Anyone can welcome new users to the site, and they can use whatever text they want. It is recommended that new user is welcomed if they:
The following Wiki markup has most of the important starter links in it, however, and makes a good standard welcome message.
:<nowiki>Hello! Welcome to Wikitravel. </nowiki> :<nowiki>To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page. </nowiki> :<nowiki>If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub. -- ~~~~ </nowiki>
You should be able to copy and paste that into someone's '''user talk page'''. Or you can type <nowiki>{{subst:welcome}}</nowiki> to insert the same text from :Template:welcome.
It's nice to personalize the message, though! One easy way to do that is with :Template:welcomeplus. When you type "<nowiki>{{subst:welcomeplus|Personal comment here.}}</nowiki>" it inserts a personal comment immediately after "Welcome to Wikitravel." You can also add comments ''after'' the template, before you sign the message.
:<nowiki>Hello! Welcome to Wikitravel.</nowiki>
:<nowiki>To help get you started contributing, we've created a tips for new contributors page, full of helpful links about policies and guidelines and style, as well as some important information on copyleft and basic stuff like how to edit a page.</nowiki>
:<nowiki> If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, or post a message in the travellers' pub.</nowiki>
:<nowiki>If you are a Wikipedian, or have previously used Wikipedia, then you may notice some differences in the style of our articles. These include:</nowiki>
:<nowiki>* "Village pump" → travellers' pub</nowiki>
:<nowiki>* "be bold" → plunge forward</nowiki>
:<nowiki>* "sandbox" → graffiti wall</nowiki>
:<nowiki>* "stub notes" → Article status notes</nowiki>
:<nowiki>* "External links" → We do not use a separate external links section, but incorporate ''primary links only'' into the text itself.</nowiki>
:<nowiki>Thanks for contributing! -- ~~~~</nowiki>
You should be able to copy and paste that into someone's '''user talk page'''. Or you can type <nowiki>{{subst:wikipedian}}</nowiki> to insert the same text from :Template:wikipedian.
Some guidelines we try to follow here:
Just as an example:
:<nowiki>Howdy. I just wanted to let you know...
By the way, great work on ... destinations-- have you considered creating a user account so you get credit for your contributions and maybe becoming a Wikitravel:Docent?
Also, if you're new to the whole wiki software look at the wiki markup to get an idea of how to use the wiki markup (we dont use html tages for formatting). If you need help, check out Wikitravel:Help, and if you need some info not on there, post a message in the travellers' pub.
I look forward to more contributions! ~~~~ </nowiki>
:<nowiki>Following [URL your recent edits in ArticleName]:</nowiki>
When the user '''removed information about competitor''': :<nowiki>One of the most important rules is "never remove info on competitors". Never, without exception.</nowiki>
When the user contributes '''too flowery description''' of his properties, something this can help: :<nowiki>What's most important when adding your properties to the listings are: be fair and don't tout.</nowiki>
or, if you need a more wordy message: :<nowiki>Welcome to Wikitravel! Thanks for your recent addition of (venue name) to the (article name) article.</nowiki>
:<nowiki>It looks very much like an advertisement. Wikitravel strives to avoid being an "advertising brochure" for any business, city, or service--so {please edit|I have edited} your text to ''describe'' the establishment rather than trying to ''sell'' it to a reader. I would recommend to read Wikitravel:Don't tout article before your future edits--and we would happy to see you back editing here but also respecting our guidelines ;-)</nowiki> :<nowiki>BTW, we would recommend you registering a login name at Wikitravel to:</nowiki> :''(list of benefits of having a login)''
When a '''flowery list of nearby attractions''' is added to accommodation property: :<nowiki>Please avoid lengthy descriptions of nearby sights and attractions in accommodation listings like the one you recently added to the (article name) article. Instead, please give a concrete idea of the location: near the railway station, 5 min on foot to the National Museum, 10 min by car to the Grand Canyon--it will be much more helpful for a traveler choosing a place to stay. </nowiki>
When '''districts are not considered''' and the item is [repeatedly] added to the main article: :<nowiki>As long as ... is a huge city, we always list its places to {eat|sleep} in a specific district article, not in the main city article. I had to revert it in the main article of ..., but please feel free to add individual {Eat|Sleep} listings to [one of] its districts: ...</nowiki>
When '''apartment rental''' is [repeatedly] added, and it doesn't meet our criteria: :<nowiki>I removed your apartment listing as it doesn't meet our criteria for apartment rentals. Please review those criteria before adding back your apartments.</nowiki>