Post by High Priestess on Feb 16, 2016 4:27:10 GMT
Zacharias shared Feb 14 2016 on Anecdotes forum
24 hour check in
So ive always offered a 24 hour check in, but last night a guest who booked a one night stay was being wishy washy and i need the room again for the next day for a new guest. He wasnt going to originally show until 12 midnight and then at 10 pm he said he may not make it at all and goes on to say if he does make it it will be early in the morning. The key is always available but at a certain point the guest needs to ultimately make a decision about their arrival plans. Its inconsiderate to keep a host up all night with texts about their arrival. Lastly, i think i may cap the check in time to avoid all of this nonsense. If you cant arrive by 1am then forget it. Thoughts?
14 comments•1 like
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Sara
anne
annea day ago
Of course you must set time limits on arrival and departure!
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Raymond & Elaine
Raymond & Elaine3 hours ago
But in this case you wouldn't check off "24 hour check-in"
Leigh Ann
Leigh Anna day ago
I have set check in and check out times. Most guests respect time and show up when they say. But not always. Like yesterday they arrived an hour and a half later and didn't text that they'd be late until the time we were supposed to be meeting?! Bizarre. If I can't meet guests, I leave a key and they can let themselves in.
Reply Like 1 like
C C
C Ca day ago
I let mine come at any time, but if they started bombarding me with updates, I just tell them to come whenever, that the updates are not necessary. I am not disturbed no matter what time they arrive, because if I'm not available, I walk them through letting themselves in. Most of my peeps let themselves in, BUT I do not tell them they'll have to until they get here, or they might freak out unnecessarily and then they would be sure to bombard me!! One time this did backfire, though. I checked this couple in at 4:30 in the morning & gave them their key, which was unbeknownst to me, linked with my own--and my last--house key. They were only there to sleep for a few hours on their way through town. Well, when I was ready to exit at 10am, they were still asleep. When I noticed my green key missing, I assumed they had taken it in order to have 2 keys--without asking. I couldn't get out of the house or let my cat in--and I pretty much lost it. At least three mistakes of my own here--not having enough keys, giving the guests linked keys as I had stumbled to the door, mostly asleep myself at 4:30am--and having a fit on my poor guests!
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like
helga
helga9 hours ago
Did they review you CC? Like "we spent a very short night at CC's place?"
C C
C C9 hours ago
Lord, honey, yes!
Ines
Ines a day ago
I have a set time for check in between 2PM and 9 PM and I request guests to provide me with an hour window for arrival. 85% of the guests comply. To try and minimize the check in issues I do remind them in all of our communications the check in/out time and the need to get an approx time of arrival. I suppose it is all in the type of lodging we offer. I live in my house, I am very involved with other activities and I want to make sure my guests are welcome and instructed appropriately when they arrive. But I do beleive that not setting rules and limits for the guests is just inviting trouble and sending a message that they can do as they please.
Reply Like 1 like
C C
C Ca day ago
Hosts who have restricted check in times & are very anal about it--make my business boom.
Reply Like
Sathish
Sathisha day ago
Set a time limit and make sure your guest understands. I had a recent horrible experience where the guest extended our complimentary late check out time of 6pm to 10pm!!! And wrote a totally untrue and malicious review about how her experience was ruined after we contacted her that she has to leave at 6pm.
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trisha
trishaa day ago
I installed a front door handle with a keypad and I give guests a code to get in and change it after checkout.
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Taylor
Taylor16 hours ago
If they're paying the money for a rook I don't think it's unreasonable to expect 24 hour check in to be 24 hour check in. If I booked somewhere with 24 hour check in I wouldn't even call ahead. I would expect availability. If the key is not available 24 hours then write it in your listing. Check out should be on time of course but if they've paid for a day then they should be able to enter the home anytime that they've paid for unless it's stated otherwise before they booked.
Reply Like 2 replies
C C
C C13 hours ago
Taylor, the time period they're paying for to begin with is not a 24-hour period in and of itself. I technically do have 24-hour check in, but since I think that's such a terrible and confusing name for it, I don't list it in my description. Check in time at my place is 2:00pm. Not a minute before. They have until 10:59 the next day to check in--but at 11am--they either leave or get tossed!
helga
helga9 hours ago
Taylor, 24 h check-in does not mean that the guest is dispensed of basic rules of politeness. And announcing an arrival time is a very basic rule.
Ines
Ines 15 hours ago
I smiled when I saw your comment CC! I am a mighty negotiator. If a guest needs a later check in or a later check out I will do whatever it takes to accommodate them while at the same time I am learning more and more about my guests and viceversa. Different styles I suppose
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C C
C C13 hours ago
Ines, I have 8 rooms that stay booked almost always. I could negotiate, but can't allow guests to encroach on other guests' time.
Reply Like 1 reply
C C
C C13 hours ago
And I think we're talking about 2 different topics here, anyway. I am more than happy to let guests check in anytime after check in time but before check out time. If they want to check in at 10:59am & turn around & check out a minute later, at 11--so be it. But I don't allow check in before 2pm, or check out after check out time.
Ines
Ines 13 hours ago
You are right.
Reply Like
C C
C C12 hours ago
Ines, also I don't understand why you would have check in between 2-9, but 1) ask for a one-hour window. A lot of time people get delayed by many different factors; and 2) contort yourself to accommodate times outside your range.
Seems to me what you end up with is much like what I start out with.
Reply Like
helga
helga9 hours ago
Zacharias, I didn't cross the 24h box - do you get more bookings by doing that? I wondered about it.
- I have set it to flexible, left the standard 3pm-11am and write in the description that before midnight is fine. I get many late arrival guests and if they ask nicely I can wait up to 1am or maybe 1:30 - happens when a train is delayed. They all keep me informed when it's going close to midnight, if there are delays or that they are in Paris now. That's very nice, allows me to know if I start another film or not. And they are so very grateful if I let them in at 1:30 with a (tired) smile.
Reply Like
Ines
Ines an hour ago
CC, sure some people get delayed but in my experience (and granted you have 8 rooms and I only have 3) the guests in general arrive on time , again, 80% of the time. They have already communicated their arrival time, days in advance and that allows me to plan my days a little in advance. All in all I might have had 7-8 requests in the past year for late arrivals and 1 for an extra hour at check out. If I have to accommodate I will but in general it is pretty good.
Reply Like 1 reply
C C
C Can hour ago
Ah, excellent. Yeah, I got a whole different ball game going on over here. Spontaneity rules the day, times 8. A little order & peace & quiet...nah, it's just a daydream.
24 hour check in
So ive always offered a 24 hour check in, but last night a guest who booked a one night stay was being wishy washy and i need the room again for the next day for a new guest. He wasnt going to originally show until 12 midnight and then at 10 pm he said he may not make it at all and goes on to say if he does make it it will be early in the morning. The key is always available but at a certain point the guest needs to ultimately make a decision about their arrival plans. Its inconsiderate to keep a host up all night with texts about their arrival. Lastly, i think i may cap the check in time to avoid all of this nonsense. If you cant arrive by 1am then forget it. Thoughts?
14 comments•1 like
Follow
Like
Sara
anne
annea day ago
Of course you must set time limits on arrival and departure!
Reply Like 1 reply
Raymond & Elaine
Raymond & Elaine3 hours ago
But in this case you wouldn't check off "24 hour check-in"
Leigh Ann
Leigh Anna day ago
I have set check in and check out times. Most guests respect time and show up when they say. But not always. Like yesterday they arrived an hour and a half later and didn't text that they'd be late until the time we were supposed to be meeting?! Bizarre. If I can't meet guests, I leave a key and they can let themselves in.
Reply Like 1 like
C C
C Ca day ago
I let mine come at any time, but if they started bombarding me with updates, I just tell them to come whenever, that the updates are not necessary. I am not disturbed no matter what time they arrive, because if I'm not available, I walk them through letting themselves in. Most of my peeps let themselves in, BUT I do not tell them they'll have to until they get here, or they might freak out unnecessarily and then they would be sure to bombard me!! One time this did backfire, though. I checked this couple in at 4:30 in the morning & gave them their key, which was unbeknownst to me, linked with my own--and my last--house key. They were only there to sleep for a few hours on their way through town. Well, when I was ready to exit at 10am, they were still asleep. When I noticed my green key missing, I assumed they had taken it in order to have 2 keys--without asking. I couldn't get out of the house or let my cat in--and I pretty much lost it. At least three mistakes of my own here--not having enough keys, giving the guests linked keys as I had stumbled to the door, mostly asleep myself at 4:30am--and having a fit on my poor guests!
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like
helga
helga9 hours ago
Did they review you CC? Like "we spent a very short night at CC's place?"
C C
C C9 hours ago
Lord, honey, yes!
Ines
Ines a day ago
I have a set time for check in between 2PM and 9 PM and I request guests to provide me with an hour window for arrival. 85% of the guests comply. To try and minimize the check in issues I do remind them in all of our communications the check in/out time and the need to get an approx time of arrival. I suppose it is all in the type of lodging we offer. I live in my house, I am very involved with other activities and I want to make sure my guests are welcome and instructed appropriately when they arrive. But I do beleive that not setting rules and limits for the guests is just inviting trouble and sending a message that they can do as they please.
Reply Like 1 like
C C
C Ca day ago
Hosts who have restricted check in times & are very anal about it--make my business boom.
Reply Like
Sathish
Sathisha day ago
Set a time limit and make sure your guest understands. I had a recent horrible experience where the guest extended our complimentary late check out time of 6pm to 10pm!!! And wrote a totally untrue and malicious review about how her experience was ruined after we contacted her that she has to leave at 6pm.
Reply Like
trisha
trishaa day ago
I installed a front door handle with a keypad and I give guests a code to get in and change it after checkout.
Reply Like
Taylor
Taylor16 hours ago
If they're paying the money for a rook I don't think it's unreasonable to expect 24 hour check in to be 24 hour check in. If I booked somewhere with 24 hour check in I wouldn't even call ahead. I would expect availability. If the key is not available 24 hours then write it in your listing. Check out should be on time of course but if they've paid for a day then they should be able to enter the home anytime that they've paid for unless it's stated otherwise before they booked.
Reply Like 2 replies
C C
C C13 hours ago
Taylor, the time period they're paying for to begin with is not a 24-hour period in and of itself. I technically do have 24-hour check in, but since I think that's such a terrible and confusing name for it, I don't list it in my description. Check in time at my place is 2:00pm. Not a minute before. They have until 10:59 the next day to check in--but at 11am--they either leave or get tossed!
helga
helga9 hours ago
Taylor, 24 h check-in does not mean that the guest is dispensed of basic rules of politeness. And announcing an arrival time is a very basic rule.
Ines
Ines 15 hours ago
I smiled when I saw your comment CC! I am a mighty negotiator. If a guest needs a later check in or a later check out I will do whatever it takes to accommodate them while at the same time I am learning more and more about my guests and viceversa. Different styles I suppose
Reply Like
C C
C C13 hours ago
Ines, I have 8 rooms that stay booked almost always. I could negotiate, but can't allow guests to encroach on other guests' time.
Reply Like 1 reply
C C
C C13 hours ago
And I think we're talking about 2 different topics here, anyway. I am more than happy to let guests check in anytime after check in time but before check out time. If they want to check in at 10:59am & turn around & check out a minute later, at 11--so be it. But I don't allow check in before 2pm, or check out after check out time.
Ines
Ines 13 hours ago
You are right.
Reply Like
C C
C C12 hours ago
Ines, also I don't understand why you would have check in between 2-9, but 1) ask for a one-hour window. A lot of time people get delayed by many different factors; and 2) contort yourself to accommodate times outside your range.
Seems to me what you end up with is much like what I start out with.Reply Like
helga
helga9 hours ago
Zacharias, I didn't cross the 24h box - do you get more bookings by doing that? I wondered about it.
- I have set it to flexible, left the standard 3pm-11am and write in the description that before midnight is fine. I get many late arrival guests and if they ask nicely I can wait up to 1am or maybe 1:30 - happens when a train is delayed. They all keep me informed when it's going close to midnight, if there are delays or that they are in Paris now. That's very nice, allows me to know if I start another film or not. And they are so very grateful if I let them in at 1:30 with a (tired) smile.
Reply Like
Ines
Ines an hour ago
CC, sure some people get delayed but in my experience (and granted you have 8 rooms and I only have 3) the guests in general arrive on time , again, 80% of the time. They have already communicated their arrival time, days in advance and that allows me to plan my days a little in advance. All in all I might have had 7-8 requests in the past year for late arrivals and 1 for an extra hour at check out. If I have to accommodate I will but in general it is pretty good.
Reply Like 1 reply
C C
C Can hour ago
Ah, excellent. Yeah, I got a whole different ball game going on over here. Spontaneity rules the day, times 8. A little order & peace & quiet...nah, it's just a daydream.