I knew it would happen eventually…..

[Marissa160]

I got a four star review for the first time since I started hosting this spring. I knew it would happen since it is inevitable the more guests you have! Just a little annoyed as the guest checked four stars for accuracy, communication, and value because she couldn’t get a good cell phone signal. I don’t offer wifi as it’s hard to get in my rural area. Anyway, This guest also ruined my flooring which means to fix it I have to rip it all up so even though I knew a 4 star review would happen eventually, this one stings just a little more since she was messy and ruined my floor. Thanks for letting me vent everyone! 

[Colleen253]

@Marissa160 Ugh. Who books a cabin by the lake to spend time on their devices? You can take the opportunity to help future guests who also may not understand what they are booking, by responding to her review "As noted in our listing amenities, we don't offer wifi. Due to the rural location, service will be very limited. This cabin is best suited to those who want to fully enjoy nature and check out of their electronic devices!

[Marissa160]

@Colleen253 they also checked in really late (midnight) and As soon as they arrived, they were frantically walking back and forth and holding their phones up in the air. About five minutes after that is when they asked for a WiFi password and I answered right away even though it was very late.  But I also know I can’t win them all! : ) 

[Brian2036]

@Marissa160 

Satellite internet and WiFi might be available at about $70 per month if you want it.

 I debated the issue and finally decided to get it.

 I don’t know why people come all the way out here to play with their cell phones but they do.

[Marissa160]

@Brian2036  We have desperately tried to get it. I had five companies out. Our home is in a low area and is surrounded by tall pine trees. There is a tower nearby but usage was getting maxed out and the owner of the tower went MIA. Tried for four months to call him LOL. I did just hear he sold it to someone else,  so calling them is on my to do list. Gotta love country living right?!? 

[Brian2036]

@Marissa160 

Yup. It’s better than the alternative.

 I wouldn’t cut down any trees for satellite service either.

Possibly hi-speed internet will be available even in rural areas. They’re laying conduit near here right now, but I really doubt that they’re going to go up the mountain for one customer.

If the government is paying you never know though.

[Anonymous]

@Marissa160   In fairness to the guest, your listing could be a little more explicit about how "unplugged" guests are going to be in the cabin. You make passing mention that there's no cable/WiFi, but it's buried deep in a very long description, and the weak cell phone signal doesn't seem to come up at all. 

It's not necessary to present these details as negatives - perhaps your ideal guests would be thrilled to have a break from contact with the outside world (although it doesn't flow well with being listed on a web-based platform; how would people contact Airbnb during their stay if they needed to?)  

[Emilia42]

@Marissa160 I agree with Andrew. I just scanned your listing and I am surprised that this is the first time you encountered a guest who wasn't aware that there was no wifi. In the US, I think wifi is now an assumed amenity so unless it is blatantly thrown in my face, I am going to assume that wifi is available wherever I go. If I were you, I would list this info as an "Amenity Limitation" under the Guest Safety section. Also, be more upfront about this in your listing description. AND mention it again during/right after the booking process as a reminder. 

[Marissa160]

@Emilia42  I will make it more clear, thanks for pointing it out. It hasn’t come up too many times as most guests just check in for the weekend. I do have a guest coming for Christmas staying for a week, so hoping to get something more reliable by then. 

[Marissa160]

@Anonymous  Thank you for the feedback and I will make it more clear. I have had other guests ask about the WiFi, as they didn’t clearly read the listing. I do have a mobile hotspot that I’m willing to share when they specifically ask (as I did with this guest) but obviously I can’t claim it as WiFi. Hopefully this won’t be an issue in the future if I can eventually get WiFi. 

[Lawrene0]

Ha! Yes, looking for no-wifi places from web-based platforms. Doesn't make sense, @Anonymous , but they book in droves.

So yes, @Marissa160 , there is no wifi at my place either, and spotty phone service with some providers, but, knock on wood, I've never been dinged for it. I'm very clear about the off-grid aspects of the place both in the description, and then in the initial message after they book. Sometimes when I send that "You're good with the backcountry aspects of the place? With no wifi?" they up and cancel, and that's a much better outcome than them coming and desperately seeking a signal. Some of them really need to be able to google "how to start a campfire" but that inability saves on wood. 😉

I did get dinged this weekend because my neighbours down the river were, according to my guests in their private message, "singing karaoke and the sound was coming over the water".

There is absolutely nothing I can do about that, but I did add it to Potential for Noise.

Not kidding. Be very clear about any downside with the idea of getting guests who don't mind, for instance, there being no distractions except Earl and Shirley singing "I Got You Babe".  

[Michelle53]

@Marissa160    There's another aspect to consider. People may well want to get away with no wifi and no cell phone service, but maybe they left the kids with Grandma & Grandpa, or the dog at the Kennel, or someone looking after their house. It may be necessary to be able to check in with home base periodically, even if only to let folks know they arrived safely. 

In cases where I've gone somewhere totally off the grid e.g. white water rafting in the wilderness, the outfit would always have some means of emergency communication via radio, or we would know when the next connected stop was going to be. e.g. cell phone service may be available 10 miles away at the next town. 

Maybe it's a case of mentioning that cell phone service/internet connectivity  is available at a nearby town, with the distance away.    One should consider the safety aspects of having people stay in a remote area. 

[Marissa160]

@Michelle53 that is a great point. We do have a mobile hotspot that I use for monitoring the keypad and camera, and I do provide it to guests who ask about connectivity. I just ask them not to stream movies with it lol. 

[Lorna170]

@Marissa160 @Christine615 @Lawrene0 @Laura2592 @Michelle53 

By law my cabin is required to always have the means to call 911.  So I have an old fashioned Ma Bell phone line (gasp) with local service as well as the cable company WIFI, TV and phone package.  It is in my rental agreement that is sent at booking that not all phones will have service at the cabin. 

[Laura2592]

@Marissa160 it happens. Best to get it out of the way in some sense!

As you host you will find out all kinds of things that are important to guests which might not be super important to you. For us it was the fact that you can see neighbors at our space. We started hosting in February when the trees are dead and neighbors are far more visible than they are in summer. We got dinged early by guests who were upset by that. Living in Maryland which is one of the most densely populated small states in the US, I would have figured that most people would be familiar that even rural properties are neighbor visible. But that was not the case. I made sure to caption photos, mention it in my listing and tell my winter guests that neighbors are more visible so they may want to cozy up to the fireplace inside. 

When I travel, unless a neighbor is standing outside the bathroom watching me bathe I could really care if I can see the house next door from my window. But some guests care, so I had to adjust. Not everyone is like me!