STreamlining Breakfast

Kate shared on Hosting 911 Jan 2015

www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-101532
Streamlining Breakfast

I offer two rooms in my house for rent. I provide breakfast and give my guests juice, cereals, fruit salad, yoghurt, toast, pastries, smoothies and tea and coffee for breakfast. I don't offer this in their rooms but at the dining table. If they are staying a few days I try and mix it up so its not boring. My issue is that my current guests seem to want breakfast anywhere between 8 and 11am. It is getting tedious. I try and fit in with what they want but think I need to set a time and say breakfast is served at x o clock. I like to serve breakfast because from guest feedback they seem to love the breakfast. I am trying to find the line between meeting guests expectations and keeping sane. Most of my guests choose a time and then keep that time each day. What do you do? Served breakfast or self serve? Do you offer guests a 'menu' to choose what they want each day? I know it should be easy but as a fairly new Host It is causing me angst lol.
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Fiona
Fionaa year ago
If I'm around and making breakfast/coffee/etc. I'm very happy to make it for guests. Otherwise it's that they can help themselves. It puts the ball in their court. I learned really quickly that a guest's schedule and mine don't always mesh and decided to make life easier.

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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
We offer self-served breakfast; guests have their owm small fridge with milk, oj, yogurts in the dining room and there is a wet bar stocked with coffee, teas and fresh fruit. We learned early on to leave limited quantities of fruit, yogurts or food; as it was intended for breakfast only.

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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
You could say "breakfast will be served at 9am (or whatever time works best for you) if you miss that time then self-serve breakfast is available." I think self-serve breakfast is the best way to go, though.

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Kate
Katea year ago
Thanks everyone. It does seem that self serve breakfast is the way to go. I live and learn and it is so good to get other hosts input. It really helps so many thanks.

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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Self serve! None of those things mentioned take any effort. Let them get it themselves.

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Dan & Sarah
Dan & Saraha year ago
Kate, first of all - you are doing a stellar job at providing and looking after your guests. Well done! As a guest - I'd feel lucky to stay at your place and would appreciate the gesture. However, it shouldn't cause you the host any concern as it's FREE, so you may wish to consider what works for hotels - breakfast is self serve and offered from 6.30a-10.30a. If you miss that time, then you dont get bfast. If you want something that is not available/or offered, then you are welcome to get your own breakfast. Very simple. This is what other hosts have suggested and i can't agree more. Again, well done and top effort

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Kate
Katea year ago
Thanks Danny. Excellent advice. Much appreciated.

John
Johna year ago
Hotels I've stayed at have other hours, like 6-9am but some have 6-9:30 or 10 on weekends. Was at one recently where the hot oatmeal was almost gone at 7:30am and she siad that was all of it - if you missed it, you had to deal with instant stuff yourself.

Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Kate, I think I'm a bit like you. I try to serve the breakfast myself, and offer similar things to what you have stated. I especially try to serve the breakfast myself on their first day, mostly because our coffee maker is not like most coffee makers used in this country, so i want to show them how it works, and also because I want guest to use a certain set of dishes, glasses, etc. I want it to look nice, so I always set the table (sometimes the night before). But if I know I 'm not going to be there, I place the jams, the butter, and the breads on the table, with a note saying "juice and yogurt are in the fridge". Obviously I don't want those things sitting out all morning, if the guests are late getting up. And like yours, my guests have often said how much they enjoyed the breakfast.

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Kate
Katea year ago
I tried exactly that this morning and left them to it. Thank you Juliet!

Kate
Katea year ago
Juliet I just looked at your listing and wow it looks wonderful and from your reviews breakfasts are popular. Your place is on my wish list.

Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Me too. Love your house. Added to my wish list

Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Thanks, ladies, you're welcome any time! In fact, I've never hosted another host, although I've stayed at plenty of Airbnb places myself!

Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
I offer a self-serve breakfast that is available at any time to the guest. I set a place for them at the table where I place a bowl of fruit, cereal and fresh muffins. In the fridge, there are milk and juice. On the counter are a hot water kettle and coffeepot. I show each guest where everything is kept on check in. I don't care what time they have breakfast because I don't have to do anything to make it happen and nothing they do to serve themselves disturbs me.

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Kate
Katea year ago
Thanks Sheryl, I tried the self serve approach this morning as my guests have been with me a few nights now. It is much easier and I am sure more relaxing for everyone. I will have breakfast with them again on their final day perhaps. Thanks for your reply. Love this forum.

Kate
Katea year ago
Sheryl I just looked at your listing. Your breakfasts sound very popular and pumpkin muffins -yum. Your place is on my wish list!

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Susan
Susana year ago
are you running a restaurant too? just curtail what's offered to that which the guests can make themselves/or are readily available. leave it out so you don't have to be a waitress too. I would say you're losing $ given you time spent combined with cleaning, cost of supplies and breakfast. does anyone leave you a tip?

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Kate
Katea year ago
Lol Susan, NO! Yes, I tried the self service today. You are right I have to pull back some. I guess when you first start you go overboard and then you realise its costly and resource intensive. I am learning quick plus I am putting on weight eating what the guests dont use lol

Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
I'm very surprised that an Aussie would serve 'pastries' for breakfast? That must be costly you a fortune and yes it would stack on the weight.

Susan
Susana year ago
OMG.. Put those guests and yourself on dietary program also add in 15% gratuity....

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Kate
Katea year ago
Fleur, i make the pastries. So it isnt really. I usually offer a carb like toast or muffin, croissant, pastry. Dainty sizes too. I freeze things. I don't do this every day but depends who guests are and how long they are staying. I tend to mix it up a bit if you are staying 7 days or so. Don't worry they get Vegemite as well lol. I just need to make it all self serve. Did it today and the guests cleaned up, washed up etc so easy! I will do this from now on.