Extra guest charge with no extra services

[Steven532]

Hi, I am a host and a guest. It is very frustrating, traveling as a couple, when many hosts charge an 'extra' fee for us when we sleep in the same bed and there is no breakfast provided. Today's example was a 25% extra per day! I would love some feedback on this. Am I missing something? Thanks Steven

[Ana1136]

@Steven532 Does only one of you shower? Will only one of you use towels, toilet paper, soap, coffee, tea, shampoo? Will only one of you charge their phone and use electricity? That is what those 25% extra are for 🙂 

[Steven532]

The only extra is water (usage), power (usage) and for cleaning of the 2nd towel. Nothing else is provided above what a single guest received. This is very common.

They would be cents (maybe a $  across a few days) per stay, hardly a justifiable reason for adding a plus 1 charge.

I would suggest charging from 2 people would be reasonable.

[Ana1136]

@Steven532 every host charges what they think would be reasonable. If they are unreasonable they will be out of business soon enough. You don't know their expenses and the reasoning behind their prices. If it is more fit to your needs you should search for homes that don't charge extra after the first guest, luckily there are so many options. But I believe that if you do a comparison you will see that the price is pretty much the same for two people in both of the cases. 

[Steven532]

Given I do know the background to this case and others like it, it's a big call you are making about this circumstance. 

As to the patronising ' look elsewhere if you don't like it' type feedback a simple question elicits, from several correspondents, I don't see much value in using this community again.

[Gordon0]

It really rather depends how much that 25% equates to, @Steven532. I charge £10 extra per night for a +1. Why? More towels, more electricity, more Nespresso pods and (generally) more cleaning to do. I think what's more relevant is to compare the price you're paying with the alternatives.  

[Steven532]

Hi

No Nespresso etc and power/water is hardly going to add up to much.

Cannot imagine how cleaning is going to take longer but if you have dirty guests, perhaps that is a review issue and not charging extra to all guests.

The rate was in line with other properties

[Sarah977]

@Steven532  Well, you do have a choice as to whether you choose a listing that charges for an extra guest or the same price for 2 who share a bed.

You say that the extra person would only result in a small increase in utilities, and while that may be the case with you and your partner, as a host yourself, you may have found out that while some people are in and out of the shower in 5 or 10 minutes, there are some guests who will stand in the shower for an hour until the hot water runs out. Or use up 3 clean towels for a one night stay. Perhaps this host has had situations like that before. So a host would average out the extra guest fee based on the fact that not everyone is respectful not to act entitled when it comes to availing themselves of the amenities.

You could always send the host private feedback, suggesting that 25% extra seems a bit steep and they might consider lowering it in the future. If you leave a good review, they may consider what you've said, if you don't, they'll likely dismiss it and find it offensive. But as @Gordon0 said, the percentage is less important than how much that 25% is based on. If they're charging $200/night, then $50 seems steep to me, if they're charging $50/night, $12.50 for an extra guest sounds quite reasonable.

[Sally221]

Dear Steve,

I agree that the base cost cost per stay should be boldly displayed and it should reflect the number of guests you can most gracefully accomodate. I wonder if your host was feeling the pressure to list at the lowest possible rate? 2 guests will use more water & towels but unless a host is either in an area with water restrictions or is already charging too little to feel viable, a 25%  extra fee sounds steep indeed for a second person- do they not want to host couples? Personally, I charge a flat fee for up to 4 adults &  I don't accomodate more, don't even ask. And, I do include breakfast. But that's me & I don't go with price points either, Sally

[Steven532 · Accepted solution]

Hi Sally

Thanks for the thoughts. The extra is a bit odd.

With one of my properties, I provide breakfast but at a pp charge. That might be worth considering. Saves on wastage too.

[Mary1211]

Hi Stephen, was this all made clear and upfront before you booked?

is there any reason you booked with that place, rather than another host that does not charge for a second guest?

I do not personally charge for the second guest if they are sharing a bedroom, but I respect that other hosts may have different practices.

Certainly reading this post has made me reconsider my policy

[Steven532]

Hi and thanks for the feedback.

This is not a confirmed booking issue, rather a philosophical one.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Steven532 

Usually, for smaller units, the base price is set for 2 guests, but yes, there are exceptions.

For bigger units with more bedrooms, the base price is often set for 2 + guests and then extra XX $ for every guest more than that.

You should also know that the base price counts for the search position. If we have the base price of 50€ for 2 guests and then 10€ for the third one, we will be positioned higher then if we set our base price of 60€ for 3 guests ( been there done that)

Having 2 guests doesn't always mean they will sleep in the same bed. For example, I booked 2 bdr apartment for my friend and me and we slept in 2 separate bedrooms, each one of us on a king size bed. The host couldn't know if we will use just 1 or both beds and he didn't ask.

[Rachel177]

@Steven532  I charge an extra $30/night for the second guest.

There are a few reasons that I charge for the extra guest. One is the additional water/utilities cost. Another is using the cost as a slight deterrent.  My experience hosting is that couples tend to spend more time just hanging around my apartment (I host a private room), and I end up feeling like an intruder in my own house.

My main motivation is that when I travel solo I really object to paying so much more as a single than 2 people (at times double), and I don't wish to pass that on to the solo guests who book to stay with me. My average nightly rate is $70, or $100 if a couple books. A solo travels still pays a little more at $70, while 2 guests would pay $50 per person rather than $35 each if the additional guest charge wasn't applied.

[Michelle53]

Hi Steven

I have been hosting for 3 years.  I charge for each extra guest after the first guest. 

Here are some of my reasons :-

1.  If someone books for 2 people, I don't ask if they are a couple. They may be parent and child, or siblings, or just two friends travelling together.   

2. I have had couples that were intimate in all the available beds, so I had to change all the linens as if 4 people were there. 

3. I provide some very light snacks and drinks, and sometimes even just one person will completely empty everything. 

4. People often use two or even three towels each per day. 

5. My time to clean and prepare the space between guests is worth including, since if I were to pay an outside cleaning service, I would pay by the hour. More guests, more time required. 

6. People can sometimes travel with cell phones, laptops, tablets and all kinds of devices. So, yes, there can be a measurable increase in utility cost (I track all of my costs very carefully).  Water and sewer costs are high where I live, so increased water usage, especially hot water,  makes a big difference.