So just now I got a request to book for TODAY. For 2 days. I have "at least 2 days advance notice" set in my listing. The individual says they are a member of the clergy staying for a silent retreat, that they are solo, that they live in a nearby city which is about an hour away (so really, if you lived there and went for a retreat near my cottage you wouldn't really need to book overnight. And silent retreats don't just pop up on a whim.) The profile has multiple reviews discussing a group of young men by various names, none of whom are the person booking, and it sounds like there were some boys or bachelor weekends, though the scores are good. The profile also lists a totally different city than where the inquirer says they live, but that isn't so unusual. Its...odd. But whatever. I would have this guest normally and send a polite message about how I am so sorry but we would love to host him another time.
We don't take last minute bookings. Period. We can't get the cleaners there and can't get behind them to do our disinfecting and set up welcome treats. So even if this all looked super kosher (and it doesn't) we couldn't do it and have everything ready in an hour and a half for noon check in. But my choices are to have my calendar blocked, which essentially it should already be as I am not taking same day reservations, or to say I am uncomfortable and explain why.
My settings are still "2 days advance notice" so I don't even know why I am getting this. Frustrating. What is the point of having settings if they don't screen out requests you can't honor?