I have to say as someone who travels a lot, I have been horribly spoiled by hotels. I check in early. I frequently request a late checout. But now that I am in the B&B business, I can see how this all impacts the flow. In a hotel, no one has an issue as they are about 70% full year around so chances are they have something open right now. They put you in early etc. But with our 5 rooms and having booked a specific room, then Aarrggghhh!!!.
and even when you travel half the time your room is not ready at check in? Can you imagine if we pulled that?
No one understands that we do it all here.
When they call during breakfast? US. When they didn't bring the door code and lay on the ringers and someone has to get the door? US. Grocery shopping, banking, returing left behind items overnight? US. Laundry? US. Maintenance? US. Lawns gardens? US. Checkins? US. Check outs? US. Baking checkin treats? US. Cleaning? US. Marketing? US. Business and office mgmt and taxes? US.
and more, of course...
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JB, you need to come and explain to some of the people I know why I couldn't manage all of that on my own with 2 houses and a pretty darn good occupancy rate....on 4 hours of sleep a night! Truly, usually inntelligent folks do NOT get what the on-site innkeeper does every single flipping day! Yes, we innjoy the guests for the most part. Yes, we like what we do. But it is HARD work.
And, I can count on one hand the number of times that a large lodging property had my room ready when I arrived even slightly early. I wouldn't even think to arrive anywhere at noon and check-in.
Go explore the area, people!!
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