Gladys
I don't have any broken dishes, in my place. I have a setting for 4. I take 4 people. dishes need to be washed, prior to leaving. They get WALMART QUALITY. Not Grandmother's fine CHINA! Also, if you are sharing a kitchen, lock up, your good, stuff, and designate a special, cabinet or two, for your guests dishes, food, and label it. This way, they will know that that is their special spot, just for them. Also do the same for a shelf on the fridge.
They are NOT FAMILY! Even though, there have been many guests, I have made friends with, that you would like to think of as family, but TRUST NO ONE! I learned this my first year when I was hosting. I was sharing my kitchen, as well, as my box of WHEATIES. A few days after the last guest left, I began to fix me a bowl, and I found, ROCKS, YES, small ROCKS among the flakes in my cereal box.
Sometimes, I have back to back reservations at Lake Erie during the Season. I also offer plastic dishes and silver ware if they dont feel like washing dishes, but they cant leave the place a mess! I have NO DISHWASHER, or GARBAGE DISPOSAL. My cottage is "OLD SCHOOL" It has to be "reasonably clean" upon check out. (I don't charge them a Security Deposit. However, I may be changing this policy very shortly)And I make sure the guest knows that, or they get an XTRA $75 FINE on top of the $75 cleaning fee. (Cleaning is whole separate issue)
I let them do all their own cooking, as they have their own kitchen. I have plenty of pantry items, but milk, eggs, OJ and bacon, I keep to a minimum, as it spoils. I always ask how many people are coming. Never buy more than needed. You can always, go out and buy more, or you can credit them, Airbnb allows you to do so under, "Guest Resolutions". You can credit your guest during or after their stay. Email them prior to their arrival, and tell them what you plan on providing. Ask them if they have any food allergies? If they get back to you fine. If not, then what you supply will have to make do. I also, let them know, that breakfast is a "MINI" breakfast. It is self served, and self catered.
For the most part, I don't usually have any breakfast HOGS! lol. When you say "Continental" breakfast, I think now days, at least in America, most people, think of a Denny's style, or a IHOP, or a Bob Evans, SUPER big breakfast. And that means more food to go to waste, and more work for you. My Mother, who is 75, suggested, that I use the term "Continental Breakfast" after I had problems with a recent guest, wanting a SUPER big breakfast. I REFUSE to use that term, as I believe it confuses people. It was obvious that they didn't read my ad/listing, as they found many things to complain about. (That is another story in itself, and Yes,those particular guests, did treat me like their servants, or should I say....."SLAVE" so I do know exactly what you are talking about.)
But everyone has a different connotation to each and every word, so the word "MINI" comes from the word "MINATURE" meaning small.
a combining form with the meanings “of a small or reduced size in comparison with others of its kind”
And with more and more people worried about their weight, and their health, diabetes, cholesterol , sodium intake, carbs, gluten free,....etc. People are just getting more and more picky. My personal connotation of "MINI breakfast" is:
a bowl of cereal
a cup of coffee
and a yogurt.
Or another example would be:
6 oz. glass or orange juice
2 eggs,
2 slices of toast,
with a tablespoon of strawberry jam.
Not pancakes stacked a mile high, drenched in margarine, and heavy maple syrup, with whip cream,
4 slices of Canadian bacon,
Amish smoked Swiss cheese and mushroom omelet,
a basket of homemade buttermilk biscuits,
8 oz glass of whole milk,
assorted fresh fruit cup, cottage cheese,
2 hash browns, a bottomless cup of coffee,
and big 'ole glass of ice water.
NO! then, you not only graduated into the Restaurant business, but you might as well, become trained as a paramedic! Because your guest is gonna have a heart attack right there in your kitchen! LOL!
Keep it clean, keep it simple, and keep it fresh. Usually the picky people, don't or wont go to the B n B's. They always have the option to make their own breakfast. Right?
And as far as the laundry is concerned.......When is the last time you have been to hotel, not motel, and filled out that little card that comes with that little tiny bag, that maybe could fit a pair of shoes inside, and sent away for GUEST LAUNDRY? (JUST SAYING)
I believe there are 2 options, 1) the time you want it back 2) laundered or Dry clean (with options for starching)
The faster you want it back:=more money. Dry clean = more money. More Starch = more money. Tell her to go to laundry mat. Unless, its a pair of panties, that she can wash out in the sink, and air dry. (we've all been there ladies :))
The above guests, that I mentioned that I had a problem with, stayed with me for 6 days. There were 4 of them. I used to make my washer and dryer available to guests staying more than 3 days. Even though there is a brand new full service Landry mat, less than 3 short blocks, from my cottage. However, after, the last guests, I'm not sure I will be offering that service anymore, especially after reading about your guest. My guest didn't want to move her bed over 12 inches to access the private laundry room. Of course, I would have moved it and moved it back upon completion, as the frame is on wheels, and it is very simple to do. But she didn't want her bed disturbed or moved. So I told her that if that was the case, then unfortunately, she would not be able to use the laundry faculties at the cottage, without moving the bed over 12” and she would have to go to the laundry mat, down the street. She gave me a look that could kill. And left me a horrible review. It has not posted yet.
But what these guests fail to realize, is that they are staying in someone's home. It is not a hotel. There are going to be little quirks here and there. And if they want their laundry done 2xs a day, then they can stay home. If they don't want to move a bed over a few inches to access a door to a private laundry room, then go down the street. It's not like you are sleeping in the bed, while you are doing laundry. There were plenty of places to sit and wait, other than that particular bedroom. These Guests are just plain old pain in the assess. They are disrespectful, and those are the type of guests that should be banned from staying at a private residence all together!
We just dont have a STAFF like a HOTEL does to wait on them hand and foot!
Hope this helps!
Best of Luck and God Bless!
Elizabeth
SWAN LAKE COTTAGE