USD 60 saved per week — or USD 3,120 per year.
With a single Keybox costing USD 169.99, the investment paid for itself in under a month, delivering a massive ROI purely from reduced on-site labor.
“Now customers can manage everything themselves — from viewing schedules to booking times — without needing to contact us. It’s given freedom to both them and us.”
Bastuflotten Mariestad: Simple Setup, Seamless Operation
For Mariestad’s team, the ease of setup was key. The igloohome Keybox attached directly to their sauna and housed all the keys required without any major changes. Once linked to Rentalbuddy, guests could book online, pay, and automatically receive a unique code for entry — all without staff involvement. The result was a fully self-service system that preserved their original vision of offering round-the-clock unmanned accessibility.
Conclusion
Together, these two Swedish operators show how Rentalbuddy’s software and igloohome’s locks can work hand-in-hand to unlock new levels of efficiency for small businesses:
Minimal to Zero on-site staff required
Operational hours saved weekly
24 / 7 booking & access availability
Simple, WiFi-free setup in remote environments
igloohome and Rentalbuddy are redefining what “hands-free hospitality” looks like in outdoor leisure.