Post by High Priestess on Feb 25, 2016 7:55:42 GMT
Julia shared on Hosting 911 2 years ago
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-42500
Not a problem but very uncomfortable
My two Russians guests came yesterday and were quiet
friendly, though barely spoke English and communication was very difficult (they
are both very young 19ish). I strictly have a no living room no kitchen access
policy (after breakfast) and usually guests are ok with it. To my surprise yesterday
at 23 hours ( I was watching TV about to go to bed) the two girls came in set
on the sofa next to me while they other girl was preparing a tea watching TV
with me… as they just arrived I didn’t want to be rude so I set there with her,
but pointed out several times though that we do not share the living room ( she
nodded and smiled but didn’t leave so I suspect or she didn’t understand me or
thought I was making an exception for her) I felt very uncomfortable when the
two girls started speaking Russian while drinking their Tea on my sofa with me
for nearly an hour. Eventually they left. I wrote them a message today saying
that I don’t want to be pushy but I have to insist on them respecting the house
rules ( and that there is a printed copy for them in their room) and that I am
available if they don’t understand something. They replied ok, but when I came
home today I found that they have been cooking their lunch in the kitchen and
hanged out in the living room. So I am not sure if they are just not taking me
serious or just ignoring my house rules.
Tonight is the only night I have off with my husband so I really don’t want
them to hang around with us J What would
you do?
14 comments
Following
Like
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Generally, if a guest is able to communicate with you in English in the booking process, they can manage English well enough to understand simple things like this. Did you ever ask the guests to read the house rules prior to accepting your booking? I recommend doing this with every single guest. Then have them write back to you that they read the house rules and accept them. This way you have in writing from them that they agree to the house rules.
When you are telling them they can't use the living room or kitchen, are you asking after you explain this, whether they understood what you were saying? Don't accept just a nod or a smile, particularly if she stays in the room with you. Ask her to repeat to you what you said to her. If she does reply and does understand what you said, then tell her that if she does not follow the house rules she will have to leave the next day and you will call Airbnb and terminate her reservation. If she does not reply and does not seem to understand you, then I suggest using Google Translate online, to translate your English phrases into Russian, and give her a copy of the Russian translation. I recommend checking the (email hidden)ter you get the Russian translation, put it in the "Translate" side, click on English on the other side, and see if the phrasing is good.
The following is what I translated for you into Russian on Google Translate. It says in Russian, "Guests cannot use the living room or the kitchen after breakfast. You will leave this room and go to your bedroom. Please follow the rules. If you cannot follow the rules, I will have to ask you to leave and find another place to stay."
Гости не могут использовать гостиную или кухню после завтрака. Вам придется покинуть эту комнату и перейти к вашей спальне. Пожалуйста, следуйте правилам. Если вы не можете следовать правилам, я должен буду попросить вас уйти и найти другое место для проживания.
You might also go to Google Translate and copy your whole house rules there, and translate all the house rules into Russian and give her a copy of that.
Reply Like 3 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
And definitely, when guests continue to violate the house rules after being told not to do so, you should call Airbnb and have their reservation terminated.
Reply Like 2 likes
Julia
Julia2 years ago
Thanks so much deborah for your answer! When they get home i will sit them down and have a chat them
Reply Like
Maggie
Maggie2 years ago
Your living room is very pretty. I caption the photos of the living room with "Living room use only for eating breakfast." or something along those lines. Hopefully their stay is not too long and you won't have this happen again.
Reply Like
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Also, it might be a good idea, when prospective guests inquire about staying at your place, that before you accept their reservation, you ask if they understand that they cannot use the living room and kitchen after breakfast. Because this is a restriction that not all hosts have and they may not be used to this arrangement. Make sure you hear back from them in writing that they say they understand and accept this.
Reply Like 1 reply•3 likes
Wendy
Wendy2 years ago
I agree--it is best to disclose and communicate your most important rules within the posting (not just the house rules) and express them again via your messages to guests "so there are no surprises or misunderstandings as to what I offer" is what I say to prospective guests. Some people turn me down politely saying they were expecting something different...saving us both from grief or discomfort) COMMUNICATION (early on) is the KEY to HAPPY HOSTING!
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
...and as many other hosts have found out, we cannot assume that all guests read our house rules before booking....some guests have actually stated that they don't read the listing, they just make reservations based on the photos.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Susan
Susan2 years ago
that is absolutely true! I have a lengthy description to avoid any discrepancy or misunderstanding on the part of the Guest. Many of my Guests have said they go right to the reviews and photos and read enough of the listing as to checkin/out and location and that's it. That's fine, but I still do a walk through of the unit and reiterate the House Rules (which arn't many really) as well, as in addition to having them on the nightstand for reference too (along with unit address, my phone number and Internet connectivity)
Julia
Julia2 years ago
Thanks maggie!! Yes Deborah totally agree i always write before accepting the booking : if you fully agree with our houserules we are happy to be your host! And always have a printed version for them in the room! Usually it always works though some guests still try to sneak around it or use it when we are not there! I wrote the girls a message on airbnb just now saying that we need to talk about the house rules this evening as i see they are not clear to them! Lets see what happens
Reply Like 1 like
Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
You have to be very careful not to believe google translate is 100% correct. I have great fun with my foreign friends typing in sentences then seeing if they can make head or tail of them!
We find with guests that have very limited or no English then one word translations are much more reliable , I would type the word 'PRIVATE'in their language then stick it to the door
Reply Like 2 likes
Maggie
Maggie2 years ago
Karyo and Colin what a fun game! That's something I would do!!!
Reply Like 1 like
Evelyne
![]()
Evelyne2 years ago
Je debute aussi sur aibnb, et j'apprecie beaucoup le fruit de votre experience.
Comment fait on, pour etre ou non en reservation instantanée?
merci
Reply Like
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
On parle beaucoup sur cette question! Regardez ici:
www.airbnb.co.uk/groups/content/content-41894
www.airbnb.co.uk/groups/content/content-41893
(Votre logement est superbe au fait!)
Reply Like 1 like
Evelyne
Evelyne2 years ago
Thank you !
Thank You!
Reply Like
Joshua
Joshua 2 years ago
funny, but one of the only guests in nearly 200 bookings i had a problem with was also Russian. in the inquiry phase his written english seemed perfect. once he arrived, he and his wife seemed not only to have not read and understand the listing and that the bathroom was shared, but also that the kitchen was of limits. he claimed he can't speak or read English and therefore basically was non-compliant with the house rules.
Reply Like
Mya
Mya2 years ago
Reading your former review- it appears these girls speak and write perfect English - am I mistaken to assume these are not the same guests? I think they just didn't read the house rules before they came.
Reply Like
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-42500
Not a problem but very uncomfortable
My two Russians guests came yesterday and were quiet
friendly, though barely spoke English and communication was very difficult (they
are both very young 19ish). I strictly have a no living room no kitchen access
policy (after breakfast) and usually guests are ok with it. To my surprise yesterday
at 23 hours ( I was watching TV about to go to bed) the two girls came in set
on the sofa next to me while they other girl was preparing a tea watching TV
with me… as they just arrived I didn’t want to be rude so I set there with her,
but pointed out several times though that we do not share the living room ( she
nodded and smiled but didn’t leave so I suspect or she didn’t understand me or
thought I was making an exception for her) I felt very uncomfortable when the
two girls started speaking Russian while drinking their Tea on my sofa with me
for nearly an hour. Eventually they left. I wrote them a message today saying
that I don’t want to be pushy but I have to insist on them respecting the house
rules ( and that there is a printed copy for them in their room) and that I am
available if they don’t understand something. They replied ok, but when I came
home today I found that they have been cooking their lunch in the kitchen and
hanged out in the living room. So I am not sure if they are just not taking me
serious or just ignoring my house rules.
Tonight is the only night I have off with my husband so I really don’t want
them to hang around with us J What would
you do?
14 comments
Following
Like
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Generally, if a guest is able to communicate with you in English in the booking process, they can manage English well enough to understand simple things like this. Did you ever ask the guests to read the house rules prior to accepting your booking? I recommend doing this with every single guest. Then have them write back to you that they read the house rules and accept them. This way you have in writing from them that they agree to the house rules.
When you are telling them they can't use the living room or kitchen, are you asking after you explain this, whether they understood what you were saying? Don't accept just a nod or a smile, particularly if she stays in the room with you. Ask her to repeat to you what you said to her. If she does reply and does understand what you said, then tell her that if she does not follow the house rules she will have to leave the next day and you will call Airbnb and terminate her reservation. If she does not reply and does not seem to understand you, then I suggest using Google Translate online, to translate your English phrases into Russian, and give her a copy of the Russian translation. I recommend checking the (email hidden)ter you get the Russian translation, put it in the "Translate" side, click on English on the other side, and see if the phrasing is good.
The following is what I translated for you into Russian on Google Translate. It says in Russian, "Guests cannot use the living room or the kitchen after breakfast. You will leave this room and go to your bedroom. Please follow the rules. If you cannot follow the rules, I will have to ask you to leave and find another place to stay."
Гости не могут использовать гостиную или кухню после завтрака. Вам придется покинуть эту комнату и перейти к вашей спальне. Пожалуйста, следуйте правилам. Если вы не можете следовать правилам, я должен буду попросить вас уйти и найти другое место для проживания.
You might also go to Google Translate and copy your whole house rules there, and translate all the house rules into Russian and give her a copy of that.
Reply Like 3 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
And definitely, when guests continue to violate the house rules after being told not to do so, you should call Airbnb and have their reservation terminated.
Reply Like 2 likes
Julia
Julia2 years ago
Thanks so much deborah for your answer! When they get home i will sit them down and have a chat them
Reply Like
Maggie
Maggie2 years ago
Your living room is very pretty. I caption the photos of the living room with "Living room use only for eating breakfast." or something along those lines. Hopefully their stay is not too long and you won't have this happen again.
Reply Like
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Also, it might be a good idea, when prospective guests inquire about staying at your place, that before you accept their reservation, you ask if they understand that they cannot use the living room and kitchen after breakfast. Because this is a restriction that not all hosts have and they may not be used to this arrangement. Make sure you hear back from them in writing that they say they understand and accept this.
Reply Like 1 reply•3 likes
Wendy
Wendy2 years ago
I agree--it is best to disclose and communicate your most important rules within the posting (not just the house rules) and express them again via your messages to guests "so there are no surprises or misunderstandings as to what I offer" is what I say to prospective guests. Some people turn me down politely saying they were expecting something different...saving us both from grief or discomfort) COMMUNICATION (early on) is the KEY to HAPPY HOSTING!
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
...and as many other hosts have found out, we cannot assume that all guests read our house rules before booking....some guests have actually stated that they don't read the listing, they just make reservations based on the photos.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Susan
Susan2 years ago
that is absolutely true! I have a lengthy description to avoid any discrepancy or misunderstanding on the part of the Guest. Many of my Guests have said they go right to the reviews and photos and read enough of the listing as to checkin/out and location and that's it. That's fine, but I still do a walk through of the unit and reiterate the House Rules (which arn't many really) as well, as in addition to having them on the nightstand for reference too (along with unit address, my phone number and Internet connectivity)
Julia
Julia2 years ago
Thanks maggie!! Yes Deborah totally agree i always write before accepting the booking : if you fully agree with our houserules we are happy to be your host! And always have a printed version for them in the room! Usually it always works though some guests still try to sneak around it or use it when we are not there! I wrote the girls a message on airbnb just now saying that we need to talk about the house rules this evening as i see they are not clear to them! Lets see what happens
Reply Like 1 like
Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
You have to be very careful not to believe google translate is 100% correct. I have great fun with my foreign friends typing in sentences then seeing if they can make head or tail of them!
We find with guests that have very limited or no English then one word translations are much more reliable , I would type the word 'PRIVATE'in their language then stick it to the door
Reply Like 2 likes
Maggie
Maggie2 years ago
Karyo and Colin what a fun game! That's something I would do!!!
Reply Like 1 like
Evelyne
Evelyne2 years ago
Je debute aussi sur aibnb, et j'apprecie beaucoup le fruit de votre experience.
Comment fait on, pour etre ou non en reservation instantanée?
merci
Reply Like
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
On parle beaucoup sur cette question! Regardez ici:
www.airbnb.co.uk/groups/content/content-41894
www.airbnb.co.uk/groups/content/content-41893
(Votre logement est superbe au fait!)
Reply Like 1 like
Evelyne
Evelyne2 years ago
Thank you !
Thank You!
Reply Like
Joshua
Joshua 2 years ago
funny, but one of the only guests in nearly 200 bookings i had a problem with was also Russian. in the inquiry phase his written english seemed perfect. once he arrived, he and his wife seemed not only to have not read and understand the listing and that the bathroom was shared, but also that the kitchen was of limits. he claimed he can't speak or read English and therefore basically was non-compliant with the house rules.
Reply Like
Mya
Mya2 years ago
Reading your former review- it appears these girls speak and write perfect English - am I mistaken to assume these are not the same guests? I think they just didn't read the house rules before they came.
Reply Like
Deborah