Got a call from a fellow innkeeper for a "consult" this morning.....she needed a shoulder to cry on and some suggestions. Seems that a fellow called in Feb to book her entire 5 rooms for 2 nights this weekend. They have been going back and forth for months over who was going in which rooms. Like us, she is has an antique home and does not accept children. No mention of children in the ensuing room discussions. But, (and you already can guess what's next can't you?), the gang shows up with two little ones in tow.
His comment, "Well if we rented the whole place we should be able to bring our kids" She has never had 4 people in one room and is livid!
Grabbers for sure..
The least there should be is an upcharge for the extra people they brought. Same as if they showed up with 2 extra adults.
All of these things are learning experiences for us. NAIL THE GUESTS DOWN on EXACTLY how many people are coming, no more allowed in the door than the original number, and the number of children included in that number.
They did not, as they assume, RENT A HOUSE. They rented x number of rooms at an inn.
Here's my guess...everything will work out fine. And next time someone calls to rent every room she will be ready for them!
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I think you are correct...she just feels like she has been "played" and I can't blame her. Of course the gang stayed and she made do. She will definitely charge for 2 extra heads and, out of concern for her breakables, take a cc imprint as security deposit for any damage. She is not set up for kids....no place to play, little trinkets here and there, a garden full of flowers just waiting to be trampled. Thank goodness they are just staying 2 nights.
Even when we make it perfectly clear that the reservation is for 2 adults only, the grabbers will see an opening and WHAMO....there is a 3rd person in the cottage. It has happened to us. We learned our lesson. No more brides, period.
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If they rented all my rooms, I would not be upset about the additional kids. Take away the breakables, charge them extra for the kids.
Now, if they have rented just 1 room and there's no kids allowed, then like the couple I had a two weeks ago, they called from the car on their way in, I heard kids in the background, I told them their reservation was for 2 adults and they clicked that they read and agreed, so NO they could not stay here and they had to pay for their room for both nights of the reservation. Their online reservation said 2 adults and 0 kids.
Too bad, so sad.....READ THE RULES AND THE RESERVATION FORM!!
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