Post by High Priestess on May 28, 2016 15:13:55 GMT
Sheryl shared on New Hosts Forum June 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-91118
Last Minute Guests
I am sure that various aspects of welcoming (or not) last minute guests have been discussed but I'd like to as some specific questions:
What have been your experiences with last minute guests?
What are usually their reasons for booking at the last minute?
Are they harder/easier to accommodate than guests who book in advance?
Having recently decreased my minimum stay to 1 day to help keep bookings flowing during the winter months, I expect to get more last minute requests. But, as a person who plans well in advance, I don't really understand why someone would be out of town without plans for accommodations. My mind quickly goes to bad case scenarios and the fear that they will bring drama to my house!
I thing that my presumptions are probably just paranoid but would feel more assured hearing from other hosts on the subject. I do want to welcome as many guests as I can and not be unnecessarily suspicious.
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Sheryl 2 years ago
"I thing" should be "I think"
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I can understand your reluctance. I've had a handful of great last minute guests who request anywhere from two days to two hours in advance. They usually have complete profiles (or are able to complete them in minutes), great communication (return my rental agreement right away, respond to questions), and leave the place in great condition. I forget why they were needing something on short notice.
I'm spontaneous and have traveled on a whim quite a bit - made arrangements on Thursday for Friday/Saturday, for instance.
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Susan
Susan2 years ago
Personally I like to stay flexible and book last minute myself - and wouldn't bring drama. So don't worry. - On the contrary I have some guests booking over a year ahead... And wondering if those will be high maintenance or somehow strange!
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Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
I have had mostly good experiences with last minute guests. I would call someone who books on the same day (or maybe even the day before) a last minute guest. I have had at least a dozen of these...maybe more....
One was a filmmaker, who travels regularly, making a documentary film, and he needed just one night before traveling on again to another city. He had several good reviews. Another person was a local woman, who was in the midst of moving to a new apartment, and for some reason she found out late that it wasn't available on the day she needed it, and needed a place for one night. She also had numerous good reviews and had been a host herself. Another was a man from New England spending a good deal of time driving around the USA in his car, and he booked a week, having stayed the previous night in a hotel. He had about 13 Airbnb reviews and was polite as can be. He ended up not staying the whole week, only about 4 days, but didn't ask for a refund.
I think the only(slightly) problematic person I had was one who contacted me at about 6pm to come over the same night, and he was somewhat local, though his city was a reasonable drive away, eg 30 minutes. He went out with friends later that night and came home intoxicated and I realized he may have needed a place to stay so he wouldn't have to drive drunk to get home. A good plan, but in my view a hotel is the proper place for that.
THere have been several people who wanted last minute bookings who contacted me so late (after 8pm) that I was not willing to host them. One contacted me at 9:30pm to come over the same night. I believe a lot of last minute folks are poor planners, and perhaps a bit careless -- I have had more than one person contact me saying that they were at the airport and needed a place to stay --, and for this reason I do regard last-minute requests as somewhat of a "red flag" situation -- not someone to necessarily exclude, (as in my experience most were fine guests) but just apply a bit more scrutiny, and come up with a deadline, after which you would consider a same-day request too late. Eg for me, someone contacting me after about 8pm for a same day booking is too late.
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Suzanne
Suzanne2 years ago
Deborah, as always, makes some good points. I think that the best answer to your question is to ask the prospective guests why they are booking last minute. It'll tell you a lot.
Susan
Susan2 years ago
Oh, Deborah, same day booking requests seem too late for me. I am hosting long distance most of the time. While I am on site, I might do an exception. I had no case yet, but would understand those travellers. I travelled with my parents like that through France, every summer. No longer than one night at a place... Just knocking on hotel doors to see if they have 2 rooms for us, or not.
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Karen
Karen2 years ago
I can't tell you how many times I have decided on a quick getaway. Though there is usually a plan a few weeks or months in advance, I don't always book the stay until last minute. Many times I have been at my destination area before deciding where to stay.
Just recently joining Airbnb, I am very excited to know there are options other than Hotwire hotels. Your location, Sheryl, is wonderful for last minute dinner, shopping, and city attractions. Just this hour, it crossed my mind to travel to NYC for the annual tree lighting...for our anniversary. But I'll wait until last minute to see the weather report!
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Nancy and Bill
Nancy and Bill2 years ago
We do many of these - usually they are people traveling and needing a place for the night. We have had good experiences with these guests. We have turned down a couple who contacted us later in the evening of their potential stay and we have not accepted these.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I did have problematic communications with a host in town with two last minute inquiries, but they didn't turn out to be reservations because I didn't like how the communications went. I also didn't care for her replies to guests' negative reviews.
I've taken reservations as late as 8 pm for that night - they have to return the rental agreement to get the self check in instructions before 10 pm.
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Javier and Kym
Javier and Kym2 years ago
I just had a last minute inquiry. Apparently, the guy was out of money and I'm cheaper than a hotel. I would guess that all last minute enquiries are people just passing thru. This guy ended up requiring a ride to the airport (out of money and $20.00 for a taxi was too much for him to spend). When I suggested Uber might be cheaper, he wanted to know if he could use MY account since he didn't have the app. Then, would I mind picking him up because the bus would take 2.5 hours to reach my house...yeah, as the messages progressed, my answers became less wordy, to the point of, "Nope. Sorry." If I was stupid enough to go get him and agree to chauffeur the, " poor student," to the airport, I'm sure he'd be hungry but not have the money to feed himself. Back in the day, when I was a poor student, I didn't go on vacations across the world that I couldn't afford. Just sayin'. I don't mind being cheaper than a hotel, because I'm NOT a hotel. I'm just occasionally renting a spare room in my home, but I'm not going to be taken advantage of because I'm perceived as worth less than a hotel.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Sounds like couchsurfing would have been a better option for him.
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Gosh, if someone asked me to pick them up because they couldn't afford a taxi or the bus would take too long, I would tempted to ask them if they could please paint the exterior of my entire house because painters cost too much.
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
LOL Deborah! I haven't had anyone ask for a discount or special treatment for a while now but I'm going to remember this for the next time!
Teresa
Teresa2 years ago
I had a last minute guest and he was wonderful, he was from New York and was here in LA for testing, it was easier for him to book thur Airbnb then driving around looking for motel also I had another last minute guest who stayed 1 night to drop off his daughter at LMU, kinda piss me off as his review said I needed something as I for got now but at the time I thought to myself you stayed one night and I let you booked at the last minute to get a so-so review made me upset. I wanted it to read
"very helpful took me in a couple of hours". That's just me on last minute guest.
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Serafina
Serafina2 years ago
I rarely take last-minute guests because (a) they usually want only one night and (b) the requests often come late in the evening when I'm busy putting the kids to bed and don't want to interrupt the routine to ready the rental. The few I've been able to accommodate have been just fine, so my reluctance is more about me and my own unwillingness to change what I'm doing to accommodate someone else.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I have had one set of last-minute guests, my first guests ever. They were new to Airbnb and had one review. They were booking last minute because the place they had booked the host canceled on them last minute to accommodate her son coming in to town. My room was clean and ready but not decluttered as I'd thought I'd have time to do it after I got my first booking but nope, they were sitting in a bar a few blocks away looking for a place to stay. I told them it was ready but not ready and they could take a look first but they weren't worried about it. They came and were completely lovely and I think I lucked out because that first review is the hardest one to get, right? The only tiny negative in my case was someone in the first three reviews gave me 4-stars for cleanliness and I assume it was them. I would absolutely accommodate last-minute bookings as long as they were communicative and didn't set off any spidey sense.
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Sheryl
Sheryl 2 years ago
Interesting tales! Sounds like the same advice that always applied will work here - - -ask enough questions to get a feel for what the guest needs and whether they will be a comfortable companion in my shared space.
Deborah, I love your suggestion for the guest who is last minute AND impoverished.
But I'd bet that entitled one would not be willing to lift a finger!
One thing that is clear to me from these postings and many others I've seen is that, despite the time of their inquiry, very few guests are willing to adjust their standards to allow for a little more clutter or less cleanliness in a room than might be usual. I keep hearing that even if they say, "Oh it's okay," they rate down for any offering that is not exactly like it appears in the photo. It's not entirely unreasonable. I suppose, if the room is not really ready for accommodation, I should just say "No."
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Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
I completely agree Sheryl on how guests often don't "keep up their part of the bargain" if they ask to come early and you say the room isn't quite ready, and they say "oh that is okay" and then they complain about how the room isn't ready. IF we weren't getting ratings and reviews as hosts, it wouldn't matter so much, you could just remind the guest of what they agreed to -- but with ratings and reviews in the picture it's too easy to get "set up" by a guest in this way.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Exactly – one way to avoid this issue is to not let the guest check in until the listing is ready. If they are a last-minute guest and they have to wait, they have to wait.
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
I find the opposite to be the case, actually! I frequently let people arrive early on the understanding that the room won't be ready and they are very grateful to be able to leave their bags, get oriented and then head off. It's never been a problem for me at all and nobody has ever complained. Maybe it's because I'm a budget place and guests are more easygoing about these things? I don't know. As for last-minute guests, I'm not keen. I've done it a few times and they were a bit flakey to be honest. But as always with airbnb, it has to be on a case-by-case basis. If they meet your own criteria of verification, respectful communication, whatever it is that makes you comfortable... go for it!
Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
I also stopped letting people see the room before the checkin time. SOOOO many times guests want to come early to drop off their bags and ask to see the room. I would tell them its not ready. Guests are either sleeping in the room still or they have just checked out. When I did let them see the room, I couldn't believe the ordacity of some of the reviews about their arrival. These are not just one nighters....thats anybody. Nobody sees the room until after 5 p.m when its officially the check-in time.
Tania & Andrew
Tania & Andrew2 years ago
Hello, in our case we've had a few last minute requests but none have been confirmed except one and it was great. Here in Cancun a lot of people travel around the area so the last minute bookings we've had is because they are backpacking throughout the South of Mexico and Central America so they just don't seem to have a concrete schedule!
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Nic and Rach
Nic and Rach2 years ago
last minute guests are guests you have options, ACCEPT- DISCUSS-DECLINE-REPLY and if you are worried about reviews then your option is DECIDE and if you want to know why they do last minute booking because they can cancel w/in 24 hours without penalty... so whatever the purpose of their last minute booking... that's their thing and if this last minute guests are not what you are looking for ? then you might as well call it a night and have a nice evening.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
"if you want to know why they do last minute booking because they can cancel w/in 24 hours without penalty" - ??
Nic and Rach
Nic and Rach2 years ago
julie and Eric I stand corrected, all confirmed resersevations if you cancel ...it will default to the cxl policy, whether it's strict, moderate or flexible.. so now, " If you want to know why they do last minute booking the answer for that should be.. ask the guest.. LOL this is what's good about this forum you learn everyday.
Andrew
Andrew2 years ago
As a host, I don't get many last-minute requests because I'm very selective about which days I open up my availability. If you see a bookable date, that means that I 100% definitely want to host on that date. Usually they do get booked up, but sometimes I'll get a last-minute request for one of the small gaps between them. I've accommodated a few; they've generally been fine, but I'd say that they didn't really adjust their expectations to account for how little time I had to prepare for them. That's normal - most people don't realize how much work we put into hosting.
As a guest - I occasionally book places the day before arrival (same-day is too stressful). When I'm backpacking around, I like to keep a flexible itinerary and enjoy the freedom to follow spontaneous whims. And when I get an unexpected day off, it's great to be able to hop on a train and get out of town! There are definite advantages to traveling this way - imagine having a holiday at a beach resort booked months ahead, only to get rainy weather, or an outbreak of guerilla warfare.
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Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
LOL @ outbreak of guerrilla warfare. I'm also a traveller and did the backpack a LOT. But when I used to travel on a deep budget, and hopped on train to some isolated area, I always saw fit to have the reserved money for just those occasions. Most travelers do plan for many segments of their trips in advance, using airbnb... especially when they are traveling with a decent amount of luggage. But to expect to find a non-official place hospitality location such airbnb as opposed to hotels, motels, etc....I think thats where a guest should get a hotel or pay a little more for last minute location. Especially if they have certain quirks about where they sleep. One guy booked an hour before his arrival on an airmattress and said he didn't realize he was sharing a bathroom. $13 a night in Chicago and he thought they would receive a private room an hour before their arrival and reservation. My sister told me that I should have instructed him to go play 'hop scotch on the I-94 during rush hour'. LOL
Jana
Jana2 years ago
My first guests were last minute (same day) and turns out they were probably my favorite. Three years later we still keep in touch. Back in those days I was so eager to get my first guest that I didn't mind that they were last minute. Now that I'm a more seasoned host, I'm more reluctant to accept last minute guests mostly because my house is not cleaned to my usual standards. I do major preparation of my home home prior to my guests arrival so generally I'm not willing to have someone stay last minute.
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Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
LOL....I JUST STOPPED accepted one night stands. I have had some good one nighters to. I stopped for several reasons but mostly, its draining and the 'reviews' of these one night stands make you want to slap somebody. I vowed that unless Airbnb removes the option for them to make ANY comments on the reviews for anyone staying one night, then I will accept a one night stand. One nighters are normally tired, drained from travelling and like a person who drank to much, has a warped sense of reality and humility. If you read any of my reviews, you will notice that one ones who have the MOST to say are those who only were here for one night! The fact that I got out of my bed, to make you a bed within hours of your arrival time and probably fed you dinner AND breakfast from my generosity...that persons ONLY words should be thank you. I don't care if I was a desert tent in the middle of the sahara! Thank you for letting me in because i was too lazy to give proper notice of my arrival at least the day before....that should be the only words in the review.
Believe it or not, I would get more cancellations from people staying for one night. I'm thinking, 'really? you're just hear for one night....not even a full night in a house full of happy people and you want to leave?' Ok. Bye! hehehe One lady complained so much (even tho it clearly looked like this couple was living out of their car. They said on the review that i was not welcoming. I just checked out 12 people, had a weekend party and was completely tired but still trying to make small conversation with them. These booked literally an hour before they arrived....as if they were outside the house some where. Yeah....no more one night stands for me! I know I will be missing some nice people to. But thats something I can live with.
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Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-91118
Last Minute Guests
I am sure that various aspects of welcoming (or not) last minute guests have been discussed but I'd like to as some specific questions:
What have been your experiences with last minute guests?
What are usually their reasons for booking at the last minute?
Are they harder/easier to accommodate than guests who book in advance?
Having recently decreased my minimum stay to 1 day to help keep bookings flowing during the winter months, I expect to get more last minute requests. But, as a person who plans well in advance, I don't really understand why someone would be out of town without plans for accommodations. My mind quickly goes to bad case scenarios and the fear that they will bring drama to my house!
I thing that my presumptions are probably just paranoid but would feel more assured hearing from other hosts on the subject. I do want to welcome as many guests as I can and not be unnecessarily suspicious.
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Sheryl 2 years ago
"I thing" should be "I think"
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I can understand your reluctance. I've had a handful of great last minute guests who request anywhere from two days to two hours in advance. They usually have complete profiles (or are able to complete them in minutes), great communication (return my rental agreement right away, respond to questions), and leave the place in great condition. I forget why they were needing something on short notice.
I'm spontaneous and have traveled on a whim quite a bit - made arrangements on Thursday for Friday/Saturday, for instance.
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Susan
Susan2 years ago
Personally I like to stay flexible and book last minute myself - and wouldn't bring drama. So don't worry. - On the contrary I have some guests booking over a year ahead... And wondering if those will be high maintenance or somehow strange!
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Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
I have had mostly good experiences with last minute guests. I would call someone who books on the same day (or maybe even the day before) a last minute guest. I have had at least a dozen of these...maybe more....
One was a filmmaker, who travels regularly, making a documentary film, and he needed just one night before traveling on again to another city. He had several good reviews. Another person was a local woman, who was in the midst of moving to a new apartment, and for some reason she found out late that it wasn't available on the day she needed it, and needed a place for one night. She also had numerous good reviews and had been a host herself. Another was a man from New England spending a good deal of time driving around the USA in his car, and he booked a week, having stayed the previous night in a hotel. He had about 13 Airbnb reviews and was polite as can be. He ended up not staying the whole week, only about 4 days, but didn't ask for a refund.
I think the only(slightly) problematic person I had was one who contacted me at about 6pm to come over the same night, and he was somewhat local, though his city was a reasonable drive away, eg 30 minutes. He went out with friends later that night and came home intoxicated and I realized he may have needed a place to stay so he wouldn't have to drive drunk to get home. A good plan, but in my view a hotel is the proper place for that.
THere have been several people who wanted last minute bookings who contacted me so late (after 8pm) that I was not willing to host them. One contacted me at 9:30pm to come over the same night. I believe a lot of last minute folks are poor planners, and perhaps a bit careless -- I have had more than one person contact me saying that they were at the airport and needed a place to stay --, and for this reason I do regard last-minute requests as somewhat of a "red flag" situation -- not someone to necessarily exclude, (as in my experience most were fine guests) but just apply a bit more scrutiny, and come up with a deadline, after which you would consider a same-day request too late. Eg for me, someone contacting me after about 8pm for a same day booking is too late.
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Suzanne
Suzanne2 years ago
Deborah, as always, makes some good points. I think that the best answer to your question is to ask the prospective guests why they are booking last minute. It'll tell you a lot.
Susan
Susan2 years ago
Oh, Deborah, same day booking requests seem too late for me. I am hosting long distance most of the time. While I am on site, I might do an exception. I had no case yet, but would understand those travellers. I travelled with my parents like that through France, every summer. No longer than one night at a place... Just knocking on hotel doors to see if they have 2 rooms for us, or not.
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Karen
Karen2 years ago
I can't tell you how many times I have decided on a quick getaway. Though there is usually a plan a few weeks or months in advance, I don't always book the stay until last minute. Many times I have been at my destination area before deciding where to stay.
Just recently joining Airbnb, I am very excited to know there are options other than Hotwire hotels. Your location, Sheryl, is wonderful for last minute dinner, shopping, and city attractions. Just this hour, it crossed my mind to travel to NYC for the annual tree lighting...for our anniversary. But I'll wait until last minute to see the weather report!
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Nancy and Bill
Nancy and Bill2 years ago
We do many of these - usually they are people traveling and needing a place for the night. We have had good experiences with these guests. We have turned down a couple who contacted us later in the evening of their potential stay and we have not accepted these.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I did have problematic communications with a host in town with two last minute inquiries, but they didn't turn out to be reservations because I didn't like how the communications went. I also didn't care for her replies to guests' negative reviews.
I've taken reservations as late as 8 pm for that night - they have to return the rental agreement to get the self check in instructions before 10 pm.
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Javier and Kym
Javier and Kym2 years ago
I just had a last minute inquiry. Apparently, the guy was out of money and I'm cheaper than a hotel. I would guess that all last minute enquiries are people just passing thru. This guy ended up requiring a ride to the airport (out of money and $20.00 for a taxi was too much for him to spend). When I suggested Uber might be cheaper, he wanted to know if he could use MY account since he didn't have the app. Then, would I mind picking him up because the bus would take 2.5 hours to reach my house...yeah, as the messages progressed, my answers became less wordy, to the point of, "Nope. Sorry." If I was stupid enough to go get him and agree to chauffeur the, " poor student," to the airport, I'm sure he'd be hungry but not have the money to feed himself. Back in the day, when I was a poor student, I didn't go on vacations across the world that I couldn't afford. Just sayin'. I don't mind being cheaper than a hotel, because I'm NOT a hotel. I'm just occasionally renting a spare room in my home, but I'm not going to be taken advantage of because I'm perceived as worth less than a hotel.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Sounds like couchsurfing would have been a better option for him.
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Gosh, if someone asked me to pick them up because they couldn't afford a taxi or the bus would take too long, I would tempted to ask them if they could please paint the exterior of my entire house because painters cost too much.
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
LOL Deborah! I haven't had anyone ask for a discount or special treatment for a while now but I'm going to remember this for the next time!
Teresa
Teresa2 years ago
I had a last minute guest and he was wonderful, he was from New York and was here in LA for testing, it was easier for him to book thur Airbnb then driving around looking for motel also I had another last minute guest who stayed 1 night to drop off his daughter at LMU, kinda piss me off as his review said I needed something as I for got now but at the time I thought to myself you stayed one night and I let you booked at the last minute to get a so-so review made me upset. I wanted it to read
"very helpful took me in a couple of hours". That's just me on last minute guest.
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Serafina
Serafina2 years ago
I rarely take last-minute guests because (a) they usually want only one night and (b) the requests often come late in the evening when I'm busy putting the kids to bed and don't want to interrupt the routine to ready the rental. The few I've been able to accommodate have been just fine, so my reluctance is more about me and my own unwillingness to change what I'm doing to accommodate someone else.
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Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I have had one set of last-minute guests, my first guests ever. They were new to Airbnb and had one review. They were booking last minute because the place they had booked the host canceled on them last minute to accommodate her son coming in to town. My room was clean and ready but not decluttered as I'd thought I'd have time to do it after I got my first booking but nope, they were sitting in a bar a few blocks away looking for a place to stay. I told them it was ready but not ready and they could take a look first but they weren't worried about it. They came and were completely lovely and I think I lucked out because that first review is the hardest one to get, right? The only tiny negative in my case was someone in the first three reviews gave me 4-stars for cleanliness and I assume it was them. I would absolutely accommodate last-minute bookings as long as they were communicative and didn't set off any spidey sense.
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Sheryl
Sheryl 2 years ago
Interesting tales! Sounds like the same advice that always applied will work here - - -ask enough questions to get a feel for what the guest needs and whether they will be a comfortable companion in my shared space.
Deborah, I love your suggestion for the guest who is last minute AND impoverished.
But I'd bet that entitled one would not be willing to lift a finger!One thing that is clear to me from these postings and many others I've seen is that, despite the time of their inquiry, very few guests are willing to adjust their standards to allow for a little more clutter or less cleanliness in a room than might be usual. I keep hearing that even if they say, "Oh it's okay," they rate down for any offering that is not exactly like it appears in the photo. It's not entirely unreasonable. I suppose, if the room is not really ready for accommodation, I should just say "No."
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Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
I completely agree Sheryl on how guests often don't "keep up their part of the bargain" if they ask to come early and you say the room isn't quite ready, and they say "oh that is okay" and then they complain about how the room isn't ready. IF we weren't getting ratings and reviews as hosts, it wouldn't matter so much, you could just remind the guest of what they agreed to -- but with ratings and reviews in the picture it's too easy to get "set up" by a guest in this way.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Exactly – one way to avoid this issue is to not let the guest check in until the listing is ready. If they are a last-minute guest and they have to wait, they have to wait.
Rebecca
Rebecca2 years ago
I find the opposite to be the case, actually! I frequently let people arrive early on the understanding that the room won't be ready and they are very grateful to be able to leave their bags, get oriented and then head off. It's never been a problem for me at all and nobody has ever complained. Maybe it's because I'm a budget place and guests are more easygoing about these things? I don't know. As for last-minute guests, I'm not keen. I've done it a few times and they were a bit flakey to be honest. But as always with airbnb, it has to be on a case-by-case basis. If they meet your own criteria of verification, respectful communication, whatever it is that makes you comfortable... go for it!
Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
I also stopped letting people see the room before the checkin time. SOOOO many times guests want to come early to drop off their bags and ask to see the room. I would tell them its not ready. Guests are either sleeping in the room still or they have just checked out. When I did let them see the room, I couldn't believe the ordacity of some of the reviews about their arrival. These are not just one nighters....thats anybody. Nobody sees the room until after 5 p.m when its officially the check-in time.
Tania & Andrew
Tania & Andrew2 years ago
Hello, in our case we've had a few last minute requests but none have been confirmed except one and it was great. Here in Cancun a lot of people travel around the area so the last minute bookings we've had is because they are backpacking throughout the South of Mexico and Central America so they just don't seem to have a concrete schedule!
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Nic and Rach
Nic and Rach2 years ago
last minute guests are guests you have options, ACCEPT- DISCUSS-DECLINE-REPLY and if you are worried about reviews then your option is DECIDE and if you want to know why they do last minute booking because they can cancel w/in 24 hours without penalty... so whatever the purpose of their last minute booking... that's their thing and if this last minute guests are not what you are looking for ? then you might as well call it a night and have a nice evening.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
"if you want to know why they do last minute booking because they can cancel w/in 24 hours without penalty" - ??
Nic and Rach
Nic and Rach2 years ago
julie and Eric I stand corrected, all confirmed resersevations if you cancel ...it will default to the cxl policy, whether it's strict, moderate or flexible.. so now, " If you want to know why they do last minute booking the answer for that should be.. ask the guest.. LOL this is what's good about this forum you learn everyday.
Andrew
Andrew2 years ago
As a host, I don't get many last-minute requests because I'm very selective about which days I open up my availability. If you see a bookable date, that means that I 100% definitely want to host on that date. Usually they do get booked up, but sometimes I'll get a last-minute request for one of the small gaps between them. I've accommodated a few; they've generally been fine, but I'd say that they didn't really adjust their expectations to account for how little time I had to prepare for them. That's normal - most people don't realize how much work we put into hosting.
As a guest - I occasionally book places the day before arrival (same-day is too stressful). When I'm backpacking around, I like to keep a flexible itinerary and enjoy the freedom to follow spontaneous whims. And when I get an unexpected day off, it's great to be able to hop on a train and get out of town! There are definite advantages to traveling this way - imagine having a holiday at a beach resort booked months ahead, only to get rainy weather, or an outbreak of guerilla warfare.
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Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
LOL @ outbreak of guerrilla warfare. I'm also a traveller and did the backpack a LOT. But when I used to travel on a deep budget, and hopped on train to some isolated area, I always saw fit to have the reserved money for just those occasions. Most travelers do plan for many segments of their trips in advance, using airbnb... especially when they are traveling with a decent amount of luggage. But to expect to find a non-official place hospitality location such airbnb as opposed to hotels, motels, etc....I think thats where a guest should get a hotel or pay a little more for last minute location. Especially if they have certain quirks about where they sleep. One guy booked an hour before his arrival on an airmattress and said he didn't realize he was sharing a bathroom. $13 a night in Chicago and he thought they would receive a private room an hour before their arrival and reservation. My sister told me that I should have instructed him to go play 'hop scotch on the I-94 during rush hour'. LOL
Jana
Jana2 years ago
My first guests were last minute (same day) and turns out they were probably my favorite. Three years later we still keep in touch. Back in those days I was so eager to get my first guest that I didn't mind that they were last minute. Now that I'm a more seasoned host, I'm more reluctant to accept last minute guests mostly because my house is not cleaned to my usual standards. I do major preparation of my home home prior to my guests arrival so generally I'm not willing to have someone stay last minute.
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Nonya
Nonya2 years ago
LOL....I JUST STOPPED accepted one night stands. I have had some good one nighters to. I stopped for several reasons but mostly, its draining and the 'reviews' of these one night stands make you want to slap somebody. I vowed that unless Airbnb removes the option for them to make ANY comments on the reviews for anyone staying one night, then I will accept a one night stand. One nighters are normally tired, drained from travelling and like a person who drank to much, has a warped sense of reality and humility. If you read any of my reviews, you will notice that one ones who have the MOST to say are those who only were here for one night! The fact that I got out of my bed, to make you a bed within hours of your arrival time and probably fed you dinner AND breakfast from my generosity...that persons ONLY words should be thank you. I don't care if I was a desert tent in the middle of the sahara! Thank you for letting me in because i was too lazy to give proper notice of my arrival at least the day before....that should be the only words in the review.
Believe it or not, I would get more cancellations from people staying for one night. I'm thinking, 'really? you're just hear for one night....not even a full night in a house full of happy people and you want to leave?' Ok. Bye! hehehe One lady complained so much (even tho it clearly looked like this couple was living out of their car. They said on the review that i was not welcoming. I just checked out 12 people, had a weekend party and was completely tired but still trying to make small conversation with them. These booked literally an hour before they arrived....as if they were outside the house some where. Yeah....no more one night stands for me! I know I will be missing some nice people to. But thats something I can live with.
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Deborah