Time for breakfast

We have breakfast from 8 to 9:30. We can stretch to 7:30 but no earlier.
This week we had guests in the dining room at 6:45, 6:30, 7:00. I'm not even out of bed that early!
Today we got a family in from Europe. We had another one last week. Very pleased to see guests from across the pond! But, it seems they want to eat on their own schedule. One family wanted a reduced rate if we couldn't feed them on European time. Yes, they wanted to eat around 5 AM!
I say it's best to adapt to the new time zone as soon as possible.
Another guest, when told what time we serve said she's an early riser. Since every conversation we've had thus far has involved her passively aggressively wanting us to do something for her (pick her up at the airport, drive her to the store, drive her to the nearest big town, upgrade her room for free) I took that to mean she wants me to get up at the same time she does. No thanks!
It's been a strange week here at the ranch!

One nice thing about no longer doing overnight stabling is no more 4 AM breakfasts. 6 AM is the earliest I will do and thankfully, they are rare.

Geese I hate those passive aggressive types...really high maintenance and always a relief when they leave. When we get early risers we are happy to get coffee out to them by 7 or sometimes 6:30, but that is early as we will move. Breakfast? If they want to eat that early I would make them up a to go bag and let them forgo the hot breakfast....but they can't have both.

Morticia said:

Today we got a family in from Europe. We had another one last week...it seems they want to eat on their own schedule.

Click to expand...

I've eaten all over Europe and never saw a place that lets the guests set the breakfast time. The inn sets the time, and that's that. I remember a place in Italy that locked the dining room outside of breakfast hours. The door always was unlocked at EXACTLY 8:00. Never a second earlier or later.
Europeans are used to following the rules. Don't let them take advantage.

About a third of my guests are European, many straight from the airport. None have asked me for breakfast as 5AM. We set a pot of coffee to automatically brew at 7AM, if needed. We serve at 7:30, 8, or 9. That's it. That's all. Breakfast is complimentary, so you are welcome to enjoy it or skip it, but we can't discount something that is free. (Conversely, you could say something like, shall we start charging for parking, electricity, TV, etc. But I would stick with it's all inclusive, not à la carte... otherwise, you would need to install quarter slots for the electricity, the TV, the water, the showers, the towels, etc.
As for passive agressive, I would put the onus on them and suggest solutions.

Shall we show you how to download Uber to your phone? We can call a taxi for you. Our insurance company has specified no guests in our car, do you want their number to discuss it with them? (ie passive agressive meets passive agressive)

We can leave an apple and a muffin out for you OR you can come at 8AM for a full breakfast. (Now it's their choice, harder to grouse when you have a choice and YOU have to make it.)

Arks said:

Morticia said:

Today we got a family in from Europe. We had another one last week...it seems they want to eat on their own schedule.

Click to expand...

I've eaten all over Europe and never saw a place that lets the guests set the breakfast time. The inn sets the time, and that's that. I remember a place in Italy that locked the dining room outside of breakfast hours. The door always was unlocked at EXACTLY 8:00. Never a second earlier or later.
Europeans are used to following the rules. Don't let them take advantage..

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

Today we got a family in from Europe. We had another one last week...it seems they want to eat on their own schedule.

Click to expand...

I've eaten all over Europe and never saw a place that lets the guests set the breakfast time. The inn sets the time, and that's that. I remember a place in Italy that locked the dining room outside of breakfast hours. The door always was unlocked at EXACTLY 8:00. Never a second earlier or later.
Europeans are used to following the rules. Don't let them take advantage.

Click to expand...

We agreed on 7:30. They showed up at 7:30. Everyone else? They were in the dining room when Gomez showed up at 6!
Everyone was fed and on their way by 8.

PA guest apologized. That's a first. We'll see how it goes tomorrow when I don't show up until almost 8.

We serve from 7:30-9 during ski season, and 8:30-9:30 the rest of the year.
Want breakfast earlier?
Sure, let us know. We'll put a bag breakfast out with your name on it. Otherwise, breakfast is when breakfast is.

PhineasSwann said:

We serve from 7:30-9 during ski season, and 8:30-9:30 the rest of the year.
Want breakfast earlier?
Sure, let us know. We'll put a bag breakfast out with your name on it. Otherwise, breakfast is when breakfast is..

Click to expand...

I mentioned breakfast times and she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier. They ate everything and then some.

Morticia said:

PhineasSwann said:

We serve from 7:30-9 during ski season, and 8:30-9:30 the rest of the year.
Want breakfast earlier?
Sure, let us know. We'll put a bag breakfast out with your name on it. Otherwise, breakfast is when breakfast is..

Click to expand...

I mentioned breakfast times and she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier. They ate everything and then some.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

...she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier...

Click to expand...

And you said?

Arks said:

Morticia said:

PhineasSwann said:

We serve from 7:30-9 during ski season, and 8:30-9:30 the rest of the year.
Want breakfast earlier?
Sure, let us know. We'll put a bag breakfast out with your name on it. Otherwise, breakfast is when breakfast is..

Click to expand...

I mentioned breakfast times and she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier. They ate everything and then some.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

...she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier...

Click to expand...

And you said?
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

...she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier...

Click to expand...

And you said?

Click to expand...

No.

"No is always an acceptable response."
- Me

"No is always an acceptable response."
- Me

Same as you, well stretch to 7.30 before that we'll leave stuff out the night before for them to help themselves.
The only exception to that rule is marathon weekend when everyone wants porridge at 6am, I will do that.
Lots of Europeans here, never heard of them wanting 5am breakfast, rarely get asked for early breakfast at all.
It says in the room information if you want an early breakfast just ask. Of course they don't ask, they just write on the guest feedback form when they leave that breakfast is too late. Bit late for me to do anything about it then, isn't it?

Morticia said:

Arks said:

Morticia said:

PhineasSwann said:

We serve from 7:30-9 during ski season, and 8:30-9:30 the rest of the year.
Want breakfast earlier?
Sure, let us know. We'll put a bag breakfast out with your name on it. Otherwise, breakfast is when breakfast is..

Click to expand...

I mentioned breakfast times and she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier. They ate everything and then some.
.

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

...she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier...

Click to expand...

And you said?
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Morticia said:

...she wanted a discount if we wouldn't start earlier...

Click to expand...

And you said?

Click to expand...

No.
.

Click to expand...

That is the perfect answer....... as soon as you start to justify "No" they'll argue with you.

We have 8am as the earliest in the three places I worked. (Except for the bus loads, sailing teams, etc. Note they were all together so served early and we were done early.) We have a K cup machine in the foyer at the one place and many times I opened the dining room door to see complete strangers gathered around with their coffee cups talking which continued to the dining room!

And, the PA is back today. We will serve earlier if you ask, but if you're a pill from the get go, I'm not exactly excited to get up early.
We started today a little before 8. Guest left dining room around 8:15. Came back from room around 8:25 complaining they were going to be late for their meeting.
This is not my problem. Stop with the PA comments!
Guest is in dining room every morning at 6am. No we're not starting breakfast then. Drink all the coffee you want. I'm not even out of bed until after 7.

Lee2014 said:

We have 8am as the earliest in the three places I worked. (Except for the bus loads, sailing teams, etc. Note they were all together so served early and we were done early.) We have a K cup machine in the foyer at the one place and many times I opened the dining room door to see complete strangers gathered around with their coffee cups talking which continued to the dining room!.

Click to expand...

Lee2014 said:

...in the foyer...

Click to expand...

I love when people pronounce that word with a fake French accent, like it's a French word. In French, that's the word for fireplace.... was that where you wanted to walk into?

Generic said:

Lee2014 said:

We have 8am as the earliest in the three places I worked. (Except for the bus loads, sailing teams, etc. Note they were all together so served early and we were done early.) We have a K cup machine in the foyer at the one place and many times I opened the dining room door to see complete strangers gathered around with their coffee cups talking which continued to the dining room!.

Click to expand...

Lee2014 said:

...in the foyer...

Click to expand...

I love when people pronounce that word with a fake French accent, like it's a French word. In French, that's the word for fireplace.... was that where you wanted to walk into?
.

Click to expand...

I'm torn on that one. Foy-er vs foy-eh. It was 'posh' to say foy-eh when I was a kid. Now everything is an entryway.
We had one in our apt. Everyone else had a straight hallway from the door to the living room, with the kitchen debouching off along the passage.

Generic said:

Lee2014 said:

We have 8am as the earliest in the three places I worked. (Except for the bus loads, sailing teams, etc. Note they were all together so served early and we were done early.) We have a K cup machine in the foyer at the one place and many times I opened the dining room door to see complete strangers gathered around with their coffee cups talking which continued to the dining room!.

Click to expand...

Lee2014 said:

...in the foyer...

Click to expand...

I love when people pronounce that word with a fake French accent, like it's a French word. In French, that's the word for fireplace.... was that where you wanted to walk into?
.

Click to expand...

Then again, we also say Callas instead of Cal-eh. And Montpeelyer instead of Monpelyay. I'm always explaining those two to guests who think they're correct in pronouncing them the French way.
I then trot out Charlotte for their edification and amusement. Shar-LOT vs Sharlit.