The current website is NOT clear about where the bathroom is ~ something I will fix pronto. I don't know what the owner says on the phone if anything. It is the smallest room and lowest rate.
Speaking of private, there is no door into the kitchen. How would you handle that? I was thinking of a pretty folding screen, with the "health dept doesn't want you to eat all my food" sign on it. They would have to actively move the screen to get in..
Get a door, get a door, get a door...and make sure it locks! Morticia can chime in on this one...
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Don Draper said:
Get a door, get a door, get a door...and make sure it locks! Morticia can chime in on this one...
I can definitely shed some light on not having a door to the kitchen. 6 years of no door and going strong.
5 years ago we added baby locks to all the cabinets in the kitchen and a sign on the fridge to keep out. We seriously considered adding a lock to the fridge & freezer.
About 4 years ago we built a peninsula across the opening to the kitchen, a little visual 'no' which many guests realized immediately when they saw it and actually said, 'You put that there as a 'keep out' didn't you?' Love the astute ones!
2 years ago we added a sign that tells guests to 'keep out'.
We still have a small sign on the fridge directing guests to the guest fridge in case they breach the 'keep out' sign.
How many guests have gone into the kitchen, past the sign and into the fridge? While I am standing there? More than I care to number. I have had guests drinking a glass of milk asking why I had the sign on the fridge? Did guests really go in there and take food?
Having a door would be the best way to avoid this, but you'd have to keep it locked. Other innkeeping friends have a lock on their kitchen door because the kitchen leads directly into their private quarters. They can hear the guests rattling the door trying to get in. Not needing the innkeepers, just wanting a midnight snack or to see what's in there. Privacy sign and all.
If a door is not in the offing, make sure everything the guest could need is not in the kitchen only. We added a microwave, ice machine, coffee machine, plates, silverware, glasses & fridge to the 'guest' side of the peninsula. It has slowed the traffic down immensely. Hasn't stopped it as we still get the ones looking for lobster pots to cook up their 'catch'.
The first time you try to make breakfast and there isn't a plate or fork to be had, you will totally understand.
Probably the worst one was the family who demanded we get up and make 2 of them breakfast at 4 AM. And then breakfast again for the other 2 at 10 AM. We explained 4 AM was too early, but please help themselves to the cereal and milk (milk is in the guest fridge, too). They demanded a refund if we wouldn't cook them a hot breakfast. We declined to refund any money as breakfast is 'free' eat it or don't. They trashed the kitchen, used all the milk in the house, helped themselves to juice, toast and had they been able to get the pots & pans cupboards open probably would have cooked themselves all the eggs as well.
We had to clean the whole kitchen before even starting breakfast prep for everyone else and we had to go to the store to get milk. We waited until 9:30 for the 'other 2' and it turns out they all left together at 4 AM. Wonder why? They knew what they did was wrong and didn't want anyone left behind who would have to be responsible.
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