I would like help crafting a review for a guest please. I am a newer host, so please be gentle with me.
This guest has only 1 review: a stellar, glowing review from a stay with his family, in which they left the place spotless.
For my part, this guest made a reservation for 4 guests and didn't respond to my request for more details on his party until 3 days before check-in, when I ask to verify guest #s. At that point he said it would be 7-8 guests, so I changed the reservation to 8 guests (which increased the 2-night stay by 30%). He said he wasn't sure they would be ok with me "changing the price on them." He said he'd need to check with his friends.
I said fine- I'd rather they find a good fit and have a flexible cancellation policy, so he's welcome to find a more suitable place.
He got back to me saying 1 guest got covid-19, the other couple was afraid of covid-19 so there would only be 4 of them. Ok- fair enough. Changed it back to 4.
So, it looks like he shows up with 4. Then a 5th person shows up in another car after 10pm. I also see them smoking out on our balcony despite our "no smoking anywhere on the property" signs & rules.
I message him, congratulating him that his friend was able to join after all and changing the reservation to 5 guests. He accepts the alteration and ends up communicating great from that point forward - getting local recommendations for hikes, etc.
I don't mention the smoking because honestly, I'd prefer they smoke outside than inside and they did leave the place clean. And the cleaner says it doesn't smell like smoke. But it looks like I miscounted and he actually had 6 guests total, which he never mentioned.
My problem is I want to prepare hosts: they were not perfect guests, but they are fine for *some* hosts and I struggle to navigate Airbnb's overinflated rating system.
I'm thinking:
Communication: 5 stars,
cleanliness: 5 stars,
rules: 3.
Overall: 4 stars?
Suggestions for text? What do future hosts need to know, while still acknowledging they were generally respectful good guests?
Thank you for your guidance.