Extra Guests

[Sarah3063]

We have a small suite, with a private entrance, within our home. It has one queen sized bed and accommodates two people. A guest booked for herself and her son for the weekend. She later told me her other son surprised her with an overnight visit. While three is a bit tight in the suite I didn't mind as she told me about it. I offered a blow up mattress which she accepted. I realized the day after she arrived that one son included a wife and small child. They have since checked out and were perfectly lovely but I can't help but feel a little taken advantage of. I didn't give my permission for FIVE people. I'm not sure how best to review them as they were polite and I would not mind having her again but not with all of the extra people!!

[Emily487]

@Sarah3063 

Hmm. She also knew 5 was too many. And I am guessing this wasn't at all a "surprise" at all but simply a family getaway that would have been too expensive for a group of 5 in any other listing. That said, I would review her honestly and kindly:

Suzy Q was lovely and easy to chat with. She took great care of the apartment during her stay. However, her booking for 2 quickly morphed into a booking for 5 on the second night and this detail was not fully disclosed to us. Had we known, we may not have accepted her initial booking request.

[Sarah3063]

thank you. Very helpful!

[Mike-And-Helen0]

As @Emily487 says, @Sarah3063 but also, there was no offer to pay for the additional three guests.

[Kit45]

I believe the host may not be covered by Airbnb whatever situation may arise for unregistered guests.

[Sarah3063]

Thank you. That puts it in perspective!

[Yadira22]

@Kit45 this is not true, at least from my experience. We had a similar situation and they take this seriously. If reported you are given the option as a host to cancel penalty free, for it goes against their TOS. 

When this happened to us, they were super helpful and allowed us to sort this out ASAP but as they change their policy often etc I would not know if this is their current policy. 

[Kit45]

Hi Yadira,  I checked with Air BnB support.  When a registered/main guest invited a non-registered guest to the reservation, this third party is cover by the insurance.

[Sarah977]

@Sarah3063  Of course you feel taken advantage of- you were. I can't quite understand why you'd want a guest back who took advantage of you and didn't offer to pay for the extra people and misrepresented how many people were staying. 

[Sarah3063]

You are right, of course. I  am a sucker.

[Emily487]

@Sarah3063 

You aren't a sucker at all. 

Most of us do this because are accommodating and friendly (or at least we can fake it for a few hours a day). This is just the kind of situation that we all have to think about ahead of time so when it does come up, we feel confident and prepared to respond.

[Sarah977]

@Sarah3063  I certainly didn't mean you were a sucker- sometimes we doubt whether we're being too picky, or not accommodating or nice, but unless one is the kind of person who thinks everyone is always trying to take advantage of them, if you feel like you are, it most likely reflects reality. 

I've read lots of posts here over time where hosts list all the things a guest did that were against their house rules, and even kept behaving like that when it was pointed out to them. Yet the hosts were conflicted about the review because they said the guest was actually quite sweet and nice. To me, someone who ignores your rules and reasonable requests isn't nice at all. And people like that often have developed a public personna designed to do exactly that- lead others to forgive them or ignore their transgressions because they're "really nice". They know how to talk the talk and walk the walk so they can get away with all kinds of unacceptable stuff.

[Sarah3063]

Thanks. I agree with you and this thread has been really helpful. I wrote the review honestly and politely and if she doesn't come back then so be it. I have since learned that my microwave broke when they were here so that adds to the distaste.

I have also updated my house rules to mention no extra guests without written approval!

[Andrea-and-Francis0]

We use our cameras & recording for unauthorised entry & then kindly ask them to either pay for the additional people or they will be asked to leave as they are breaking your house rules.

[Luana130]

Hi, I do a few things to avoid it happening.... First of all ...house rules.... The thing I noticed with airbnb is that they will only enforce something if it is in your house rules. I wrote in my house rules that guests not in the reservation are not allowed, and that if one shows up there is a charge of ... (I put here doble the amount I normaly charge for extra guests). Always put the amount.

Secondly... Have proof, security cameras at the entrance.

Another thing that I do ( though from what I read that is not something for you) is no extra matresses. I make the room for the amount of guests registered (i have a big storage room that I put the matresses that are not supposed to be used at)