Nothing new under the sun

Bed & Breakfast / Short Term Rental Host Forum

Help Support Bed & Breakfast / Short Term Rental Host Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

JBloggs

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
17,744
Reaction score
9
That is the proverb. But each day here something new happens, and I am always taken aback.
You know my breakfasts by now, they are hearty. Today's guests said they are "used to a big breakfast" (which is, of course the opposite of every guest who has ever commented on them before) and asked if we had any bagels or anything else.
omg_smile.gif

This is a first.
So should I change what I do for this one couple, thinking my breakfasts are not enough? LORD NO! I have never encountered this before...my jaw is on the ground.
Lovely guests. One nighters. My loveliest guests are always one nighters...
heart.gif
 
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast.
 
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast..
Madeleine said:
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast.
I had to chuckle at this, because we don't have toast, but we do have muffins!
 
We get the he-man every once in awhile who tells me 'pile it on' when I mention what we're having. I say I'll bring out a regular serving and it's ok to have more. (Because we're not going to keep other guests waiting for their meal to make extra for one person.)
I've never been asked for more by those guys. I've even gone back and asked if they want another serving.
But, obviously, we've been asked for things we don't have.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*
 
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast..
Madeleine said:
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast.
I had to chuckle at this, because we don't have toast, but we do have muffins!
.
Breakfast Diva said:
Madeleine said:
We've been told our breakfasts are 'too much,' 'skimpy,' and 'just right.'
Sunday we were asked for muffins. We don't have muffins just laying around. If we're serving them, we have them. Otherwise not. So there I am with guests who ONLY want muffins. No eggs. No meat. Just muffins. So they had toast.
I had to chuckle at this, because we don't have toast, but we do have muffins!
Same here.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
Madeleine said:
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him.
I suspect his mommy always caved.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
.
You could do a management response saying thank you for such a wonderful review, then go on to say you wished you had known they love grits so much, you would have been happy to make it for them.
It makes you look very accommodating and puts the blame on the guest in a very professional way.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
.
K9 said:
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
This will sound odd but stick it under you hat and think about it. DH shops everyday. (Not expecting anyone else to do this, it's his way of insuring he gets out of the house for a couple of hours everyday.) He has a pocket calendar and he writes each breakfast on the date he shops for it. That way we can check back to his notes when we have guests who show up again the following week or month.
We have guests arriving this weekend who will be back next weekend. We will try to not serve them the same thing.
I could write this down in our rez book but I don't. Another innkeeper used to write it all down on her wall calendar in the kitchen. She could always look it up quickly.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
.
I think our 'thing' is the blueberry pancakes. People expect it here. It can be tough having to explain that we don't make them everyday. And then hear, 'But your website says I can order what I want.' No, it doesn't. I really have NO idea how some places cook whatever you want. Working with the same number of hands that we have. Maybe it's a bigger, non-open kitchen? If you have a huge freezer you just pop out a premade muffin or quiche or something? I don't know.
BTW, we had an entire dining room of Southern ladies one morning, not traveling together. We made grits just for fun. Every one of them said, 'They're ok, but, my mama...'
We had a good laugh. So, even making them for her might have gotten you a 'but, my mama...' and an 'adequate' review. Some people don't believe in A's. They think you try harder if they slam something. No, it just wears on a body.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
That made me remember what the kindergarten teacher of one of the twins told me. One of the kids in the class was whining about something they had been given and my daughter told the kid, "Take what you get and be glad you got it." She was so amazed that a 5 year old would say such a thing and thought it was wonderful. I told her the kid heard it a lot at home.
 
You can't please everyone. We get alot of happy comments about our huge breakfasts. I just saw a new TA review where the lady said the breakfast was "adequate, but this southern girl would have liked some grits". WHAT?? We serve something different every day. What are the chances that we happen to be serving grits on her particular morning (especially since she only stayed one night). Adequate?? That just gets my goat! We ask people what they like for breakfast and if someone mentions something specific, by golly we make it. Some guy got his biscuits & gravy this weekend & was thrilled. Someone else mentioned french toast and she got it... *sheesh*.
We had one a couple of weeks ago. Whined when I said we weren't having blueberry pancakes. 'Why not?' Yeesh, forced me to explain that the other guests had been here for a week and had already had that.
'Well, I just got here, why do I have to follow what THEY'RE eating?' Explain again that the cook decides what's for breakfast. And it's not blueberry pancakes. The whine continued.
I come out in the morning and the same guy is whining to DH. Did he think he was going to get something different? He was still whining when he left.
Seriously, I think he thought if he kept it up we'd cave and make it special for him. It's not a restaurant people. We don't stock every friggin' thing someone might want.
Same age as my kids. I cannot even fathom my kids going somewhere and whining because they weren't going to get what they wanted for breakfast. People. If you have to have something, put it in writing when you make your rez.
But, that 'adequate' would frost me. Did you respond with the complete menu the day she stayed?
.
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
.
K9 said:
No, I don't remember what we fixed that day, but it wasn't grits...
She arrived with a reservation for an upstairs Queen room (clearly stated on the website - another one of those) and her husband walked in with two canes. That wasn't happening. We moved them to a downstairs King room (it was the only downstairs room avail) and did not charge her for the upgrade. We're nice like that, no big deal. She did mention that in the review and then went on to blast my breakfast. Ruined what could have been a fabulous review.
You just can't win with some! Being from the south I love GOOD grits, but don't find them good most places. ( It ain't mama's though it is MINE, lol - I order my stone ground grits from a place near you K9) I don't usually make grits but because I am in the south I do get a lot of : 'I don't eat grits' from many people. Guess that during their travels down here they have been GRITTED out! lol
 
JB, it is rare but I have had this happen here as well. I can recall a woman ask for a 2nd helping. Most of the time people come back in the evening after a full day site seeing and comment that their breakfast lasted until mid afternoon.
Then of course there was one review long ago that said I only served them a muffin well before they started Mgr responses. I was thankful for all the other good reviews that stated how plentiful our breakfast was. That bad review is now history, as several of our early TA reviews went by the wayside. In this case I could not be happier.
 
Don't change it...chances are they won't remember what they had next time anyway... Honestly, I was just trying to think of what breakfasts I have been served at the B&B's I have stayed at over the years, and I can only think of one and it's because it was awful! Same goes for hotels, I can only remember the bad food or dirty rooms! That's sad! You know what I do remember? The places that were clean and which had the comfiest beds...go figure...I remember one had a bed that seemed like I was sleeping on a cloud. It was wonderful and it should have been, it was my honeymoon. Too bad they closed with a change of ownership!
 
Here's mine, and this is definitely a first...the most expensive closet... a guest checked in several days ago, we carried the bags to the room and have not seen said guest since then. Guest HAS come back to get new clothes and shower but has not slept here nor had breakfast. We have not seen the guest return but the shower has been used when we go to clean the room.
Guest's car has also not left the parking lot until today. It's a big ol' SUV rental so THAT wasn't cheap, either. Hoping guest returns to check out and doesn't put us thru grief trying to get the suitcases removed from the room.
 
Here's mine, and this is definitely a first...the most expensive closet... a guest checked in several days ago, we carried the bags to the room and have not seen said guest since then. Guest HAS come back to get new clothes and shower but has not slept here nor had breakfast. We have not seen the guest return but the shower has been used when we go to clean the room.
Guest's car has also not left the parking lot until today. It's a big ol' SUV rental so THAT wasn't cheap, either. Hoping guest returns to check out and doesn't put us thru grief trying to get the suitcases removed from the room..
had this twice (1) chap had mistress in town and wanted receipts for his company ie couldn't just stay with her (2) chap came to work for local company they booked him a room with us, wife and child decided to come so he booked them a self catering cottage so was either at work or with them
 
I offer Cereal first and then a proper cooked breakfast. Americans seems to ignore the Cereal and just go for the cooked breakfast.
If they look big eaters i load the potatoes and keep the toast going.
 
Back
Top