Pet Peeve Bed and Breakfast

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Posted on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 9:26pm

YellowSocks

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I was thinking about this anyway and then Country Girl made the comment

Quote:

My biggest pet peeve when traveling is that there are never enough towels! So I put 6 bath towels, two hand towels, and 6 washcloths in each bathroom.

Seems like many mornings I'm serving breakfast, I'm telling people that "I have a pet peeve about going someplace to eat and having to count the sausages, so I always make plenty." I also have a pet peeve about cold eggs, so if I serve them they hit the table HOT. And I like to drink milk, so it's always offered along with the water and OJ.

I was thinking I could rename my B&B "Pet Peeve Bed and Breakfast" since clearly much of my mode of operation is based on my own personal pet peeves! I was wondering if others are this way and Country Girl has confirmed that that is the case.

So, what do YOU do because of YOUR pet peeves? (Or not do....)

=)
Kk.

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This comment (42687) was in reply to the Original Topic on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 9:23am

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Country Girl

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Yikes!!! I've learned a lot today!

I will definitely keep an emergency "spare" basket for guests who forget things. Even though I have them on hand now I will keep them visible.

My golden retriever is never allowed in the dining room (even though guests beg) but she does hang out with me in the kitchen. We have a very large kitchen/dining room/sitting area that is for my family only and she has a bed in one of the corners and just hangs there while I make breakfast. Is this a bad thing? I've never thought that it would bother any of the guests to see her in there. O.K. I admit, if I drop something she's on it in a flash, and if it falls, it's hers anyway.

Also, on our website we offer complimentary tickets to a local botanical garden or local live theatre if guests stay two night's or longer. I don't give them out to guests who stay unless they ask for them specifically. Some guests are just not into gardening or theatre and would not want the free tickets. But should I reword my offer to state that they must ask for the tickets in advance?

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This comment (42699) was in reply to comment 42687 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:00am

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Morticia

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Country Girl wrote:

Yikes!!! I've learned a lot today!

I will definitely keep an emergency "spare" basket for guests who forget things. Even though I have them on hand now I will keep them visible.

Our health dept would shut you down for the dog in the kitchen. Especially if it looked like that was the usual place the dog hung out.

If you're doing the tix I might include that info in the confirmation email. Be aware that some guests who do not want either may want a discount or may want you to include tix for something else instead. I wouldn't want to stay for a couple of days and find out after I paid for the tix myself that they were included but I missed that on the website.

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This comment (42925) was in reply to comment 42699 on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 4:39pm

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sandynn

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I was wondering the same thing. I would not think the health dept would ever allow dogs in the kitchen.

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This comment (42710) was in reply to comment 42699 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:34am

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Tim_Toad_HLB

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"I wouldn't want to stay for a couple of days and find out after I paid for the tix myself that they were included but I missed that on the website."

But you didn't pay for them. The B&B paid for them and is offering them as a complimentary gift.

For all the research travelers can do and the dozens of directory sites most of us are on and those of us who post specials on them and on our own websites, the least we should expect is that guests will do their due diligence and ask for a discount, special or complimentary item we are offering.

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This comment (42713) was in reply to comment 42710 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:45am

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copperhead

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Tim - "For all the research travelers can do and the dozens of directory sites most of us are on and those of us who post specials on them and on our own websites, the least we should expect is that guests will do their due diligence and ask for a discount, special or complimentary item we are offering."

Tim I agree. We are in our sloooow season now and are offering a 10 year anniversary special rate throughout the summer. IF the person ASKS for it specifically. We even state that on our site. If they ask for a discount, but not the special, they only get our basic 10% if they qualify. (for those of you that do not discount - that is fine..we find discounts work here and I have already calcuated it in my rates before discounting.)

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This comment (42786) was in reply to comment 42713 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 3:59pm

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Samster

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You know, we are in quiet season here too and I'm not offering a Summer discount this year, just my regular discounts (online, military, local university, and biz). People just aren't here in our area. I'll see what happens but I really don't think it got anyone here, I just was getting paid less to run the A/C more!

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This comment (42721) was in reply to comment 42713 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:47am

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Morticia

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Copperhead wrote:

Tim - "For all the research travelers can do and the dozens of directory sites most of us are on and those of us who post specials on them and on our own websites, the least we should expect is that guests will do their due diligence and ask for a discount, special or complimentary item we are offering."

Here's where I have trouble...we've done this, too where we had a special on the website that you had to ask for. I got tons of people booking for that time frame and none mentioned the special. Hmmm. Wonder why not? So, I just went and checked my stats. Here's what I got...in the last month 2100+ landings on the home page of which 44% went immediately to the rooms page. Only 6% went to the page with the specials. So, in just that small cohort, unless they did a lot of bouncing around, only 6% would have seen the special. If more people had seen it, maybe more would have booked. So, I need to go back to putting the special on the home page and on the rooms page and not just on the specials page.

If you are offering a discount make sure it is on a page guests would generally see. Which makes me think I should put my add-ons on my rooms page!

This comment (42928) was in reply to comment 42721 on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 5:15pm

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Tim_Toad_HLB

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We have a separate "specials" page on our website, its no less visible than any other and can be navigated back to from any page. That seems like plenty to me and if folks want to save money they have to do a little work to do so. Thats the tradeoff.

Even our second party specials via B&B.com or wherever are only redeemable by booking directly through us.

But the idea for us isn't to encourage everybody to take advantage of a special, just the fence sitters, folks on a budget who would otherwise not consider a B&B bcause of the perception that they are too expensive or not a good value, and to pry away some of the folks in our area that think the ONLY satisfactory visit to our area is to stay a block from the Plaza.

It kind of negates all the years of research into just how much to charge to be both competitive and hopefully profitable if we all just turn around and knock 20-30% for nearly every guest. Unless you have a really big place that can absorb the lower revenue by higher volume, its would seem to be a recipe for eventual failure.

All guests as they are checking out are told that if they book directly with us next time and forever after that, get a 10% repeat guest discount.

As I might have explained on other threads, most of our second party specials we offer are for the sole purpose to expand name recgonition and if we get a few, great.

For example, if our name resonates with even a handful of the 1,500 or so B&B.com receivers of "HotDeals" emails for our area every week, the NEXT time or time after they come to our area, we've done our job and it doesn't cost anything until somebody actually takes advantage of the special.

This comment (42715) was in reply to comment 42713 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:03am

#9 TOP

Tim_Toad_HLB

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We do lots of discounting for a variety of reasons, the main one being is that it has always been our belief that upfront advertising costs and the resultant or corresponding added revenue is hard to quantify unless you interrogate all of your callers about "how did you find us?"

For us discounts both reward longer stays, returning guests loyalty and don't cost anything out of pocket until they are taken advantage of.

We also offer rooms on several second party reservation systems and pay a commission to do so, so if we're willing to do that, then why not consider discounts or specials we generate oursleves?

We're not set in stone on being a little flexible on an after the fact discount or special if the guest really connect with us. Recent case in point. Got a multi-night reservation from someone from our hometown who didn't mention the "drive green" special we offer until after they got the confirmation.

She was a delight to speak with on the phone and emails and she expressed such excitement about staying here that we knew they were gonna be great. So, when she popped the follow up email with the news about renting a Prius, it made sense to retroactively offer the special and they indeed turned out ot be just as great as we expected.

These are folks that come to our area regularly, so we know that flexibility will pay off in the long run.

We don't offer any specials or discounts, we're not comfortable with and don't keep the fact that this guest is paying less color our service or approach to them in the slightest.

This comment (42693) was in reply to comment 42687 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 9:37am

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copperhead

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CG - do not get me wrong I LOVE animals but I for one would not like seeing a dog, cat or any animal (fish ok) in the room where my breakfast is being made, much less in the dining room.

When we were in Barcelona this past November, we ate at a little cafe near our hotel. After we ordered and just as we received our food, a large bullmastiff came walking up to our table, sniffed a little then went to lay in his bed under the baby grand next to our table. Now that was intimidating.

This comment (42637) was in reply to the Original Topic on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 10:06pm

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Joey Bloggs

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YES! We all operate on our pet peeves, I agree YS. Is this question just for breakfast and towels or everything? My list may be lengthy.

Don't serve me cold eggs, cold coffee either unless it is an iced coffee from starbucks. Don't make me come in there! to get the coffee, have it available before breakfast. DO NOT, I REPEAT! DO NOT SERVE POWDERED CREAMER or ONLY flavored creamers. Do not take my plate while I am still chewing. Do not come into the dining room and talk about the BnB the whole time I am eating with or without dining companions. Don't make a racket in the kitchen while I am dining.

Extra towels? How about towels of a decent size to begin with?

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This comment (42671) was in reply to comment 42637 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 8:37am

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gillumhouse

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Extra towels? How about towels of a decent size to begin with?

One of the things I did to add "luxury" when we were 3 with shared was to provide bath sheets. If it did not wrap around this fat body, I did not buy it. The new bathroom does have regular size towels again. Will have to go back to the bath sheets in there too. Thanks. The original bathroom does still have the bath sheets.

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This comment (42680) was in reply to comment 42671 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 8:54am

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Proud Texan

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gillumhouse wrote:

Extra towels? How about towels of a decent size to begin with?

Having been penny pinchers most of our lives, and though we use thick fluffy towels we've never owned bath sheets. Do they really make that big of a difference in the luxury level? Anything that will up our game is worth considering. We could certainly phase these in.

This comment (42708) was in reply to comment 42680 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:29am

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Tim_Toad_HLB

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"Do they really make that big of a difference in the luxury level?"

We decided that by offering bath robes and separate towels for when using the hot tub, standard size bath towels worked best for us.

When towels get old or even the slightest bit stained from makeup, Pro-Active Solution, whatever, they turn into hot tub towels or for our use.

We keep joking about treating ourselves at Xmas to a fancy set of sheets and towels, but with a lifetime supply from the B&B for us already, its only a passing joke at best.

This comment (42711) was in reply to comment 42708 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:35am

#15 TOP

gillumhouse

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We have always also had robes for guests. One way I had to turn a call into a rez was to point out "we know it is a disappointment to many but no streakers are allowed so there are robes in the closets for guests to use..... And every room comes with emergency facilities - there is a chamber pot under every bed!" It worked more often than not..

This comment (42686) was in reply to comment 42680 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 9:17am

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gillumhouse

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I have always operated on the theory of if I would like it guests probably will. I like to wrap a towel around me when I get out of the shower or tub. Because the bath sheets cost more - and most people do know that - I think it does add to luxury. I bought good ones when they were on sale and am still using some of them. I think the secret to it is to buy enough of them that they are not getting "beaten into the ground". If you have enough to rotate them out they last a lot longer.

I actially got on to the bath sheet size when we lived in Illinois. There was a towel factory near us and thy had wharehouse sales in the outlet store - mostly overruns or oops of towel orders for corporations etc that were basically beach towels. The kids loved the size and so did I. That is about all we used for towels for years. I use a much better quality in the B & B but look for the biggest size I can get. Over-sized towels do not cut it. They are just a couple inches bigger.

PT, penny pinching does not describe me - I am CHEAP but not on things that count. Watch for sales. And a minimum size would be 34 x 68 (I like 70 better), do not be fooled that 66 is enough - that 2 inches is a big difference. You should be able to get them for about $20 per.

This comment (42698) was in reply to comment 42686 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 9:53am

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Morticia

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We just upsized our towels, but not to the bath sheet size. No can do when I'm buying 4 doz of everything at once. (Plus, hubs is the bathroom guy and if I doubled his laundry duty he'd kill me.) But I know what you mean...I was given a 'hand towel' at a retreat. The woman sharing the room with me wrapped it around herself and tucked in the sides. Egads! But seriously, it was not a big towel. I want the towel to go all the way around me and I will wrap them around me in the store before I buy them. If they go all the way around with all the clothes on...sold!

This comment (42785) was in reply to comment 42698 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 3:56pm

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Samster

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I was just looking at towels and the "bath" size towels are very large! These were of the upscale variety. I guess my towels are all pretty large and fluffy.

Sam's Club here doesn't carry the variety that I bought. What they have now is a much poorer quality. I bought some ribbed "spa" towels at TJ Maxx to try awhile back (it was a set with 2 bath, 2 hand, 2 wash) and they are thick but don't try worth anything. There is something about the texture. So, I won't be getting more of those.

Give me plenty of towels, puh-leeze! Another pet peeve of mine - skimpy, scratchy and not enough towels.

This comment (42702) was in reply to comment 42698 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:07am

#19 TOP

gillumhouse

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Exactly! Wht the towel industry calls a bath towel is a HAIR towel. I do understand the feelings of Hubs being a factor. They do not take that much extra time to dry, but folding and be interesting since I do a tri-fold lengthwise (ready for towel bar) and then do the half and half again. The extras for the shared bath get rolled - once I get them upstairs so I can hang them ofver the railing as I roll them for the basket.

This comment (42703) was in reply to comment 42702 on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:12am

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Morticia

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gillumhouse wrote:

It's not just the drying...fewer of the bath sheets would go in one washer load. If I had all 19 sets in the wash and he had to do 2-3 extra loads my name would be mud. As it is, these new towels are longer and thicker than the ones we're getting rid of so I may be mud anyway.

This comment (42435) was in reply to the Original Topic on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 7:54am

#21 TOP

Mary at Bridgew...

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Pet peeve.......guest who open my gates, walk through ,then leave it open

for my standard poodle to escape. Thats about it. Rest of the things they do, I just go with the flow...... Mary

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This comment (42420) was in reply to the Original Topic on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:56pm

#22 TOP

YellowSocks

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OK, because of this thread I have added two extra towels in one of my guest rooms... it already had a basket which was too big for the spare roll of TP it held... now it holds two extra towels and the TP.

THANKS!

=)
Kk.

This comment (42429) was in reply to comment 42420 on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 6:07am

#23 TOP

sandynn

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Me too!

This comment (42283) was in reply to the Original Topic on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:08am

#24 TOP

sandynn

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This is a great question. It is very important for us to think like guests sometimes.

I have three as a guest.

#1 Dogs in the kitchen. I won't go back. I have seen this several times. One innkeeper was clearing the table with her little dog under her arm. We were standing in the dining room talking with another couple. When we checked in I could see the dog in the kitchen with a gate to keep her there. This is so bad.

# 2 Prices not with the rooms on the web site. I don't want to see the pictures of rooms and have to go back to another page or two to find the prices.

# 3 To lay down on a bed and see a dirty fan. It only take 5 mintues to clean a fan once a month.

This comment (42309) was in reply to comment 42283 on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 1:06pm

#25 TOP

Morticia

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Or the dogs or other pets are allowed in the dining room while meals are being eaten. And if they are pets like cats or birds, allowed to walk on the tables or fly around at ANY time.

This comment (42155) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 1:25pm

#26 TOP

NW BB

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My pet peeve is having to ask for things as a guest...more towels, hair dryer, ice, etc. iron. If I have to ask for it, I probably won't... but then I'm not as happy.

This comment (42120) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 11:54am

#27 TOP

MooseTrax

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A shaving mirror shows we menfolk are taken into consideration in the decorating plans. I like a coffee mug with a big enough handle on it so I'm not worried I will drop it.

This comment (42149) was in reply to comment 42120 on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 12:35pm

#28 TOP

gillumhouse

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I like a coffee mug with a big enough handle on it so I'm not worried I will drop it.

One reason I think my coffee mugs sold out so quickly (over and above the fact they were made by an in-State potter). I ordered them to be made with a handle a man could wrap his hand around without getting burned on the hot cup.

This comment (42083) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:36am

#29 TOP

Samster

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My biggest pet peeve is notes everywhere telling you what NOT to do.

This comment (42077) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:30am

#30 TOP

The Farmers Daughter

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My pet peeve as an Innkeeper with Jacuzzis is the spray on tan.

Recipe for Disaster:

2 - Guests with spray on tans

1 - 80 Gallon Jacuzzi

simmer for 1 hour

Yield - 1 big mess

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This comment (42042) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 8:36am

#31 TOP

Morticia

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Always tell the guests what's for breakfast the next day as I hate being surprised at what breakfast is when I travel.

We do keep a half gallon of milk in the guest fridge for those who like cookies and milk or do not want half and half or, like you, like milk with their brekkie. That's not a peeve of mine, but it was a guest request years ago (and we kept it up even tho they no longer come here).

Cleanliness. It has to be clean and in good repair. I hate being able to see dust lines in the carpet where the vacuum hasn't touched in a looooooong time!

This comment (42029) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 12:59am

#32 TOP

seashanty

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a 'necessaries' basket on each floor (or in each room)

~~ i stayed someplace ~~ very sweet ~~ but at 'bed time' i discovered i'd forgotten my toothbrush. went wandering around, finally found the innkeeper and asked if she had a a spare one. she looked at me as if i was totally nuts and said 'i can't afford to supply things like that. are you kidding?' i said i would happily pay for it and she just laughed and said no. i was embarrassed and still had no toothbrush. had no idea where the nearest store was (turns out it was 7 miles down a country road and not open at that hour)

so ... i had a necessaries basket with a few of all kinds of things for guests

it's fine with me if a b&b wants to be reimbursed for these items. i liked having them for guests just in case. and, except for the woman who raided the tp cupboard, guests didn't load up on these items and take advantage.

biggest pet peeve ~~ when a b&b says they offer something ~~ promote it big on their site, etc. and it's not available when you get there.

i chose a place in new hampshire because they had working fireplaces in the guest rooms and in the guest living room. it was february (*snow season*) and i was really looking forward to the 'cheery welcoming fires' ... well, no fires. anywhere. no wood for fire. i had made the reservation a few weeks ahead and was told, 'oh yes, we have lovely fires all the time' .... no explanation til i asked. 'we need to get the chimney cleaned, haven't had a fire for a few months' was the curt reply. who did i TALK to???

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Pet Peeve Bed and Breakfast

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