Madeline, I am not here to discourage you from taking kids since it is the LAW.
Do you have to state on your website that you welcome kids?
Can you put something like "This is an adult oriented b & b"
After I did that the # of kids coming were drastically reduced.
When I started charging an additional $20 - $25 for each person no matter what age, it stopped almost completely. Would that not help?
If I know a baby is going to be coming to stay at our b & b, I worry all week. All babies cry and most guests are here for a romantic getaway and we want it to stay that way.
Last week an older couple arrived and surprised us with their 1 year old granddaughter, drove 3 hrs. to get here so I could not turn them away. There were several dirty diapers in the garbage after they left, which stunk up the entire room. Out came the lysol. They did not even have the decency to tie up the garbage bag..
I do say that kids are welcome. I also charge for them. That cuts down on the number of them that we get. I say on the website that kids are welcome so the OTHER guests are not surprised to see that kids are here.
I'm going to push the babies into one room. I cannot, however, get DH to do the same. He would let families pack 'em in like sardines.
As it stands now, I do not allow more than 2 guests of any age into a room with one bed. I don't care how you all sleep at home, you are not packing 'em in here. You can all pig pile once the door is shut, but I have done my part to provide everyone with a bed.
We have changed the layout on several rooms to get rid of the second bed, THAT has cut down on overall business. Not good for me for the location I'm in to turn away guests but it was necessary given the kids were running overhead and parents were booking online because the room had 2 beds.
Still, this was more about the babies and pushing the parents into taking one certain room.
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