Which room do you recommend?

...or, "Which one is your favorite?" I always wonder what is the purpose of these questions. Does the caller expect me to say one room is lousy? Or should I rave about our most expensive room when it feels like they just want a bargain? There are numerous pictures of each of our rooms online (each room even has its own webpage!) and all of the room's amenities and rates are listed next to their photos. I always turn the question back on the caller and ask what they're looking for in a room. Do you want a 2-person jetted tub? No? Then are you looking for our least expensive room with the smallest bathroom? Why are you asking me to read your mind as to what you want in a room?
I just had a caller book our 3rd floor room for their 35th anniversary. "Is that a nice room?" Nope, it's infested with rats and the roof leaks. In all seriousness, I emphasized several times that we have high ceilings so there are *lots* of stairs to get to the THIRD floor room. Caller told me he did 8000 steps on the stairmaster at the gym so stairs are fine. Ok, great!

I've had the "Is that a nice room?" question a few times, what do they expect me to say?
And "Which is the best room?" well that depends on what you want, a lake view, a super king bed, the largest room, a bed with no footer, twin beds, a big TV, I don't know.
And "Can you give me your best price?"..... No. There is one price, you either pay it or go somewhere else. In fact my best price is in January, come and stay then instead of August when everyone else wants a room. They want to book 1 room for 1 night in August and expect a discount, what's in it for me?
Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

I must be lucky and get the nice folks or maybe our physical arrangement helps, rooms are somewhat uniform other than size and color, but I still have my favorites if asked or a guest happens to be scheduled for a room that I like. I expect at times they are just looking for an inside opinion or just making conversation.
Pricing, yes I have gotten that discount comment, the funny ones are those that say "you have the best price in town" and then ask about discounts. Nope, don't usually play discounts, just try to be fair with everyone.

Highlands John said:

I've had the "Is that a nice room?" question a few times, what do they expect me to say?
And "Which is the best room?" well that depends on what you want, a lake view, a super king bed, the largest room, a bed with no footer, twin beds, a big TV, I don't know.
And "Can you give me your best price?"..... No. There is one price, you either pay it or go somewhere else. In fact my best price is in January, come and stay then instead of August when everyone else wants a room. They want to book 1 room for 1 night in August and expect a discount, what's in it for me?
Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

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Take a deeeep breath - we're feeling the long stretch exhaustion too!!!

Highlands John said:

I've had the "Is that a nice room?" question a few times, what do they expect me to say?
And "Which is the best room?" well that depends on what you want, a lake view, a super king bed, the largest room, a bed with no footer, twin beds, a big TV, I don't know.
And "Can you give me your best price?"..... No. There is one price, you either pay it or go somewhere else. In fact my best price is in January, come and stay then instead of August when everyone else wants a room. They want to book 1 room for 1 night in August and expect a discount, what's in it for me?
Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

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I just tell them that the accommodations are priced based on their amenities, amount of space and privacy. Our most expensive "room" is a free standing ocean-view luxury cottage with it's own kitchen, outdoor patio and 800 sq. ft. of private space. Basically I let them know that if they are looking at the least expensive suite they will not be getting those amenities but will be comfortable and have a private bath.

I might start asking about pet peeves - anything really bother you about a room that I should know about before I make a suggestion?
One guest got in my face at breakfast saying I should have told him how small the shower is.
Before I had time to put the brakes on, I said, 'You should have told me how large you are.'
That must have happened in August. ;-)
Of course, what you can't say is, 'my favorite room? That one is taken.' So, already you're behind the 8 ball. I don't love all our rooms. I've tried to make all of them lovable, but I haven't succeeded.

Highlands John said:

I've had the "Is that a nice room?" question a few times, what do they expect me to say?
And "Which is the best room?" well that depends on what you want, a lake view, a super king bed, the largest room, a bed with no footer, twin beds, a big TV, I don't know.
And "Can you give me your best price?"..... No. There is one price, you either pay it or go somewhere else. In fact my best price is in January, come and stay then instead of August when everyone else wants a room. They want to book 1 room for 1 night in August and expect a discount, what's in it for me?
Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

.

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Highlands John said:

Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

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I don't know about you, but it is so beastly hot and humid here I can't think straight.
We got a day off because no one booked it. Weird. Happens one day every summer.
Grandkids are coming over. Hope it's not this hot.

Morticia said:

Highlands John said:

I've had the "Is that a nice room?" question a few times, what do they expect me to say?
And "Which is the best room?" well that depends on what you want, a lake view, a super king bed, the largest room, a bed with no footer, twin beds, a big TV, I don't know.
And "Can you give me your best price?"..... No. There is one price, you either pay it or go somewhere else. In fact my best price is in January, come and stay then instead of August when everyone else wants a room. They want to book 1 room for 1 night in August and expect a discount, what's in it for me?
Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

.

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

Am I really ranty on here lately? Haven't had a day off since 26th June and next day off is 30th Aug. Terrible planning. Sorry!

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I don't know about you, but it is so beastly hot and humid here I can't think straight.
We got a day off because no one booked it. Weird. Happens one day every summer.
Grandkids are coming over. Hope it's not this hot.
.

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Yea, really hot here too....91 degrees...not a whisper of a sea breeze. Thank goodness we have blocked out the house and had a cottage cancellation for the hottest 4 days in row I can remember. Returning guest arriving for cottage on Friday for 10 nights. She's from Kentucky. I guess she already knows what HOT is!

Room # 3 at the one place and room # 7 at the other place. Those are my favorites! But to clean them my favorites are 2 and 5 because they are the smallest and easiest.

Lee2014 said:

Room # 3 at the one place and room # 7 at the other place. Those are my favorites! But to clean them my favorites are 2 and 5 because they are the smallest and easiest..

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I like our # 3 as well as it is the room that is a bit different, quiet and seem larger, yet guests either love it or hate it mostly due to placement of the TV

JimBoone said:

Lee2014 said:

Room # 3 at the one place and room # 7 at the other place. Those are my favorites! But to clean them my favorites are 2 and 5 because they are the smallest and easiest..

Click to expand...

I like our # 3 as well as it is the room that is a bit different, quiet and seem larger, yet guests either love it or hate it mostly due to placement of the TV
.

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Change the location of the TV. I like the colors and the "feel" of the rooms.

Lee2014 said:

JimBoone said:

Lee2014 said:

Room # 3 at the one place and room # 7 at the other place. Those are my favorites! But to clean them my favorites are 2 and 5 because they are the smallest and easiest..

Click to expand...

I like our # 3 as well as it is the room that is a bit different, quiet and seem larger, yet guests either love it or hate it mostly due to placement of the TV
.

Click to expand...

Change the location of the TV. I like the colors and the "feel" of the rooms.
.

Click to expand...

Lee2014 said:

Change the location of the TV. I like the colors and the "feel" of the rooms.

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It wouldn't be impossible to move the TV, however that would then place the TV on the same wall/area with the comfortable chairs, easier to watch from bed, but more difficult or impossible for anyone who wanted to watch from a chair as size, shape and door placement of this room places the chairs on the wall opposite of the beds, this room feels larger because of the arrangement, but may actually be a bit smaller.

JimBoone said:

Lee2014 said:

JimBoone said:

Lee2014 said:

Room # 3 at the one place and room # 7 at the other place. Those are my favorites! But to clean them my favorites are 2 and 5 because they are the smallest and easiest..

Click to expand...

I like our # 3 as well as it is the room that is a bit different, quiet and seem larger, yet guests either love it or hate it mostly due to placement of the TV
.

Click to expand...

Change the location of the TV. I like the colors and the "feel" of the rooms.
.

Click to expand...

Lee2014 said:

Change the location of the TV. I like the colors and the "feel" of the rooms.

Click to expand...

It wouldn't be impossible to move the TV, however that would then place the TV on the same wall/area with the comfortable chairs, easier to watch from bed, but more difficult or impossible for anyone who wanted to watch from a chair as size, shape and door placement of this room places the chairs on the wall opposite of the beds, this room feels larger because of the arrangement, but may actually be a bit smaller.
.

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My largest room has a separate sitting area with a loveseat, coffee table, and chair. I used to have my TV in this sitting area, but guests *constantly* complained that they couldn't watch TV in bed so I hooked up an extension to the cable line & moved it.
(of course, the first guests that stayed in the room after the switch pulled up chairs to watch TV by the bed.)

We always have a selling point for each room, to help guests think they've selected the perfect room.
Like sleeping late? Choose our Green Room on the north end of the house so no early sunlight blares in.
Like waking to the sound of a babbling brook? Select one of our Trout River suites.
Need a King bed? Honeymoon suite for you.
Want a couples shower? Ditto.
Taking an extra few minutes to reaffirm the guests' confidence in their decision means they arrive already expecting to love their room. You've already won the battle for a good review even before they arrive!

Number #6 from our 11 "Frequently Asked Questions" page on our website
-- Q: What's your best or most comfortable room?
-- A: Who's the greatest guitarist of all time? MaryAnn or Ginger? What's the best cookie?