Aloha Deborah,
Thank you for sharing the madness going on in our world.
#1: A radio station survey? Really?
#2: A black man wanting to know if it's safe to travel to Sweden. Really?
#3: I had been, and occasionally do decline the "Is the listing available for such and such dates?" inquiries.
I may have dumbed down all my fancy pants appliances, light switches, took out the whole shower sliding glass doors that couldn't be figured out how to close.
I'm not sure what a fiasco a front door key would accomplish for me, my guests can't or won't close the damn thing. I don't care if my house was an actual barn, ya still close the door when after entering and leaving.
I want to reply, WTF do you think? It's a business, have a look at the flippin calendar that I taken the time to update on every site I'm listed on.
In the spirit of this weeks grumpiness, here was my latest response to an inquiry I received at 6:01 am, followed by the exact same inquiry addressed to another host in which the potential guest had forgotten to update the name in her copy and paste one minute later:
"Aloha "A",
Thank you for including me in your inquiry for multiple listings available.
I am declining your request as I do not feel comfortable that you did not read the listing, have a look at the listing pictures, and do not appreciate being on a lengthy list of potential hosts spending time explaining what I have taken the time to clearly state when I've created my listing.
I wish you a wonderful Hawaiian holiday.
With much aloha
This was a potential one week booking from xmas day to new years day (I do not feel compelled to spend my holiday season with such nonsensical inquiries and personalities); I am now totally inclined if it is apparent that the guest did not read the listing description, I don't care what color your skin is (she happened to be of white skin color), then I shall not welcome them into my house.
I'm the minority with Chinese guests. Oh Happy Days!!
First thing I wake up, "I've washed our clothes, where can I hang them to dry?"
Of course I told her to put them in the dryer, as I'm not having all her bloomers and whatnot hanging all around the house on a non sunny morning for my incoming guests to be greeted with. Not to mention that I shall have to figure out what sink or bathtub drain they've plugged up with all their sand. Did I mention they apparently don't know what a paved driveway is? They parked half way down to the pool on the grass. Go figure.
I've mentioned this before, but every picture I see of Asian homes, shoes are left outside the door in such quantity that I don't have a clue how they keep track of their own shoes, yet just can't figure out where to remove their shoes at my home. I've switched my tone on this one, I point 'here, or here'.
This I'm totally over with also, luggage dragged through every possible dirty space as well as their shoes, and they want to bring all those germs and dirt into my house just because I love to spend an hour every day vacuuming what would have been left outside.
No laundry services available? No problem, we'll do our laundry in the bathroom, now where can we dry them?
Really?
Oh hooray for October.
Two more have stated their flight arrives 'prior to noon, can they have early check-in?"
NO. I included the extra information that on the way to baggage claim they can have a look at the 1000's of brochures available with the 1000's of activities available on the island.
In the spirit of Halloweenie arriving, I'm thinking of shopping for a Dominatrix costume to greet them in.
Whips, chains, spikes, and greeting them with "I'm sure we shall have no problem if in fact you read the House Rules which you have already agreed to prior to booking."
That whole survey was entirely stupid, and us dedicated hosts have our calendars updated. Especially so for those of us who use IB.
I'm sorry they are under the assumption their time is more important than mine, thus if I get that vibe, Good bye!
