Late check-in requests

[Sheila187]

Late check-in requests. 
I frequently get asked for a late check-in‘s. Our check-in policy is clearly stated. It is from 2 to 6 PM. Often times when Our guests request  a late check in we will accommodate. What I am finding is that they underestimate how long it will take. They end up getting there an hour or two later than the late check in they requested. My husband and I go to bed quite early and it’s a bit challenging for us. Is there a polite but firm way we can ask them to reconsider?

[Colleen253]

@Sheila187   Try to discourage guests from even asking in the first place. Make them very aware before even booking that you are not able to accommodate check ins outside of your check in window, and reiterate the window times....add a note about it in 'other things to note' as well as in your house rules and house manual, and at every step in your communications with guests. Hopefully this will curtail the problem and inform guests better.

You'll no doubt still get a few guests asking anyway, but those will more likely be the ones for whom travel plans got sidelined through events beyond their control. Not sure there's much you can do about those instances. Any idea why your guests in particular are often needing a late check in? Is it something about your location? 

[Sheila187]

Thank you so much for this reply. Very helpful. I see I need to do more communicating with my guess.

[Alexandra316]

@Sheila187 Would it be possible for you to allow for self check-in? Your window is extremely narrow, and I can see how some guests might find it challenging to get there in time.

If that's not possible, I would be sure to send a welcome message as soon as the guest books thanking them for the booking and mentioning the check in window. That may weed out some people who aren't a good fit.

[Sheila187]

Thanks for your response. Self checkin is a little iffy since were out in the woods and some people may not find their way as easily. You mentioned that it was a narrow window. What would be a wider window for checkin? Thanks. 

[Helen3]

Why don't you offer late check in at an additional cost @Sheila187  - that tends to reduce the numbers asking for it 🙂 

Having said that your window seems very narrow - up to 10 p.m. might be more reasonable. But reinforce in your house rule that they must liaise with you to agree a mutually agreeable time within the slot as you can't offer self-check in due to the remote location so you can guide in guests who have difficulty finding your place.

[Alexandra316]

@Sheila187I'm not sure. How late are your guests trying to check in? In my experience on when guests check in, I'd say 9 pm would be reasonable. I've had guests check in after midnight, but I'd say the majority check in between 5 and 9 pm. 

[Colleen253]

@Sheila187  re: "some people may not find their way as easily" Do most people in fact have a hard time finding your place? Maybe a hand made detailed map with plenty of landmarks along the way would help. Email it to guests once they've booked. But if your place is easily identified by gps or a map app, maybe it's not really such a problem. I get where you're coming from. I don't like to retire for the night until guests are safely installed, so my cut off is 10 pm. I've only ever had one guest check in that late though. Most want early, lol. But if you're hitting the hay really early, it might be something you just have to do your best to mitigate for, then let it go and go to bed 🙂

[Sheila187]

So appreciate this community to kick things around. I can see we need to extend the window for our check in. Another possibility might be that if they want to come after checkin, self check in might work. Most of our guests don’t get lost anymore because of new signage for the nature preserve that’s directly next door. So maybe everybody’s right.