OK...I'll probably get some flack for this but I think that it's part of my job to greet the late arriving travel weary guest who has dealt with the rudeness of airport security people and possibly airline lost luggage customer service people as well. All of our very late arriving guests have called us and they have even called if they have been delayed even further. I just had this happen with a 4-night stay guest who just checked out today. I actually napped after his last call to let me know that he would probably be here around 1:15 am. He was extremely appreciative to see a friendly face who empathized with his travel ordeals.
My dh on the other hand would feel put out, no matter what. That is why he doesn't greet late arrivals.
I have seriously considered a letter for a late arriving guest if they have asked if we have a late check-in procedure, as that says to me that they are used to it and would be comfortable with it. Do you think that these folks actually read these letters or just grab their key out of the envelope & go to their room?
Now, if you say you're going to be here right at 3pm and I rush around like a maniac to make sure that your room is perfect and all is in order...a few lights on with the TV to the guide channel and your homemade treat is waiting for you in your room...and you then don't show up until the end of our check-in window, I will be a bit peeved.
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Samster said:
OK...I'll probably get some flack for this but I think that it's part of my job to greet the late arriving travel weary guest who has dealt with the rudeness of airport security people and possibly airline lost luggage customer service people as well. All of our very late arriving guests have called us and they have even called if they have been delayed even further. I just had this happen with a 4-night stay guest who just checked out today. I actually napped after his last call to let me know that he would probably be here around 1:15 am. He was extremely appreciative to see a friendly face who empathized with his travel ordeals.
My dh on the other hand would feel put out, no matter what. That is why he doesn't greet late arrivals.
I have seriously considered a letter for a late arriving guest if they have asked if we have a late check-in procedure, as that says to me that they are used to it and would be comfortable with it. Do you think that these folks actually read these letters or just grab their key out of the envelope & go to their room?
Now, if you say you're going to be here right at 3pm and I rush around like a maniac to make sure that your room is perfect and all is in order...a few lights on with the TV to the guide channel and your homemade treat is waiting for you in your room...and you then don't show up until the end of our check-in window, I will be a bit peeved.
What would you do: We have received an invite to a wedding July 18th (not a relative, but a friend locally) and would like to attend. That is a Saturday. The wedding begins at 4pm. What would you do? I have no idea at this point if we will have any new check ins on Saturday (chances are, yes), but we would like to attend. S.O. already suggested we do a self check in and explain to guests the reason. At this point, we need to reply with our rsvp either way. This could be one of those days when they guests show up at 9pm and we could have gone anyway, or it could be no one new checks in and everyone is gone all day and most of the early evening. OR, we could have 6 rooms check in (if that happened we could not go).
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A couple of options on that one...
- One spouse goes to the wedding (like we did this weekend with hubs going to his brother's wedding reception, along with everything else). If it's near enough, the other spouse (you) could arrive for the reception after the check ins)
- Find someone local who will greet guests and show them their rooms and give the intro
- Have a 2-night min with no check-ins on Sat
- Do the self check-in.
Personally, this last would bother me a bit in case I had questions. We had a self check-in 2 weeks ago but it was ok as we knew where we were and were just going to go see family, we weren't strangers to the area.
I guess it really depends on the type of guest you get. Self sufficient or needy.
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Bree said:
A couple of options on that one...
- One spouse goes to the wedding (like we did this weekend with hubs going to his brother's wedding reception, along with everything else). If it's near enough, the other spouse (you) could arrive for the reception after the check ins)
- Find someone local who will greet guests and show them their rooms and give the intro
- Have a 2-night min with no check-ins on Sat
- Do the self check-in.
Personally, this last would bother me a bit in case I had questions. We had a self check-in 2 weeks ago but it was ok as we knew where we were and were just going to go see family, we weren't strangers to the area.
I guess it really depends on the type of guest you get. Self sufficient or needy.
Yes, there is no way of telling before hand as they haven't booked yet, but i know the minute we set what we are going to do something will come up. There is no way S.O. will go to a wedding alone, there is no way I will go to a wedding alone. One thing I have learned in my bout with innkeeping, never plan anything it never goes as planned. If guests say they will be here at 3pm and you figure you can make it, they show at 10pm. I do not trust anyone else to check in guests, I would prefer a self check in to someone standing in. Two night min is a good idea! Still leaves guests here unattended and the wedding is not worth blocking off our paycheck over. We have to put food on the table. Hm, will consider what to do...
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I don't like being that far away when guests are in the house, either. There's no way you'll have no one on a weekend in July. I've mentioned how annoyed I was when innkeepers up and left for 3 days while we were staying there. NO ONE on site after the rooms were done. No way to contact anyone was given to us (no in room book with info, either). No one locking up at night so doors were open and all the lights were on all night. It was awkward at best and I guess I felt insulted.
OK, realizing we all need a life, this is how we look at things...guests are guests in our home. Would a 'civilian' invite guests to come and stay with them and then leave to go on their own vacation? Remember, the person coming to stay is coming partly because of the innkeeper and the personality they got on the phone or the website. They didn't book a self-catering cottage. And the reason given to the arriving guests was, 'Well, you wanted to be here and we wanted a vacation, so it worked out for everyone, RIGHT?' In the case of the innkeeper, they didn't want to forfeit the money, but they wanted to go away. At least we got to meet them. All the guests who checked themselves in after us had no idea what was going on.
However, this is a wedding. You'll be home that night. And you're right, if they say they'll be in at 3, they won't. You'll stew and it won't be good for anyone. So, make a plan and go with it. Whatever it is.
You know we have the free concerts here in the summer. Hubs won't leave the house to go if everyone isn't checked in. The chances everyone will be in when it is still completely bright and daylit outside are slim. So we rarely go to the concerts together. Even tho they start AFTER check in is over. And we're not leaving town.
It's a tough life. If you make it that way. You know almost every place we've ever stayed the owners were not the staff and the owners were not around, they were living their lives. So, think about how you will feel if you miss this wedding. If it means a lot to go, then go.
Sorry for the ramble!
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