Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 20:13:43 GMT
Fiona shared on New Hosts Forum May 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-90237
Five Little Monkeys Sleeping in a Bed...
What do you make of this? I have a reservation for tomorrow night from a family coming to town for a funeral. They have family in town but the houses are full with guests. They are reserving for three people (Mom, Dad, daughter) for the first time. Every other reservation has been for a couple. I state clearly several places in the listing that it is one queen-size bed in a private room. It is also pictured. I state in the things to note section the bed could hold three in the case of parents with a young child or I could put a crib mattress and bedding in the room. So far, so good except when I asked Mom to provide the names and ages of the registered guests...daughter is in her 30's! It is hard to imagine they missed it in the listing, they have paid the extra person fee so they clearly mean for her to stay here and I sent Mom a message at one point asking about check-in, checkout and verifying that the three of them plan to stay in the one bed. She answered only about the check-in time. She is new to Airbnb and here to bury her mother so I'm not going to prompt her about it again, she has enough on her plate. But I'm worried they are going to get here, be shocked at the sleeping arrangements and things will start and/or end on a bad foot. Maybe they do want to sleep together in a time of grief or the daughter is disabled and this is what they do but this seems like a problem brewing. What do you make of this?
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Suzanne
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Evelyn
Evelyn2 years ago
Like you stated she is going to bury her mom and probably didn't pay attention. It's good that you're trying to avoid a situation. So.. Can you get an air mattress or a cot?
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Leah
Leah2 years ago
Oh dear. You are right, they didn't catch it. This is such a dilemma. I could never imagine sleeping in the same bed as my parents. If you had attempted to tell them about the bed and they didny respond, then the ball is in their court to look for somewhere else to stay. Maybe for the future, just remove the comment of having a child cosleep to avoid future misunderstanding.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I do have a queen-size air mattress Evelyn but I don't know that it would fit on the floor and anyway, we took it camping a couple of weeks ago and it deflates really quickly (which is annoying, it was expensive and this is only the second time we've used it!) Those are good ideas though. In this case I was thinking I could put some sheets down on the couch in the adjoining room if I have to. The best-case scenario I can come up with is maybe they paid the extra-person fee so the daughter can be on premises to shower, get ready, etc. but she is going to sleep at the home of one of her aunts. I certainly look at this as an Airbnb host so I have some concerns about a review and a possible request for a refund but I also try to look at it as a traveler and put myself in someone else's shoes and all the kindnesses I've received as a traveler in other lands.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Right Leane? I wouldn't want to sleep with my parents either even though they are fabulous human beings! I'll look for a way to remove or reword that sentence you mention but even there, I do specify "small" child.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Ooops, sorry, Leah, not Leane.
Sonja
Sonja2 years ago
Perhaps they got confused by the sentence 'you will be the only guests', not realising that you live there too? To be on the safe side I'd add a few more pictures of the room but also the shared spaces so people get a better idea... Not that your animals aren't cute!
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I totally agree about more pictures Sonja, I haven't had the professional ones done yet - I'm going to change some things around first. Yes, the animals are cute but they are there so no-one can come with a cat allergy and say they weren't warned. Although the last two sets of guests were pleasantly surprised I had chickens!!! And one of them had mentioned her feather allergy when I asked about any special requests!!! They did just fine btw, I had all the feather stuff changed out of their room and she didn't go into the yard where the chickens live. I have the "you will be the only guests" language there because I have seen in other hosts' listings/reviews that sometimes people showed up and were surprised they were sharing a bathroom with other guests so I'm trying to make it clear this is the only listing. Any suggestions to re-word are welcome!
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Nicole
Nicole2 years ago
I second the couch idea... They may also bring their own air mattress for her to sleep on. I would just reach out one more time and say you will be happy to accommodate all three of them, but you want to be positive they understand there is only one queen sized bed. She may be avoiding the obvious because she doesn't want you to cancel the reservation or she may really not know there is only one bed. Better safe to clear the air for sure before they arrive.
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Stan & Maggie
Stan & Maggie2 years ago
I bought one of those folding single beds for this type of hiccup! Amazed how comfortable I think it cost about $150 from Sears
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
The couple arrived and were delighted with the house and the wife exclaimed "but where is ___ going to sleep?" as soon as she saw the queen-size bed. Oy. It has worked out fine and we have laughed about it. I told them if she comes home with them tonight we'll take care of her and put her on the living-room couch or I'm happy to send a sleeping bag for her to sleep at her cousin's house but they are going to work it out and park her at a cousin's and not worry about it. They just are new to Airbnb and don't pay a lot of attention to details. They might complain later but right now it sounds like a non-issue. We got off to a great start and they were here all of 20 minutes before going out for the night.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Wife even tried to help me put away Halloween decorations while she was waiting for husband to change. Sweet.
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Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-90237
Five Little Monkeys Sleeping in a Bed...
What do you make of this? I have a reservation for tomorrow night from a family coming to town for a funeral. They have family in town but the houses are full with guests. They are reserving for three people (Mom, Dad, daughter) for the first time. Every other reservation has been for a couple. I state clearly several places in the listing that it is one queen-size bed in a private room. It is also pictured. I state in the things to note section the bed could hold three in the case of parents with a young child or I could put a crib mattress and bedding in the room. So far, so good except when I asked Mom to provide the names and ages of the registered guests...daughter is in her 30's! It is hard to imagine they missed it in the listing, they have paid the extra person fee so they clearly mean for her to stay here and I sent Mom a message at one point asking about check-in, checkout and verifying that the three of them plan to stay in the one bed. She answered only about the check-in time. She is new to Airbnb and here to bury her mother so I'm not going to prompt her about it again, she has enough on her plate. But I'm worried they are going to get here, be shocked at the sleeping arrangements and things will start and/or end on a bad foot. Maybe they do want to sleep together in a time of grief or the daughter is disabled and this is what they do but this seems like a problem brewing. What do you make of this?
10 comments•1 like
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Suzanne
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Evelyn
Evelyn2 years ago
Like you stated she is going to bury her mom and probably didn't pay attention. It's good that you're trying to avoid a situation. So.. Can you get an air mattress or a cot?
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Leah
Leah2 years ago
Oh dear. You are right, they didn't catch it. This is such a dilemma. I could never imagine sleeping in the same bed as my parents. If you had attempted to tell them about the bed and they didny respond, then the ball is in their court to look for somewhere else to stay. Maybe for the future, just remove the comment of having a child cosleep to avoid future misunderstanding.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I do have a queen-size air mattress Evelyn but I don't know that it would fit on the floor and anyway, we took it camping a couple of weeks ago and it deflates really quickly (which is annoying, it was expensive and this is only the second time we've used it!) Those are good ideas though. In this case I was thinking I could put some sheets down on the couch in the adjoining room if I have to. The best-case scenario I can come up with is maybe they paid the extra-person fee so the daughter can be on premises to shower, get ready, etc. but she is going to sleep at the home of one of her aunts. I certainly look at this as an Airbnb host so I have some concerns about a review and a possible request for a refund but I also try to look at it as a traveler and put myself in someone else's shoes and all the kindnesses I've received as a traveler in other lands.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Right Leane? I wouldn't want to sleep with my parents either even though they are fabulous human beings! I'll look for a way to remove or reword that sentence you mention but even there, I do specify "small" child.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Ooops, sorry, Leah, not Leane.
Sonja
Sonja2 years ago
Perhaps they got confused by the sentence 'you will be the only guests', not realising that you live there too? To be on the safe side I'd add a few more pictures of the room but also the shared spaces so people get a better idea... Not that your animals aren't cute!
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I totally agree about more pictures Sonja, I haven't had the professional ones done yet - I'm going to change some things around first. Yes, the animals are cute but they are there so no-one can come with a cat allergy and say they weren't warned.
Although the last two sets of guests were pleasantly surprised I had chickens!!! And one of them had mentioned her feather allergy when I asked about any special requests!!! They did just fine btw, I had all the feather stuff changed out of their room and she didn't go into the yard where the chickens live. I have the "you will be the only guests" language there because I have seen in other hosts' listings/reviews that sometimes people showed up and were surprised they were sharing a bathroom with other guests so I'm trying to make it clear this is the only listing. Any suggestions to re-word are welcome!Reply Like 1 like Delete
Nicole
Nicole2 years ago
I second the couch idea... They may also bring their own air mattress for her to sleep on. I would just reach out one more time and say you will be happy to accommodate all three of them, but you want to be positive they understand there is only one queen sized bed. She may be avoiding the obvious because she doesn't want you to cancel the reservation or she may really not know there is only one bed. Better safe to clear the air for sure before they arrive.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Stan & Maggie
Stan & Maggie2 years ago
I bought one of those folding single beds for this type of hiccup! Amazed how comfortable I think it cost about $150 from Sears
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
The couple arrived and were delighted with the house and the wife exclaimed "but where is ___ going to sleep?" as soon as she saw the queen-size bed. Oy. It has worked out fine and we have laughed about it. I told them if she comes home with them tonight we'll take care of her and put her on the living-room couch or I'm happy to send a sleeping bag for her to sleep at her cousin's house but they are going to work it out and park her at a cousin's and not worry about it. They just are new to Airbnb and don't pay a lot of attention to details. They might complain later but right now it sounds like a non-issue. We got off to a great start and they were here all of 20 minutes before going out for the night.
Reply Like Delete
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Wife even tried to help me put away Halloween decorations while she was waiting for husband to change. Sweet.
Reply Like Delete
Deborah