I say children and babies are people too.

Talking with another innkeeper the other day. She asked if we take dogs, I told her two rooms are dog rooms. She said they are less mess than kids. I agree. I had a batch of "cocoa sloshers" in last week, and have progressed to blue drink spillers this week. Poopy diaper on the bathroom tile floor. I am ready to say additional people in the room x amount, and count children at the same rate as adults. GRRR.

Yes, do that. At least you get something for your aggro. Too many adults say, "you charge for kids???" and I reply we charge for the third person.

white pine said:

I am ready to say additional people in the room x amount, and count children at the same rate as adults. GRRR.

Click to expand...

"Ready to"? Of course children count as people, same as adults. Even infants, at my place. Each additional one adds to the dirty laundry, dirty floors, amenities used. I've always charged kids the same as adults.

Kids ride free. Kids stay free. Kids eat free. This is a marketing tool of the big guys. So naturally people are going to ask. I am super crazy about my granddaughter - 11 months old. I'm sure her parents will take advantage of everything they can.
As the years creep up on me I suppose I'll be looking for 'senior discounts'.
But that does not mean that small B&B's have to offer these things. If you are finding that children are adding to your work, your cleanup, your costs, then you do what you have to do. Except for infants, I charged for additional in room. I had the use of three folding beds but I think they climbed into bed with their parents.
I had grandparents stay with me whose little grandson came over to eat breakfast with them ... without permission from me. I think he slept in their room but I'm not sure. They said "you don't mind, he's only little" when I spotted him ... he sampled everything on the buffet table that I had set out that day. (Sometimes it was buffet, unfortunately this was such a day, usually it was plated) And I mean he sampled everything ... messily. He didn't eat much of it but his hands were into everything. They thought he was cute. I thought the mess all over the white tablecloths on the banquet tables did nothing for the charming buffet setup.
Then he ran to an upholstered sofa with sticky fingers and got jelly and whatever else all over that, the remote control, the tv screen ... I went for him with a clean washcloth and you should have heard him yelp as I grasped his sticky self. I called out to the doting grandparents 'Will you clean him up or shall I? ... we can't have jelly all over everything.' smile smile smile (grrr grrr grrr) They cleaned him up not to happily but I saw him eyeing the buffet table. I quickly moved foods up to the higher level so he couldn't reach them as my guests smiled and winked at me. Sure enough, he ran over to see what else was there. But it was now all out of reach of the little guy. Not a bad child, just a child.

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Yes, charge!
You know if you have it as a charge, you can always give them a break if you want. AKA - a rebate for keeping it clean.
I don't but it is a tool, just like any other charge.

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.

Click to expand...

Seriously? Do you want to be the couple that is woken up by the screaming child in the middle of the night? Especially after you've gone to the expense and hassle of having someone else take your children for a romantic couples getaway. Part of our job as innkeepers is to protect our guests. Of course the couple want to be with their child and they can be, just not where other guests will be disturbed. The fact they can't/don't want to pay the price for the appropriate room can't be my problem. No b&b in my area even accepts them.

Breakfast Diva said:

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.

Click to expand...

Seriously? Do you want to be the couple that is woken up by the screaming child in the middle of the night? Especially after you've gone to the expense and hassle of having someone else take your children for a romantic couples getaway. Part of our job as innkeepers is to protect our guests. Of course the couple want to be with their child and they can be, just not where other guests will be disturbed. The fact they can't/don't want to pay the price for the appropriate room can't be my problem. No b&b in my area even accepts them.
.

Click to expand...

That goes to policies. Each place can decide what to accept. My point was that I do not consider it wrong that some like to have their child on a romantic getaway.

One thing people should know... poop and vomit are biological hazards and if they don't clean it themselves, the housekeeper can refuse to clean it. At which point, I have to call in a bio-hazard team and send them the bill. All of a sudden... it's a lot less trouble to clean themselves.

Some couples want to have their babies with them at all times.
Of more concern to me are the other guests, perhaps who have gone to a lot of expense and effort to find a way to leave their little baby(s) at home - whose time at a b&b is spent hearing someone else's baby cry off and on throughout the day and night. This is why many of us who have accomodations for a person or persons with a baby have it in a location away from other guests where the crying if heard is distant. Where the surfaces are more easily cleanable. Where the room is more baby safe as they don't stay babes in arms very long ... when they are crawlers or toddlers, you have a whole host of safety issues to worry about. Some babies hardly cry at all, some cry in a loud, piercing endless cry. I had one room on the ground floor with private bath, even a diaper changing table with diaper trash pail stashed in a walkin closet that could be set up in a corner of the room. That room was far and away best for someone with a baby, could easily accomdate a stroller being rolled in and parked there.
There are lots of places that are family friendly. There are lots of places that really are not. I could not legally refuse a room to someone with a baby, so I did my best. But the old house had stairs all over the place, odd angles, a cupola with access through an attic, windows that went down close to the floor I had to add 'bars' to for safety... lots of things. I had to add extra slats to all the railings on the exterior decks and stairs (three floors of them) so that the spaces were not so wide (think crib slats) The owner got so mad she wanted to install chicken wire!
Comparing that to the man who relishes time away from his wife or s.o. is entirely different.

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.

Click to expand...

Were not talking a hotel room or a cottage/cabin. We are talking about a B&B. They have, as I understand it, always been for couples' getaways. An unspoken rule.
If peeps want to bring their children and are allowed to, they should at the very least make sure the kids don't disturb the house and other guests. Manners should be enforced

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.

Click to expand...

Seriously? Do you want to be the couple that is woken up by the screaming child in the middle of the night? Especially after you've gone to the expense and hassle of having someone else take your children for a romantic couples getaway. Part of our job as innkeepers is to protect our guests. Of course the couple want to be with their child and they can be, just not where other guests will be disturbed. The fact they can't/don't want to pay the price for the appropriate room can't be my problem. No b&b in my area even accepts them.
.

Click to expand...

That goes to policies. Each place can decide what to accept. My point was that I do not consider it wrong that some like to have their child on a romantic getaway.
.

Click to expand...

undersea said:

That goes to policies. Each place can decide what to accept. My point was that I do not consider it wrong that some like to have their child on a romantic getaway.

Click to expand...

At least with junior along the chances of junior having a sibling anytime soon drop off pretty dramatically.

Arks said:

white pine said:

I am ready to say additional people in the room x amount, and count children at the same rate as adults. GRRR.

Click to expand...

"Ready to"? Of course children count as people, same as adults. Even infants, at my place. Each additional one adds to the dirty laundry, dirty floors, amenities used. I've always charged kids the same as adults..

Click to expand...

We have been giving a discount for kids....that ship has sailed. All new reservations they count at the adult rate.
Still cleaning spills out of the carpet.....some blue drink GRRR

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

You are talking two different things. We always took ALL of the 2-legged animals when we went on vacation. That is a family time. However, we also tried to allow ourselves at least a weekend camping trip (all we could afford after paying the minder) for us. That time is needed to reconnect when there are kids, jobs, civic activities crowding in on daily life. A squalling baby is quite grating on the ears as one grows older..... Leave it at home for 2 days, it will not kill them or the parents (it is called grandparents time - if you have them, unfortunately we did not).

gillumhouse said:

undersea said:

Breakfast Diva said:

I just dodged a bullet with an online reservation. 2 nights, smallest room in the main house. Fortunately, they put a comment in the box that said they had a 1 year old and was going to bring a baby crib.
That room has an occupancy of 2 (not 2 adults and a child), then all over our website and policies we state children are only in the cottage. They had clicked and agreed to our policy. I wrote them back immediately that their reservation was cancelled, their deposit was refunded and if they wanted to stay in the Cottage where children were acceptable, then put through a new reservation. I got an e-mail back saying they couldn't afford the cottage, couldn't they stay in the original room with the baby crib?
NOOOOOO. Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Diva said:

Who thinks it's a good idea to come to a romantic couples b&b with a 1 year old? I did help them find a more appropriate place to stay which they appreciated.

Click to expand...

Although we can have policies, I see nothing wrong with people who want their children with them. What is unromantic about your child who is only a year old? My brother always appreciated that on our vacations as kids, our parents wanted us along with them. Many other couples went away and left their kids behind.
It kind of goes to the bond.
I never understood the Honeymooners show where the men were happy to be away from their wives for their bowling or lodge weekends. For me, it is torture every time I am away from her.
.

Click to expand...

You are talking two different things. We always took ALL of the 2-legged animals when we went on vacation. That is a family time. However, we also tried to allow ourselves at least a weekend camping trip (all we could afford after paying the minder) for us. That time is needed to reconnect when there are kids, jobs, civic activities crowding in on daily life. A squalling baby is quite grating on the ears as one grows older..... Leave it at home for 2 days, it will not kill them or the parents (it is called grandparents time - if you have them, unfortunately we did not).
.

Click to expand...

Absolutely. The best thing that parents can do for their children is to make sure that their relationship is strong and loving. Parents need husband & wife time away from kids and others.

Morticia said:

Yes, do that. At least you get something for your aggro. Too many adults say, "you charge for kids???" and I reply we charge for the third person..

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We charge full rate for kids- this usually is enough for them not to book with us.

Our policy is max occupancy 2 for every room and that if it's breathing it counts toward the occupancy. I tell them it's set by fire department and that it matches the number of seats we have for breakfast. End of discussion

As unpopular as it may be, we have a restriction on children as guests: "children 10 and over welcomed with well-behaved parents."
As a restored Queen Anne Victorian, our b and b is not child-proof and we've learned some valuable lessons over the years.
Don't get me wrong - we love children (6 grandkids under 7 years old, plus one due in November). We market our place as a quiet getaway and guests seem to enjoy/respect that.

April said:

Morticia said:

Yes, do that. At least you get something for your aggro. Too many adults say, "you charge for kids???" and I reply we charge for the third person..

Click to expand...

We charge full rate for kids- this usually is enough for them not to book with us.
.

Click to expand...

April said:

We charge full rate for kids- this usually is enough for them not to book with us.

Click to expand...

Same here. Our policy is "children must be old enough to have their own room/bed and the full room rate will be charged".