Strike in France causing me problems

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Posted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:28pm

Country Girl

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This is one of my busiest weeks of the year with students from around the world arriving at our local boarding school. This morning I received a call from a guest who was due to arrive today from Spain that they are stuck in France due to the workers strike going on. They hope to arrive tomorrow. I have another family coming from Spain tomorrow as well and am anticipating they may have the same problem. While I feel for them and their frustration I don't think I should give them a credit, especially because I could've booked all my rooms 100 times over. One family is here for 6 nights, the other for 3. What would you do?

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This comment (84221) was in reply to the Original Topic on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 12:16pm

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Joey Bloggs

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We have many boarding schools in this state. We know families who work two jobs to send these kids to these schools, they make huge sacrifices. It is the same as college, you all know the drill.

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This comment (84217) was in reply to the Original Topic on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 11:41am

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Country Girl

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O.K. here's the lowdown. These are VERY wealthy foreign families who send their children to this boarding school. Many U.S. families get financial aid but the school relies on foreign students because they pay full price. One third of the students at this school are international and they usually come for 1 year.

As for my guest, she did ask for the refund and I did give it to her. They are staying for 6 nights and they are wonderful. Their daughter will be at the school for 1 year only so I will probably not see them again but it felt right to give them the credit. Did it hurt? You bet! But in the big picture (karma) it will come back to me I'm sure.

As a personal note, we sent our children to a different boarding school, as day students. We are certainly not wealthy, but we put all our money into educating our children. It was the best financial decision we ever made. Our children are loving, caring, appreciative, and responsible adults. They all went to great colleges and are almost all on their own now financially (except for our youngest who will graduate from UVA in Dec.). Boarding schools are very misunderstood and vary considerably. Financial aid is need based and most U.S. students receive some form of financial aid for some period of time, many times in the form of loans. There are children of billionaires and children with parents living in shelters sharing the same dorm rooms. Education is a great equalizer.

This comment (84248) was in reply to comment 84217 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 4:49pm

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Samster

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I agree that you'll probably reap some karmic benefit. The bottom line is that you did what felt right for YOU!

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This comment (84201) was in reply to the Original Topic on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 9:24am

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Joey Bloggs

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Okay I am totally offended that am u -zon put this on the side bar for me!! Sheesh just call me a hick whydontchya am u- zon Click here

Although I did clik on the poetry for young peop le by ma ya angel ou. I never click but they both caught my eye!

This comment (84203) was in reply to comment 84201 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 9:34am

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gillumhouse

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Took me a minute to figure out what you were talking about - I have it too. Geesh!!!!

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This comment (84141) was in reply to the Original Topic on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 4:59pm

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Country Girl

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They arrived late last night and are very pleasant. I had already put the charge through before I got the call that they were delayed. I left the receipt on their bureau showing the full amount. If they ask for a refund I will offer them half off but I am not going to bring it up first.

This comment (84055) was in reply to the Original Topic on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 7:33am

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Don Draper

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Ugh, sorry to hear this is happening to you. It's lose/lose. They really can't help it so you will look like the bad guy if you aren't flexible, and then if you are flexible you lose the $$$.

I agree they should have had trip insurance. Whenever we've traveled anywhere out of the country we've purchased it, I haven't found it to be that expensive...it's a small percentage of the overall trip price. Luckily we've never had to use it.

How did you end up handling it?

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This comment (84041) was in reply to the Original Topic on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 5:18am

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camberleyhotelh...

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trouble is in France they do tend to strike on a regular basis and it does cause a nightmare generally therefore the French especially should be more organised as they are used to it.

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This comment (83995) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 2:56pm

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seashanty

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i guess i would decide what i could reasonably offer by way of future stay credit ... and be ready with that answer, in anticipation of international travel, i'd have made my plans and reservations months ago ... years ago we had some sudden us ariline strike, i don't recall the details. had family members all set to take a cruise but they could not get to new york in time to catch their boat. so sad! i don't know if they had trip insurance. but it didn't help the distress and broken plans during that school vacation.

with the trip to coincide with school year starting, no way to know this would happen. the travellers had no choice pt. but i believe the strikers planned the timing of their strike to have a real impact. (i know nothing of the issues about the strike.)

have they asked you for credit and/or refund ?

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This comment (83958) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:53am

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Samster

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I think that I might bend as well. I was in France during a rail strike. It was NOT pretty! I think you might garner some goodwill with these potential repeat guests.

This comment (83962) was in reply to comment 83958 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:59am

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Proud Texan

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Samster wrote:

I think that I might bend as well. I was in France during a rail strike. It was NOT pretty! I think you might garner some goodwill with these potential repeat guests.

Do they not know where they are traveling? Don't they know that there are strikes?

This comment (83967) was in reply to comment 83962 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 11:36am

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egoodell

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Proud Texan wrote:

Samster wrote:

I think that I might bend as well. I was in France during a rail strike. It was NOT pretty! I think you might garner some goodwill with these potential repeat guests.

Do they not know where they are traveling? Don't they know that there are strikes?

I would hazard a guess that when they booked in advance to travel from Spain to the US (I usually book in advance to get a good rate) they would not have been able to predict there would be a rail strike in their future in France.

RIki

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This comment (83964) was in reply to comment 83962 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 11:07am

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Samster

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I certainly didn't know at the time that we might be susceptible to a rail strike. It wasn't on my radar and I hadn't read about strikes anywhere. Travel insurance wasn't in the cards then as it was more than the airfare, as I recall. We aren't made of money.....

I think innkeepers have to decide what works for their business. I didn't have many cancellations here at all but I did tend to be more lenient. It might have had to do with the bulk of our guests who were here either for business or to visit deploying soldiers.

This comment (83952) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:43am

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camberleyhotelh...

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Don't know what it is like in USA but in the UK for $60 you can get a years worth and that covers you whether you travel in the same country you live as well as abroad. For the cost it is a bargain just one hotel cancellation would more than cover it.

This comment (83953) was in reply to comment 83952 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:45am

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egoodell

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camberleyhotelharrogate@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

When I checked to cover our tickets to New Orleans it was far more than that just to insure the one trip.

RIki

This comment (83955) was in reply to comment 83953 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:48am

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Proud Texan

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egoodell wrote:

camberleyhotelharrogate@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

When I checked to cover our tickets to New Orleans it was far more than that just to insure the one trip.

RIki

It's the cost of traveling. If you can't afford it, stay home.

It is not the responsibility of an innkeeper to finance the problems of the world traveler. To travel overseas WITHOUT travel insurance is irresponsible.

This comment (83968) was in reply to comment 83955 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 11:39am

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egoodell

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Proud Texan wrote:

egoodell wrote:

camberleyhotelharrogate@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

When I checked to cover our tickets to New Orleans it was far more than that just to insure the one trip.

RIki

It's the cost of traveling. If you can't afford it, stay home.

It is not the responsibility of an innkeeper to finance the problems of the world traveler. To travel overseas WITHOUT travel insurance is irresponsible.

Umm travel insurance is about the same cost as the ticket. I've lived and traveled overseas for years without it. It is hugely overpriced here in the US. I was only checking into it as we were traveling during hurricane season but the rate was an insult.

Riki

This comment (84010) was in reply to comment 83968 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 7:06pm

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Proud Texan

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egoodell wrote:

Proud Texan wrote:

egoodell wrote:

camberleyhotelharrogate@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

When I checked to cover our tickets to New Orleans it was far more than that just to insure the one trip.

RIki

It's the cost of traveling. If you can't afford it, stay home.

It is not the responsibility of an innkeeper to finance the problems of the world traveler. To travel overseas WITHOUT travel insurance is irresponsible.

Riki

Bottom line. When you travel you need to be flexible and sometimes your arrangements have to be changed. You take a gamble.

When we travel, our first night is usually in a hotel/motel. That way we can cancel if need be at the last minute.

We usually reserve B&Bs for the more predictable leg of the journey.

This comment (83959) was in reply to comment 83955 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:55am

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camberleyhotelh...

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I'm looney about it because my cousin is married to a greek lady and after their son first son was born they took him to greece to see his grandpa however it then turned out he had cystic fibrosis (note they did not have travel insurance) because of the EU we get free health care all over europe but it doesn't always cover things like food etc and doesn't in Greece. He took really sick because of the altitude changes on the plane and they rushed him into hospital where he was diagnosed. HOwever it cost $20,000 to get them home as they had to have a special plane and doctors and nurses and stuff. They never thought about it because of the free healthcare stuff but it doesn't cover you to get home and that is what you truly just want to be home.

This comment (83954) was in reply to comment 83953 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:47am

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camberleyhotelh...

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that is way harsh!

This comment (83948) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 9:52am

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Proud Texan

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If you can afford to be a charity, then bend. If you are trying to run a business, then charge them.

As the previous post indicated, they had the option to purchase travel insurance. And Little Blue, this is not exactly a terrible car accident. They were delayed. Sh*t happens, but so do our bills.

IF they will be coming at a later date, charge them now for the lost booking and offer them a discount for the later visit if it will make you feel better.

This comment (83940) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 7:59am

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wendydk

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Oh, come on. Not bending on this is like having your guests get in a terrible car accident and telling them "Tough noogies".

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This comment (83929) was in reply to the Original Topic on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 3:17am

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camberleyhotelh...

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should be covered in their travel insurance so I wouldn't bend if they have it as they can claim it back. no one loses that way.

This comment (83943) was in reply to comment 83929 on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 9:20am

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egoodell

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I would work with them. They cannot help their situation, and after having priced travel insurance here before planning a trip to New Orleans, I would never buy it. The cost at least here in the US is hugely expensive. Plus, if their children are going to boarding school, you make for good future guests as they will be coming back. And word gets out as parents talk to each other about where to stay

RIki

This comment (84188) was in reply to comment 83943 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 7:51am

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gillumhouse

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Plus, if their children are going to boarding school, you make for good future guests as they will be coming back. And word gets out as parents talk to each other about where to stay

Ahem. Excuse me, but if they can afford to pay to put their kid in boarding school in the US I really do not think the cost of one night at a B & B is going to be enough of a deal breaker to matter. I do get rather tired of innkeepers being expected to be the loser by people who probably have more money than we do. Perhaps that is WHY they have more money than we do - they expect everyone else to take the loss?

I will be interested to hear if they even asked about a refund/discount.etc.

This comment (84210) was in reply to comment 84188 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 10:36am

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Samster

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There are also other reasons that parents send their children to boarding school. It's not always because they have a lot of money and just want to send them away to school.

This comment (84215) was in reply to comment 84210 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 11:02am

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gillumhouse

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There are also other reasons that parents send their children to boarding school. It's not always because they have a lot of money and just want to send them away to school.

I was not implying the reason was to get rid of the kids. Sorry I touched such a nerve with others. I was referring to a generalization that boarding school is anything except inexpensive. I am still quite tired of everyone expecting the innkeeper to take the hit financially - in the name of goodwill for the future? There is no guarantee it will mean squat in the future. There is no guarantee that other than bringing the kid to school, that parent will ever return or to that inn. My bills need paid NOW. If I have given good service I figure they will return - if there is some reason they did not like us, they will go elsewhere no matter what I did regarding a night they no-showed that I had no control over. We do not control the weather either but the general opinion is to charge. Why should our policies differ regarding cancels/no shows on a case by case when hotels do not give a rip but charge. They have even less to lose than we do. We are not hotels so everyone expects to take advantage of us.

This comment (84199) was in reply to comment 84188 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 9:14am

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egoodell

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gillumhouse wrote:

Plus, if their children are going to boarding school, you make for good future guests as they will be coming back. And word gets out as parents talk to each other about where to stay

I will be interested to hear if they even asked about a refund/discount.etc.

Not always. I grew up in Europe because my dad worked at the embassy. The USA does not recognize foreign schools for US citizens. We had to go to boarding school to get the proper credits to go to college. Boarding schools cost as much as out of state university tuition. My grandparents put us through boarding school as my dad made good money but not that good. My parents were very grateful for any assistance the schools gave them in their financially hard situation.

Riki

This comment (84202) was in reply to comment 84199 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 9:29am

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gillumhouse

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There are always exceptions, Riki. We had a minister who went to boarding school in Belgium while his parents were missionaries in Kenya and the Congo. I was speaking in generalities.

This comment (83908) was in reply to the Original Topic on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:43pm

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Joey Bloggs

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Sorry to hear that. I have no idea what I would do, probably bend.

Strike in France causing me problems

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