How to review? What would you do?

[Laura2592]

We have a couple staying with a baby. We don't allow infants. I'm super worried as our place is not safe for a little one. 

The only reason I know is because the internet went down temporarily and they asked for instructions to reset. After giving them the guest responded that they will try it after the baby wakes up. Uhhh what baby?? Later it was obvious on the Ring that a small baby is indeed there. 

Reservation is until Monday.  It's Saturday.  They checked in yesterday.  

What should we do? I don't relish throwing a family into the street but I'm really concerned about safety and they did not disclose that they were bringing an infant.  

I'm just so tired of dishonest guests.  

[Brian2036]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

It’s not people in general, it’s those who are drawn towards, or briefly popped out of, the giant cesspool of Washington DC.

And I’m not talking about the unfortunate slum-dwellers within walking distance of the capitol.

New York, LA, Chicago and a few other places have a fair number of thoroughly obnoxious citizens, but DC is way ahead in the game.

Despite that city’s raucous reputation, I doubt that @Laura2592 has as many problems with her NOLA property.

Here, and in most rural areas, most people still have some sense of shame and tend to be respectful, considerate, and responsible as guests.

The prevailing culture of our nation’s capitol declares those values publicly and scoffs at them privately.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Brian2036this is interesting... and why is it so?

@Laura2592   take a break in your own cottage for a change 🙂

[Brian2036]

@Branka-and-Silvia0 

This may provoke some screeching and it’s probably not relevant to the topic, but in my personal opinion Washington resembles Rome as the collapse of its empire became inevitable.

Rampant corruption; political, moral and religious. Bread and circuses to appease the downtrodden majority.

Violent crime too common to attract attention.

Psychopaths like Caligula worshipped and imitated.

Crippling, unsustainable debt.

2% of the citizens control 98% of the wealth and are celebrated for their success in bilking those less fortunate.

It’s just really not a nice place.

[Laura2592]

@Brian2036well I hate to undermine your theory but these guests are from NYC by way of Tampa according to their profiles 🙂

[Mark116]

@Brian2036  DC IS weird.  I lived there and worked downtown for 3+ years, and while the weather, the city infrastructure and the surrounding country was truly lovely, DC and my clients and work colleagues and the general vibe of the city was 'weird'  and I thought negatively charged,  this was more than a decade ago.  We lived in a lovely townhouse development right next to a 'creek' with bike/walking paths, so we could bike/jog/walk in a nice greenway within minutes of our house.  We went camping/canoeing on a regular basis.  I belonged to a beautiful club that had an outdoor pool open almost year round. 

And we could not WAIT to leave Washington.  Weird.

[Laura2592]

@Mark116 yes we lived in DC for years. Moved to Frederick which I'd a good hour north and west and a small city in its own right. I did not miss DC at all. We moved out to the country outside of Frederick  and I miss Frederick more than DC.  Lovely city but just way too much. 

Ironically my born and raised in San Diego husband really loved the atmosphere in DC. He still talks about going back. He was only there a year or two and it had not eaten him up yet so it's a novelty for him. I'm happily done with it. But apparently not the guests.  I will say that Baltimore guests have their fair share of issues too so im not picking on anyone in particular.  It's a mindset more than a city. 

[Brian2036]

@Mark116 @Laura2592 

The first time I was there was more than 50 years ago and it made a strong impression.

Admittedly it wasn’t the best part of town (near the Greyhound bus station) and I had never been to a city larger than St. Louis, (which was also far from Paradise) but I was appalled by the filth, perverse behavior, and abject poverty I saw everywhere I looked.

To me it was like a vision of hell, and I remember thinking, “This just cannot last much longer.”

Well, I guess I was wrong, and since then I have spent time in some of the worst places on earth, experienced war, famine and pestilence, stepped over bodies in the gutter…but Washington is still at the bottom of my list of places I want to visit.

[Jenny349]

You have my sympathy @Laura2592 ! For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t take any action other than leave an honest review - as others have obviously had to do with these guests in the past. You mentioned they had a 4 overall? Rightly or wrongly, after several less than good experiences with 4* guests, I’m seriously leaning towards not accepting requests from folk with less than 5 in any category. 

[Laura2592]

@Jenny349yes I am starting to feel the same way. The trouble is that you can't see stars unless they Instant Book and they can Instant Book if the hosts don't leave low stars and press the "would not host again." Many hosts don't do this. They either don't review at all or just like a positive review out of fear because they don't know how the reviews work.

[J-Renato0]

@Laura2592 

Less trouble, the better.

My first thought about the situation if I were in your shoes - Maybe I would wait till monday. Then they will leave the property.
Whatever could happen because they have a baby is not your fault.
It is the couple who are breaking the rules.
Moereover, most of the couples take care of their baby. The probability of something bad happen  seems to be almost zero %.

However, if you think the baby is in danger (you say, your place is not safe for a little one), you could advise them. Let them know that your place is not safe for baby. (I know it was in the listing, however the couple may not have read it)
So you can have piece of mind  and they will be more carefull with the baby. It is up to them leave the property or not.  (Considering you don't want to throw a family into the street when they less expect it)

As for the review, tell that they broke the house rules. Advise them not to do it again.

Just my 2 cents!

[Laura2592]

@J-Renato0yes only one more evening 🙂

I just don't have the energy. On the one hand it makes me crazy when people are so disrespectful and think the rules don't apply to them (especially parents who put their kid into a situation that could be dangerous). On the other hand, hospitality is often about sucking it up and being gracious when people are boors. They seem very young and my husband said they have been pleasant when he has chatted with them. Hopefully the gods of hospitality will smile on me and these people will exit my space without issues, never to return.

[Kelly149]

@Laura2592 we've had family staying in our barn since June... I highly recommend a break from the STR world

[Laura2592]

Guests are gone. They CLEARLY did not read the listing in any way. Texts last night to ask about check out time, where to dispose of dog poo (no dog disclosed. We are pet friendly but ask to be told if pets are coming.) And they wrote in the guest book that this was baby's first travel experience.  

They left the place in good order and were sweet. So I don't want to blast them.  I'm thinking something like--

"Guests were pleasant and we enjoyed hosting them. Though we were honored to be chosen as the spot for their baby's first trip away from home, we don't host little ones under 2 for insurance reasons.  We were very nervous when they disclosed that they had a baby with them as our stairs are very steep and we mention this as a potential issue in our listing.  It was clear that these guests had missed that and other pertinent information about our house rules. Nonetheless they left our space well cared for and we would be happy to have them back as a couple or family when the baby is a bit older. We thank them for staying with us."

Too soft or too harsh? What do you think?

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Laura2592 

From this post, I didn't get the impression that you enjoyed hosting them 😅 so I'd suggest that part and being honored to be chosen as baby's first trip be deleted, while adding they had a undisclosed dog too? Also...... would you really be happy to have them back again? 

[Laura2592]

@Jessica-and-Henry0  I deferred to my husband as he dealt with them a lot more than I did. He thinks they were good guests in terms of their interaction. We certainly have had a lot worse.  

There are few guests that I would love to have back in the last several months 🤪.  My husband said he would have them back as long as they were very clear on the rules. 

The irony of this entire situation is that we declined an alteration  (the second) for a guest this weekend as it would have resulted in a significant loss of income over a holiday weekend and we had already set up our cleaning schedule.  The guest seemed quite entitled and flaky and we had already allowed her to change her reservation once. So given the choice between that person and this, these guests are better.