Sausage/toast/fruit---WTH

[JBloggs]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I agree completely. Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?'

Ditto on that! It's so much easier to deal with what they will eat than with what they won't. Especially for the laundry lists. I'd much rather make a single bowl of good oatmeal for someone than try to create an entree for 12 that is gluten-free, sugar-free and fat-free.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.

I agree and I disagree I.G.
I dont want to ask guests anything like that at check in as our guests are robotic-drained from travel. I feel they would find it snobbish to ask that, most tell me later on or in the am when they are relaxed. So at check in I ask only what I need to ask, and tell only what I need to tell. The more I say the less they hear. Truly. Bad enough as it is!
So at check in - I show them the coffee area, the refreshment area, I show them the dining room where there is a little sign that says BREAKFAST AT 9am, I mean they can what is here and there. I have "Private" signs on our doors, and lock them when need be. Once in the room there is a PLETHORA of information, starting with check in and basics...wifi, tv listings, check out times, quiet times, emergency contacts etc etc, it is on every bed, smack dab in their face.
So...just let them go with the flow. Treat them with kindness, if they goof up, no big deal, these are people we are dealing with. We can't treat our guests like childnre, we can't have little notes by the dozens everywhere, if it is that needful - take the blasted item away. If guests cannot manage to work a coffee maker, make the coffee for them!
So I.G. if you arrive at a B&B and have no clue as to where breakfast is served and when, then the innkeeper needs a slap upside the head! It is certainly not the guests job to know that, they are supposed to be given the info.
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A B&B BEFORE?"
How about this one, innmates "Have you ever been to MY B&B before?" That is the real question, as they are all completely different. So it really is not a standard drill question. So treat all as welcomed guests, just guess they do not know where anything is, because they don't, and deal with situations as they come up. Some people are airheads, some of the smartest people I have ever met wandered aimlessly emptyheaded, so don't assume anything about any guest.

 

[Alibi Ike]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I agree completely. Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?'

Ditto on that! It's so much easier to deal with what they will eat than with what they won't. Especially for the laundry lists. I'd much rather make a single bowl of good oatmeal for someone than try to create an entree for 12 that is gluten-free, sugar-free and fat-free.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.

I agree and I disagree I.G.
I dont want to ask guests anything like that at check in as our guests are robotic-drained from travel. I feel they would find it snobbish to ask that, most tell me later on or in the am when they are relaxed. So at check in I ask only what I need to ask, and tell only what I need to tell. The more I say the less they hear. Truly. Bad enough as it is!
So at check in - I show them the coffee area, the refreshment area, I show them the dining room where there is a little sign that says BREAKFAST AT 9am, I mean they can what is here and there. I have "Private" signs on our doors, and lock them when need be. Once in the room there is a PLETHORA of information, starting with check in and basics...wifi, tv listings, check out times, quiet times, emergency contacts etc etc, it is on every bed, smack dab in their face.
So...just let them go with the flow. Treat them with kindness, if they goof up, no big deal, these are people we are dealing with. We can't treat our guests like childnre, we can't have little notes by the dozens everywhere, if it is that needful - take the blasted item away. If guests cannot manage to work a coffee maker, make the coffee for them!
So I.G. if you arrive at a B&B and have no clue as to where breakfast is served and when, then the innkeeper needs a slap upside the head! It is certainly not the guests job to know that, they are supposed to be given the info.
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A B&B BEFORE?"
How about this one, innmates "Have you ever been to MY B&B before?" That is the real question, as they are all completely different. So it really is not a standard drill question. So treat all as welcomed guests, just guess they do not know where anything is, because they don't, and deal with situations as they come up. Some people are airheads, some of the smartest people I have ever met wandered aimlessly emptyheaded, so don't assume anything about any guest.
.

I think it allays concerns if guests know the routine. If they've never been to a B&B before they may think they can't ask or they're too embarrassed because they think they'll look stupid.
I think it's that my check-in procedure is different. I have time to chat them up while I'm running the card and handing out maps and finding out about dinner reservations.

 

[muirford]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I agree completely. Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?'

Ditto on that! It's so much easier to deal with what they will eat than with what they won't. Especially for the laundry lists. I'd much rather make a single bowl of good oatmeal for someone than try to create an entree for 12 that is gluten-free, sugar-free and fat-free.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.
.

Lots of times, you get exactly what you expect. People who are new to a B&B experience are almost always more timid and unsure, which sometimes leads to requests that we might think are unreasonable but are really just because they don't know what to ask for.

One of the best experiences we ever had, including the innkeeper flat-out asking at check-in, "Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast before?" Based on the answer, he could correct our expectations as necessary. It opened the dialog about what spaces were off limits, when and where breakfast was served, etc.
I wish we had had that at our first B&B. That experience was so off-putting we avoided B&B's for years.

I agree and I disagree I.G.
I dont want to ask guests anything like that at check in as our guests are robotic-drained from travel. I feel they would find it snobbish to ask that, most tell me later on or in the am when they are relaxed. So at check in I ask only what I need to ask, and tell only what I need to tell. The more I say the less they hear. Truly. Bad enough as it is!
So at check in - I show them the coffee area, the refreshment area, I show them the dining room where there is a little sign that says BREAKFAST AT 9am, I mean they can what is here and there. I have "Private" signs on our doors, and lock them when need be. Once in the room there is a PLETHORA of information, starting with check in and basics...wifi, tv listings, check out times, quiet times, emergency contacts etc etc, it is on every bed, smack dab in their face.
So...just let them go with the flow. Treat them with kindness, if they goof up, no big deal, these are people we are dealing with. We can't treat our guests like childnre, we can't have little notes by the dozens everywhere, if it is that needful - take the blasted item away. If guests cannot manage to work a coffee maker, make the coffee for them!
So I.G. if you arrive at a B&B and have no clue as to where breakfast is served and when, then the innkeeper needs a slap upside the head! It is certainly not the guests job to know that, they are supposed to be given the info.
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A B&B BEFORE?"
How about this one, innmates "Have you ever been to MY B&B before?" That is the real question, as they are all completely different. So it really is not a standard drill question. So treat all as welcomed guests, just guess they do not know where anything is, because they don't, and deal with situations as they come up. Some people are airheads, some of the smartest people I have ever met wandered aimlessly emptyheaded, so don't assume anything about any guest.
.

How about this one, innmates "Have you ever been to MY B&B before?" That is the real question, as they are all completely different.

That is probably the best solution, and asking it when they make the reservation rather than when they walk through the door is better, although even at the door is better than not at all.
I don't remember everybody who's stayed here - sorry, I just can't. It's been almost 9 years and thousands of guests, so I just am not embarrassed any more to ask if they've been here before, and if it's been since we bought the inn.

 

[Joey Camb]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I wish that we innkeepers didn't take things so personally when guests act/react out of the norm. I do it to myself all the time. This past holiday weekend I was just fit to be tied. Why oh why did I tell a guest it was alright to have a very small, intimate wedding ceremony??? When she originally called, I told her we didn't do weddings and was told it would be just the couple, officiant, and photographer. Well, now it turned into "where can we park the 5 cars?" UHHHH??? I was a wreck all day and was totally annoyed with them coming and going when it should have been a relaxing day with no check-outs or check-ins.
From the get go, I had gotten a weird feeling from them...the groom stayed in the car when the bride checked in. When we did see him, it was only from the back, several times and he always had on a sweatshirt with the hoodie cover as much of him as possible. Weird. Then we worried about the grounds...it's been raining and we haven't been able to mow and trim.
All weekend I worried about them. The coming and goings. I couldn't wait for them to leave (3 nights). I thought the worse. Well, on check-out it turns out they had a wonderful time, gave me big hugs (I finally saw his face!), said it was beyond their expectations. You could have knocked me over with a feather!
I did it all to myself. They were happy, and after it was all over I realized how I had overreacted during their stay. Most of the time when guests react differently than what we expect we get that knee-jerk negative reaction, but really, most of the time it's not about us at all.
.

Right, we do it to ourselves, which is why I am done with the mind reading.
We had an older couple here this weekend who have never been to a B&B. And she acted like it. Arguing with me from the get-go like I was trying to pull something over on her. I saw her and her husband practically limping up the stairs. Seriously, it took them 2 minutes to come a flight of 12 steps. When they came in and I found out who they were (2 rooms- one upstairs, one downstairs) I asked which room did they want.
Immediate grief. 'We want the room we booked!' (They actually hadn't made the rez, their son did.) 'We could only find this one room on your website and this is the one we want!' (All of the rooms, obviously, are on the website!)
So, I took them UPSTAIRS to the room they 'wanted'. And, on the way, I showed them the room they couldn't find online. Two minutes after I left them they were ringing the bell telling me I gave them the wrong keys...they wanted the 'other' room, but couldn't say that, it was still 'my' fault.
And, yet, got a lovely email from their son saying they (his parents) had a wonderful time and were already talking about coming here on their own later this year.
Learning experience? I will now ask if the guests have ever been to a B&B before, along with asking have they ever been to my town before.
We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
.

We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
SO TRUE!!!!
A large percentage of our new guests have never been to a b&b but are willing to try us because of breakfast delivery. The two questions I always ask on check-in is "have you ever been to a b&b before?" and "Have you ever been to this section of the coast before?" The answer to those two questions can really make or break their experience with us.
.

what drives me spare! is when I say on check in "would you like any help making dinner reservations?" nope they say and potter off (I presume they have done some rescearch and sometimes they have) and then I ask did they have a nice dinner where did they do etc? nope we had a crap time went to Blah Blah resteraunt well if you had asked I would have told you not to go there so its your own stupid fault! Feel like screaming WE LIVE HERE!!!! WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN HERE! Take advantage of our local knowledge!!! its one of the free services we provide take advantage!

 

[Generic]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I wish that we innkeepers didn't take things so personally when guests act/react out of the norm. I do it to myself all the time. This past holiday weekend I was just fit to be tied. Why oh why did I tell a guest it was alright to have a very small, intimate wedding ceremony??? When she originally called, I told her we didn't do weddings and was told it would be just the couple, officiant, and photographer. Well, now it turned into "where can we park the 5 cars?" UHHHH??? I was a wreck all day and was totally annoyed with them coming and going when it should have been a relaxing day with no check-outs or check-ins.
From the get go, I had gotten a weird feeling from them...the groom stayed in the car when the bride checked in. When we did see him, it was only from the back, several times and he always had on a sweatshirt with the hoodie cover as much of him as possible. Weird. Then we worried about the grounds...it's been raining and we haven't been able to mow and trim.
All weekend I worried about them. The coming and goings. I couldn't wait for them to leave (3 nights). I thought the worse. Well, on check-out it turns out they had a wonderful time, gave me big hugs (I finally saw his face!), said it was beyond their expectations. You could have knocked me over with a feather!
I did it all to myself. They were happy, and after it was all over I realized how I had overreacted during their stay. Most of the time when guests react differently than what we expect we get that knee-jerk negative reaction, but really, most of the time it's not about us at all.
.

Right, we do it to ourselves, which is why I am done with the mind reading.
We had an older couple here this weekend who have never been to a B&B. And she acted like it. Arguing with me from the get-go like I was trying to pull something over on her. I saw her and her husband practically limping up the stairs. Seriously, it took them 2 minutes to come a flight of 12 steps. When they came in and I found out who they were (2 rooms- one upstairs, one downstairs) I asked which room did they want.
Immediate grief. 'We want the room we booked!' (They actually hadn't made the rez, their son did.) 'We could only find this one room on your website and this is the one we want!' (All of the rooms, obviously, are on the website!)
So, I took them UPSTAIRS to the room they 'wanted'. And, on the way, I showed them the room they couldn't find online. Two minutes after I left them they were ringing the bell telling me I gave them the wrong keys...they wanted the 'other' room, but couldn't say that, it was still 'my' fault.
And, yet, got a lovely email from their son saying they (his parents) had a wonderful time and were already talking about coming here on their own later this year.
Learning experience? I will now ask if the guests have ever been to a B&B before, along with asking have they ever been to my town before.
We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
.

We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
SO TRUE!!!!
A large percentage of our new guests have never been to a b&b but are willing to try us because of breakfast delivery. The two questions I always ask on check-in is "have you ever been to a b&b before?" and "Have you ever been to this section of the coast before?" The answer to those two questions can really make or break their experience with us.
.

what drives me spare! is when I say on check in "would you like any help making dinner reservations?" nope they say and potter off (I presume they have done some rescearch and sometimes they have) and then I ask did they have a nice dinner where did they do etc? nope we had a crap time went to Blah Blah resteraunt well if you had asked I would have told you not to go there so its your own stupid fault! Feel like screaming WE LIVE HERE!!!! WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN HERE! Take advantage of our local knowledge!!! its one of the free services we provide take advantage!
.

The Canadian word for spare in this usage is batty... and what drives me batty is walking down the pedestrian street just up the street from us and seeing my poor guests in the Italian or Indian place. The Indian place has been in the naughty list twice (once is my limit, usually you learn and you are NEVER there again) and the Italian is so bad that we are surprised it hasn't had a fire for the insurance money, yet. Or maybe it's just for washing out currency? The food is so bad. You would think the owner would figure it out and get someone who can cook in there.
I have a nice hole-in-the-wall Indian place to send people to. As for Italian... what can I say, they all serve spaghetti as a main dish!

 

[Alibi Ike]

They came and got their bag and literaly ran out. They said thank you and all but gone they are. Is wrong to say its a RELIEF to see them go?
Now I can go on with the rest of the week..

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.
One I am taking from my guests this week is to stop mind reading. I'm no good at it. Guests walked in the door with a list of what they couldn't eat. Instead of trying to get all creative and smarty-farty we just asked, 'What would you like to eat?' And we ended up with the easiest list of foods and we've been able to relax, give them exactly what they want and enjoy their company.
No brain-wracking every morning over what to make.
.

Anytime I feel relief to see a guest leave I wonder what I can learn from the experience? What was I missing? What cues and clues could I have tried to find? How could I have interacted better to avoid the 'glad to see them go' feeling? Sometimes, we are just better off seeing someone out the door, other times there's a lesson.

I wish that we innkeepers didn't take things so personally when guests act/react out of the norm. I do it to myself all the time. This past holiday weekend I was just fit to be tied. Why oh why did I tell a guest it was alright to have a very small, intimate wedding ceremony??? When she originally called, I told her we didn't do weddings and was told it would be just the couple, officiant, and photographer. Well, now it turned into "where can we park the 5 cars?" UHHHH??? I was a wreck all day and was totally annoyed with them coming and going when it should have been a relaxing day with no check-outs or check-ins.
From the get go, I had gotten a weird feeling from them...the groom stayed in the car when the bride checked in. When we did see him, it was only from the back, several times and he always had on a sweatshirt with the hoodie cover as much of him as possible. Weird. Then we worried about the grounds...it's been raining and we haven't been able to mow and trim.
All weekend I worried about them. The coming and goings. I couldn't wait for them to leave (3 nights). I thought the worse. Well, on check-out it turns out they had a wonderful time, gave me big hugs (I finally saw his face!), said it was beyond their expectations. You could have knocked me over with a feather!
I did it all to myself. They were happy, and after it was all over I realized how I had overreacted during their stay. Most of the time when guests react differently than what we expect we get that knee-jerk negative reaction, but really, most of the time it's not about us at all.
.

Right, we do it to ourselves, which is why I am done with the mind reading.
We had an older couple here this weekend who have never been to a B&B. And she acted like it. Arguing with me from the get-go like I was trying to pull something over on her. I saw her and her husband practically limping up the stairs. Seriously, it took them 2 minutes to come a flight of 12 steps. When they came in and I found out who they were (2 rooms- one upstairs, one downstairs) I asked which room did they want.
Immediate grief. 'We want the room we booked!' (They actually hadn't made the rez, their son did.) 'We could only find this one room on your website and this is the one we want!' (All of the rooms, obviously, are on the website!)
So, I took them UPSTAIRS to the room they 'wanted'. And, on the way, I showed them the room they couldn't find online. Two minutes after I left them they were ringing the bell telling me I gave them the wrong keys...they wanted the 'other' room, but couldn't say that, it was still 'my' fault.
And, yet, got a lovely email from their son saying they (his parents) had a wonderful time and were already talking about coming here on their own later this year.
Learning experience? I will now ask if the guests have ever been to a B&B before, along with asking have they ever been to my town before.
We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
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We try to cover as much as we can but if guests don't let on what it is we're not telling them that they need to know, we'll never know and their experience will be diminished. Thru their own fault but we'll be blamed. We do it too. You have a so so experience someplace and then go somewhere remarkably similar and have a great experience because you got what you needed at place B but not at place A.
SO TRUE!!!!
A large percentage of our new guests have never been to a b&b but are willing to try us because of breakfast delivery. The two questions I always ask on check-in is "have you ever been to a b&b before?" and "Have you ever been to this section of the coast before?" The answer to those two questions can really make or break their experience with us.
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what drives me spare! is when I say on check in "would you like any help making dinner reservations?" nope they say and potter off (I presume they have done some rescearch and sometimes they have) and then I ask did they have a nice dinner where did they do etc? nope we had a crap time went to Blah Blah resteraunt well if you had asked I would have told you not to go there so its your own stupid fault! Feel like screaming WE LIVE HERE!!!! WE ARE THE EXPERTS IN HERE! Take advantage of our local knowledge!!! its one of the free services we provide take advantage!
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The Canadian word for spare in this usage is batty... and what drives me batty is walking down the pedestrian street just up the street from us and seeing my poor guests in the Italian or Indian place. The Indian place has been in the naughty list twice (once is my limit, usually you learn and you are NEVER there again) and the Italian is so bad that we are surprised it hasn't had a fire for the insurance money, yet. Or maybe it's just for washing out currency? The food is so bad. You would think the owner would figure it out and get someone who can cook in there.
I have a nice hole-in-the-wall Indian place to send people to. As for Italian... what can I say, they all serve spaghetti as a main dish!
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We're lucky in that I can pretty much say that if a guest can walk to it, they can get a good meal. If they want to drive I'll tell them where to go. If they mention they saw this or that and it's not good I can say, 'What was it that attracted you? Oh, this place has won awards for that dish,' and send them somewhere else.
But, yeah, they have to ask or mention it.
But, really, there are so few places here for a bad meal that I don't worry too much. And we have the menus so guests can look them over before they go out. I don't put out the menus for the places I wouldn't go. But, if I offer suggestions and the guests wave me away, they're on their own.