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gillumhouse

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Had a call from a hotel about an hour ago asking if I had a room tonight. I do I said nervously. I have not been upstairs since I got back (although I left everything clean and made up) and just last night started sorting Christmas presents and wrapped everything I had this afternoon. However, the table still had a lot of crap on it. Opened the behemoth suitcase that was still by the table and scraped. So I am ready - IF they show up. The guy atthe hotel was going to print directions for them.
The thing that got me was after telling her what I had available, she says, "You are a bed & breakfast and you have rooms?" I told her i had just returned from Europe and have had my online reservations closed. She says they are exhausted and she questions why I have a room available. WHAT???? (WVU has a home game tomorrow and it is homecoming. I imagine all the hotels are booked)
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
Unless they give a CC number, they don't have a reservation. Hate those last minute calls. No... I'm not answering the door without a confirmed reservation. Because you are shopping and wasting my time.
 
I make them book - here is the phone number and you must ring and give the card number to secure - been burnt tooo many times with "ill be there in 10 mins" crap - never again!
 
I make them book - here is the phone number and you must ring and give the card number to secure - been burnt tooo many times with "ill be there in 10 mins" crap - never again!.
Same here, no booking without a card.
Number of times I've phoned round for people who are looking, found them a room with a friend and then they don't turn up or change their minds. Not worth the hassle.
Now when they ask THAT question ("Do you know anyone who does have rooms available?", yeah, do I look like b.c) I just point them in the general direction of someone who I think might.
 
Well, now I am ready for the next call without running around. I should have done it last week when I got home. And I should have known when she said she had to go tell her husband who was waiting in the car..... Problem is, if I HAD blown it off, they would have arrived.
With all that has happened this year, it has been a downer other than my trip which was fabulous. All I can do is hope 2018 is better.
 
I make them book - here is the phone number and you must ring and give the card number to secure - been burnt tooo many times with "ill be there in 10 mins" crap - never again!.
Same here, no booking without a card.
Number of times I've phoned round for people who are looking, found them a room with a friend and then they don't turn up or change their minds. Not worth the hassle.
Now when they ask THAT question ("Do you know anyone who does have rooms available?", yeah, do I look like b.c) I just point them in the general direction of someone who I think might.
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We've seen that a lot. I call, verify there are rooms, show them exactly where to turn and we watch them drive in the opposite direction. I call the other place back and say sorry I wasted your time, they've gone the other way.
 
Well, now I am ready for the next call without running around. I should have done it last week when I got home. And I should have known when she said she had to go tell her husband who was waiting in the car..... Problem is, if I HAD blown it off, they would have arrived.
With all that has happened this year, it has been a downer other than my trip which was fabulous. All I can do is hope 2018 is better..
Yeah, you're allowed to take a break and not be run ragged.
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
.
JimBoone said:
...we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold..."
You are way, way, way too kind. There's not a snowball's chance in hades that I would do this. PPP on a traveler's part is not my emergency. I am not their travel agent and they're not even staying with me. If someone calls during a busy weekend, I'll refer them to the other 2 B&Bs near me. If the caller says they've already tried those B&Bs, I then tell them I can't think of anywhere else. During special events (huge concert, baseball game, conventions, etc.) when I know the entire city is packed, I will say, "I can't even think of a hotel downtown that might have a room. Maybe try out by the airport??" Done. Not my problem.
Also, 9 times out of 10 the caller is looking for something cheaper than the hotels bc they've jacked up their rates to $300 a night.
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
.
JimBoone said:
...we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold..."
You are way, way, way too kind. There's not a snowball's chance in hades that I would do this. PPP on a traveler's part is not my emergency. I am not their travel agent and they're not even staying with me. If someone calls during a busy weekend, I'll refer them to the other 2 B&Bs near me. If the caller says they've already tried those B&Bs, I then tell them I can't think of anywhere else. During special events (huge concert, baseball game, conventions, etc.) when I know the entire city is packed, I will say, "I can't even think of a hotel downtown that might have a room. Maybe try out by the airport??" Done. Not my problem.
Also, 9 times out of 10 the caller is looking for something cheaper than the hotels bc they've jacked up their rates to $300 a night.
.
This is where we differ. I will ask if they are here (or coming) for a specific reason or something special. If not, I will give them phone numbers of B & Bs down the road otherwise I will give the numbers of the other B & Bs in the area who are further off the beaten path than I am. I will try to help as much as I can because I am a relfection of the perception of my State and I want people (even the ungrateful) to know that we DO try to help them (even if they ARE stupid). Remember, those just traveling through may not be aware of the big event that is filling rooms in the area.
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
.
JimBoone said:
...we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold..."
You are way, way, way too kind. There's not a snowball's chance in hades that I would do this. PPP on a traveler's part is not my emergency. I am not their travel agent and they're not even staying with me. If someone calls during a busy weekend, I'll refer them to the other 2 B&Bs near me. If the caller says they've already tried those B&Bs, I then tell them I can't think of anywhere else. During special events (huge concert, baseball game, conventions, etc.) when I know the entire city is packed, I will say, "I can't even think of a hotel downtown that might have a room. Maybe try out by the airport??" Done. Not my problem.
Also, 9 times out of 10 the caller is looking for something cheaper than the hotels bc they've jacked up their rates to $300 a night.
.
I tend to approach it more like Gillum and feel that I represent our entire area, I want them to return to the area and hopefully they will call me in advance on their next visit. Does it work, well sometimes maybe, but at least I tried. Now truthfully, we and our area have changed over the years, fewer mom & pops and more high dollar places, there aren't too many people for me to call and ask at this time.
Now the fun ones are those that ring the door bell at 3AM asking directions, they just knew you would be sitting there in case you got lost, thankfully that has not happened in recent years either.
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
.
JimBoone said:
...we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold..."
You are way, way, way too kind. There's not a snowball's chance in hades that I would do this. PPP on a traveler's part is not my emergency. I am not their travel agent and they're not even staying with me. If someone calls during a busy weekend, I'll refer them to the other 2 B&Bs near me. If the caller says they've already tried those B&Bs, I then tell them I can't think of anywhere else. During special events (huge concert, baseball game, conventions, etc.) when I know the entire city is packed, I will say, "I can't even think of a hotel downtown that might have a room. Maybe try out by the airport??" Done. Not my problem.
Also, 9 times out of 10 the caller is looking for something cheaper than the hotels bc they've jacked up their rates to $300 a night.
.
We refer and sometimes call ahead for them.
Our local innkeepers keep an on line spreadsheet up to date with availability. We will access the spread sheet and refer. We want people to stay in our town, spread the word and come back!
 
Great that the hotel called!.
They never came. So glad they were so exhausted. I sm pissed enough to hope they found the local fleabag. AND the fleas.
.
People are like that, wasted the hotel's time too, can't tell you how many times over the years someone has stopped desperate for a room when we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold, and send them off with a map to the only room left in the area that you could find and at the end of the driveway they turn in the opposite direction.
.
JimBoone said:
...we didn't have anything available on a special weekend, you call all over the area to try and help them, usually while your dinner is getting cold..."
You are way, way, way too kind. There's not a snowball's chance in hades that I would do this. PPP on a traveler's part is not my emergency. I am not their travel agent and they're not even staying with me. If someone calls during a busy weekend, I'll refer them to the other 2 B&Bs near me. If the caller says they've already tried those B&Bs, I then tell them I can't think of anywhere else. During special events (huge concert, baseball game, conventions, etc.) when I know the entire city is packed, I will say, "I can't even think of a hotel downtown that might have a room. Maybe try out by the airport??" Done. Not my problem.
Also, 9 times out of 10 the caller is looking for something cheaper than the hotels bc they've jacked up their rates to $300 a night.
.
This is where we differ. I will ask if they are here (or coming) for a specific reason or something special. If not, I will give them phone numbers of B & Bs down the road otherwise I will give the numbers of the other B & Bs in the area who are further off the beaten path than I am. I will try to help as much as I can because I am a relfection of the perception of my State and I want people (even the ungrateful) to know that we DO try to help them (even if they ARE stupid). Remember, those just traveling through may not be aware of the big event that is filling rooms in the area.
.
gillumhouse said:
those just traveling through may not be aware of the big event that is filling rooms in the area.
Yes. Rural, mostly drive-through area here too. I have sometimes done the last minute by phone reservation with no cc till they get here. Depends on how the conversation goes with my 'spidey sense'.
 
I'm happy to take last minute reservations from folks on the road if I have rooms. I've actually stopped taking credit card info & I tell the guests, "No worries, we'll settle all of that when you arrive. Just please, do me a favor and call if you change your mind. I am planning my day/evening around your arrival. We're a small inn and we do not have a front desk; it's just me." I've had several people express surprise and gratitude that I'm not pressuring them for a credit card. And so far after about a dozen reservations like this, I have not been burned. Perhaps it's because I emphasize that I am waiting for them?
I understand the idea that we are representatives for our state & cities. I do chat a while with folks that call and are very nice. However, if the first words out of their mouths are, "What are your rates?" before they even ask our availability, then they're just shopping around and wasting my time.
 
I'm happy to take last minute reservations from folks on the road if I have rooms. I've actually stopped taking credit card info & I tell the guests, "No worries, we'll settle all of that when you arrive. Just please, do me a favor and call if you change your mind. I am planning my day/evening around your arrival. We're a small inn and we do not have a front desk; it's just me." I've had several people express surprise and gratitude that I'm not pressuring them for a credit card. And so far after about a dozen reservations like this, I have not been burned. Perhaps it's because I emphasize that I am waiting for them?
I understand the idea that we are representatives for our state & cities. I do chat a while with folks that call and are very nice. However, if the first words out of their mouths are, "What are your rates?" before they even ask our availability, then they're just shopping around and wasting my time..
notAgrandma said:
I've actually stopped taking credit card info & I tell the guests, "No worries, we'll settle all of that when you arrive. Just please, do me a favor and call if you change your mind.
I do love our guests, but unless you're pretty sure the room won't rent I would set a time limit to wait or write down a cell number, five minutes after they call someone else will pull up wanting a room and then you are caught in the middle.
 
I arrived at the inn to see a couple getting ready to leave on a motorcycle. I talked to them and they said that they were going south so I told them about your place Gillum. The man said that he had seen your place online and thought he would like to do it some day since it looked so nice. He was glad to hear of the recommendation! He loves your roads down there!
 
I arrived at the inn to see a couple getting ready to leave on a motorcycle. I talked to them and they said that they were going south so I told them about your place Gillum. The man said that he had seen your place online and thought he would like to do it some day since it looked so nice. He was glad to hear of the recommendation! He loves your roads down there!.
Thank you. I had a call this afternoon from my Ssalesman who always calls last minute. Once again, business as usual. It will be the 4th time he is here, and the 4th time I will be elsewhere when he arrives. I did move my car out of the driveway so he can hook up to the charger. (Band rehearsl tonight - nothing gets in the way of band)
 
I arrived at the inn to see a couple getting ready to leave on a motorcycle. I talked to them and they said that they were going south so I told them about your place Gillum. The man said that he had seen your place online and thought he would like to do it some day since it looked so nice. He was glad to hear of the recommendation! He loves your roads down there!.
Thank you. I had a call this afternoon from my Ssalesman who always calls last minute. Once again, business as usual. It will be the 4th time he is here, and the 4th time I will be elsewhere when he arrives. I did move my car out of the driveway so he can hook up to the charger. (Band rehearsl tonight - nothing gets in the way of band)
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Keep clashing those symbols! Isn't that what you play now?
 
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