notAgrandma
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Do you ever tell your guests that their unexpected late arrival has completely screwed up your evening?
Last year, guests mistyped their mobile phone number in their reservation. They were checking in on Thanksgiving. My husband was out of town, and I was supposed to join friends who live 40 minutes away for dinner. I stayed home because of the guests. They called at 8pm to tell me they were "running late". They never asked about my Thanksgiving when they arrived, and I didn't bother to mention it because I didn't think they'd care anyway.
A few months ago, I made birthday dinner reservations 2 weeks in advance for a James Beard award-winning restaurant. Our check-in window is 4-6pm unless arranged in advance. My dinner reservation was for 7pm. When I called the guest (who lived locally and said she'd arrive at 5pm) at 6:30, she told me she was just heading out the door and would arrive shortly. My dinner was ruined.
This past Saturday, I was supposed to join friends for a festival that kicked off with a bike ride at 7pm. My guests arrived at 6:45, so those plans went out the window.
Yesterday, my guests said they'd arrive at 4pm. I sat around in our main house waiting for their arrival. I delayed making dinner and even skipped taking a shower because I figured they'd arrive as soon as I started those activities. By 6:30, I called them and asked if they were ok. They told me they were at Costco putting gas in their car and would arrive at 7pm. They got here at 7:30pm. Naturally, I had plans at 8pm. These guests took their sweet time unloading their car, and kept trying to tell me these looooooong stories about their drive. I started grabbing their luggage and hauling it up to their room at lightening speed. I kept looking at my watch and explained that I had plans at 8pm. My friends arrived at 7:45 and I was *still* checking these guests in.
Are innkeepers expected to never have a personal life? Do you refrain from making any plans if you have guests checking in? What's the appropriate amount of time to wait before calling a guest and asking when they're going to show up?
Last year, guests mistyped their mobile phone number in their reservation. They were checking in on Thanksgiving. My husband was out of town, and I was supposed to join friends who live 40 minutes away for dinner. I stayed home because of the guests. They called at 8pm to tell me they were "running late". They never asked about my Thanksgiving when they arrived, and I didn't bother to mention it because I didn't think they'd care anyway.
A few months ago, I made birthday dinner reservations 2 weeks in advance for a James Beard award-winning restaurant. Our check-in window is 4-6pm unless arranged in advance. My dinner reservation was for 7pm. When I called the guest (who lived locally and said she'd arrive at 5pm) at 6:30, she told me she was just heading out the door and would arrive shortly. My dinner was ruined.
This past Saturday, I was supposed to join friends for a festival that kicked off with a bike ride at 7pm. My guests arrived at 6:45, so those plans went out the window.
Yesterday, my guests said they'd arrive at 4pm. I sat around in our main house waiting for their arrival. I delayed making dinner and even skipped taking a shower because I figured they'd arrive as soon as I started those activities. By 6:30, I called them and asked if they were ok. They told me they were at Costco putting gas in their car and would arrive at 7pm. They got here at 7:30pm. Naturally, I had plans at 8pm. These guests took their sweet time unloading their car, and kept trying to tell me these looooooong stories about their drive. I started grabbing their luggage and hauling it up to their room at lightening speed. I kept looking at my watch and explained that I had plans at 8pm. My friends arrived at 7:45 and I was *still* checking these guests in.
Are innkeepers expected to never have a personal life? Do you refrain from making any plans if you have guests checking in? What's the appropriate amount of time to wait before calling a guest and asking when they're going to show up?