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Just like Morticia, I have guests who suppose that I have nothing better to do with my life than just wait around for them all day and all evening. We ask guests for an approximate time of arrival, an hour or half hour. Today's winner sends me in that he will arrive sometime between 3PM and 6PM. So apparently I have nothing better to do all day but wait for the only arrival today for 3 hours. Sir, you are the reason that innkeepers burn out.
 
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM.
 
i know what John means - its when you just have the 1 arrival so want to try and pin them down a bit so you can have a life!
 
Lots of innkeepers are now texting guests for closer to arrival time. Working well for some.
 
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
 
Jon Sable said:
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
.
Click to expand...
We used to do check-in 2-6 pm…by 6 pm we were tired and hungry and in no shape to try to be hospitable. Now we do 2-5, with the expectation that someone will always zoom in at 4:59 but we'll be DONE by 6 pm. That has helped us a lot.
Some days if there's only one check-in and they haven't given a specific time we leave them a note for self check-in. We get to have a life too, especially on a Sunday afternoon. Gotta pick your battles...
 
We leave notes all the time when we're ready to go out and guests haven't arrived yet. The ones who are going to be really late usually call us to let us know, and we tell them that we'll leave the lights on in their cottage for them, and we'll catch up with them in the morning.
 
Donald Draper said:
Jon Sable said:
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
.
Click to expand...
We used to do check-in 2-6 pm…by 6 pm we were tired and hungry and in no shape to try to be hospitable. Now we do 2-5, with the expectation that someone will always zoom in at 4:59 but we'll be DONE by 6 pm. That has helped us a lot.
Some days if there's only one check-in and they haven't given a specific time we leave them a note for self check-in. We get to have a life too, especially on a Sunday afternoon. Gotta pick your battles...
.
Click to expand...
I'm starting to wonder if maybe we should send everyone the self check-in information ahead of time and say the code works from 3PM. You can ring first, if you want.
Oh and if you want help with parking, restaurants, etc. then please give us an approximate hour of arrival, because otherwise we aren't there and you are on your own.
 
EmptyNest said:
Lots of innkeepers are now texting guests for closer to arrival time. Working well for some..
Click to expand...
Yep, the text thing works well. Great for last minute questions and, especially where we are- for directions. The voice call may not go through, but the text likely will.
 
EmptyNest said:
Lots of innkeepers are now texting guests for closer to arrival time. Working well for some..
Click to expand...
We're starting to do that more. Being in touch with guests before check is something we may make a habit out of. Gives us a chance to get last minute info and helps us know if a check-in might join us that evening for a meal. We do some phone work that way now, but I think text is becoming a prefered method for guests. Might also come in handy in getting a more specific check in time.
 
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk.
 
Jon Sable said:
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk..
Click to expand...
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
 
Jon Sable said:
Donald Draper said:
Jon Sable said:
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
.
Click to expand...
We used to do check-in 2-6 pm…by 6 pm we were tired and hungry and in no shape to try to be hospitable. Now we do 2-5, with the expectation that someone will always zoom in at 4:59 but we'll be DONE by 6 pm. That has helped us a lot.
Some days if there's only one check-in and they haven't given a specific time we leave them a note for self check-in. We get to have a life too, especially on a Sunday afternoon. Gotta pick your battles...
.
Click to expand...
I'm starting to wonder if maybe we should send everyone the self check-in information ahead of time and say the code works from 3PM. You can ring first, if you want.
Oh and if you want help with parking, restaurants, etc. then please give us an approximate hour of arrival, because otherwise we aren't there and you are on your own.
.
Click to expand...
Self check in is my plan if we not available. Plan for the doorbell to be the one that answers to our cellphone.
Doors will have codes, texted to their cell.
 
EmptyNest said:
Lots of innkeepers are now texting guests for closer to arrival time. Working well for some..
Click to expand...
EmptyNest said:
Lots of innkeepers are now texting guests for closer to arrival time. Working well for some.
Click to expand...
I text them when their cottage is ready before the regular check in time. always I get a text back thanking me and their approximate arrival time (without me asking them) No more guessing. I like it, they like it.
 
Jon Sable said:
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
.
Click to expand...
Jon Sable said:
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
Click to expand...
I have the guests choose when to arrive. Mind you, who knows if they stick with that. When I am not here, very rarely, I put a note on the door, my phone number, bla, bla, bla. They are adults, they can deal. Cottage doors are open...
 
Iris said:
Jon Sable said:
Morticia said:
I say, "Check-in is between 3-7 PM, about what time do you think you'll be arriving?"
And I get, "Somewhere in there."
Some days I reply if we're not here we'll leave a note with a phone number you can call when you arrive.
Sort of surprises people that someone might NOT be here. But, we do tend to not make any plans between 3-7 PM..
Click to expand...
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
.
Click to expand...
Jon Sable said:
We say until 5:59PM. Somehow being specific about it makes them realize that at 6PM we are out of here.
Maybe what we need is a form.... Please select you arrival time:
2:59 or earlier - Email us to pay fee
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 or later - Email us for instruction
Please note, we reserve the right to not be here if you are more than an hour late. So better email us for instructions if you aren't sure.
Heck, maybe we should just stop doing arrivals and send everyone the self check in.
Click to expand...
I have the guests choose when to arrive. Mind you, who knows if they stick with that. When I am not here, very rarely, I put a note on the door, my phone number, bla, bla, bla. They are adults, they can deal. Cottage doors are open...
.
Click to expand...
About a two-thirds of my guests are from overseas. They often don't have access to call on their mobiles. Some can't even get texts. That's why we developed a system so we can even post their code on the door, if I have to.
 
Morticia said:
Jon Sable said:
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk..
Click to expand...
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
Click to expand...
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif

 
Copperhead said:
Morticia said:
Jon Sable said:
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk..
Click to expand...
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
Click to expand...
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif

.
Click to expand...
Copperhead said:
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif
Click to expand...
I had and old lady spend 3 weeks at my place once. After she left I found a note saying I should provide a hairdryer. I sent her a photo of the wall mounted hairdryer right by the lavatory she'd been using for 3 weeks.
 
Arks said:
Copperhead said:
Morticia said:
Jon Sable said:
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk..
Click to expand...
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
Click to expand...
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif

.
Click to expand...
Copperhead said:
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif
Click to expand...
I had and old lady spend 3 weeks at my place once. After she left I found a note saying I should provide a hairdryer. I sent her a photo of the wall mounted hairdryer right by the lavatory she'd been using for 3 weeks.
.
Click to expand...
Arks said:
Copperhead said:
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif
Click to expand...
I had and old lady spend 3 weeks at my place once. After she left I found a note saying I should provide a hairdryer. I sent her a photo of the wall mounted hairdryer right by the lavatory she'd been using for 3 weeks.
Click to expand...
And they walk among us - worse they drive!
We were beside one... she may have been your previous guest! Turned left from a non-turning lane, beside us. Then was in an ending lane so she just thought she could come right on over into our lane. I looked, she was on the phone, never looked behind or beside her. SCARY!
 
Copperhead said:
Arks said:
Copperhead said:
Morticia said:
Jon Sable said:
Doesn't help their cause when....
They ring the doorbell TWICE and then start knocking in the space of a minute, not even giving you the chance to answer.
Drive an expensive car and of course didn't heed a single warning about the difficulty of parking. Complain, even though you offer to move your car so that they could have your spot.
Yell down from another floor (in a quiet house) because they can't find the sign for the wireless network in their room, right on the desk..
Click to expand...
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
.
Click to expand...
Morticia said:
Ok. I do hate the yellers. Most people just call me on the phone.
Hi, this is Bob, I just checked in? I can't find...
Better than the people who say at breakfast they wished we had blah blah blah. Something which is in the room and easy to find. Nothing is hard to find in the rooms. Nothing is inside something else.
Click to expand...
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif

.
Click to expand...
Copperhead said:
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif
Click to expand...
I had and old lady spend 3 weeks at my place once. After she left I found a note saying I should provide a hairdryer. I sent her a photo of the wall mounted hairdryer right by the lavatory she'd been using for 3 weeks.
.
Click to expand...
Arks said:
Copperhead said:
Had that with a couple a few weeks ago. Several things mentioned but the 'would be nice if you had coasters' really got me.
Could it be those thingies that the wine glasses you have been using are on?
omg_smile.gif
Click to expand...
I had and old lady spend 3 weeks at my place once. After she left I found a note saying I should provide a hairdryer. I sent her a photo of the wall mounted hairdryer right by the lavatory she'd been using for 3 weeks.
Click to expand...
And they walk among us - worse they drive!
We were beside one... she may have been your previous guest! Turned left from a non-turning lane, beside us. Then was in an ending lane so she just thought she could come right on over into our lane. I looked, she was on the phone, never looked behind or beside her. SCARY!
.
Click to expand...
Copperhead said:
And they walk among us - worse they drive!
Click to expand...
And, as Gillum says, they reproduce.
 

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