Beverages, coffee, mineral water...how to manage this?

[Claudio346]

Hello everybody,

I'm Claudio from Ticino Switzerland and I'm going to have my first client in a few days.

I would like to offer an impressive staying to my guests and I'm wondering how to manage the additional features not directly linked to the accomodation package, like, coffee, water, snacks...

As a guest I normally like to found such features when I travel but as a Host, I don't know how to manage it.

Is there any golden rules?

Thanks in advance for any hints,

best,

Claudio.

[Kimberly54]

@Fred13, @Victoria567... I can't for the life of me understand why you would let someone use such valuable pieces of equipment like a washer/dryer, or muck about in your lovely kitchen...or ask them to clean a thing, because you're just going to have to do it again anyway.

Hummmmm...

*)

[Victoria567]

Hi@Kimberley

I only introduced the paid option for guests to use the washing machine and electric tumble drier as I had an experience with a booking, where these guests washed a vast amount of laundry under the running hot shower, despite being asked to stop.

Result one drained hot water tank and 2 drained huge cold water reservoir tanks and a £200 bill from a plumber as some Oose at the bottom of the tanks prevented the tanks from refilling at full speed.

To top it off these enterprising guests dried everything with the hairdrier provided in the welcome toiletries basket.

Then I had others doing larger items of clothing other than their shreddies and hanging them all over the bedstead, backs of chairs, hanging wet clothes from hangers inside my wardrobe, along the top of my radiators staining my newly decorated walls, as well as introducing dampness which over a period of time, means mould.

I only have short stays of maximum 3 nights, as I prefer to host one or two nights only.

All my houserules have been the result of unexpected guest behaviours and I’ve tweaked my houserules accordingly.

I do NOT let anyone cook in my kitchen due to the fact I use it frequently myself on a daily basis and I cannot guarantee it is free from allergens hence the unsuitable for nut allergies, food intolerances, allergies etc.

[Fred13]

^^^ "To top it off these enterprising guests dried everything with the hairdrier provided in the welcome toiletries basket."

    OMG, I could only imagine the cost of the electricity. Yes, in hosting it is oftentimes the choice between the lesser of two evils.

[Victoria567]

Hi@Fred

It’s the unexpected behaviours that such guests think is perfectly normal.....Beam me up Scotty!

[Victoria567]

Hi again @Kim19berley

The guests do not wash a single plate, I insist they don’t, as they ARE the guests after all.

Another wee Scottish quirk, when you are hosted in a traditional Scottish household like mine, the guest is never asked, to do the dishes after a meal.

Also we tend to be very houseproud, a working class trait that extends right up the social scale!.....It has been known that even Her Maj on holiday in her wee hidey hole of Balmoral even helps to washe the dishes after a bbq on the grouse moors😉

We are ALL Jock Thompson’s Bairns up here in Scotland you know......that’s why everyone wants to boast about their roots🤗🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[Victoria567]

@Fred0

the washing machine use and drier use, is to prevent guests washing loads of clothes under a continual running shower and draping wet clothing all over my radiators, furniture and bed stead, creating dampness, staining of wall decor, furnishings etc.

[Fred13]

   Not unless there is a Laundromat down the street, which may or not be the case, depending on locale and/or country. Some clienteles (being mostly short stays) also will not have a washing need, they can wait till get back home. In Latin countries, there is always a 'Maria' more than willing to do someone's washing, usually very cheaply. 

   My personal choice is, anything that I have to play the role of a hands-on'controller' with, I eliminate it or approach it a different way. 

[Victoria567]

Hi@Fred

I could certainly do with a Morag!

But it’s cheaper for me to do it myself anyway.

[Víctor9]

Hello @Claudio346 

I offer all those things. The guests pay for them. I explain: you buy a keuring machine as I did, coffees, tea, snacks, water, I even bought sleepers for the home, towels, a nyc guide, etc.. Then you increase the price 5$ a night, they are paying for it already. 

The thing is to improve and improve as much as you can, you just add the money to the night price. Guests will pay for it. Just keep improving the place, the things you give, etc.. is the basis of any business, always keep improving it and growing it.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Claudio346 Keep it simple. We have a small tray which contains a litre of  still and litre of still walter, a small box of nice biscuits, a handful of different cereal bars - plus two glasses.  I't rarely used but looks great - and is easy to top up

[Betty124]

Hi Claudio!

First off, I don't allow guests in my main kitchen, but they do have a small breakfast area in their suite.

It has a microwave, minifridge, and coffee maker.  In the fridge,  I provide 2 little Perriers, 2 little boxes of milk,  2 V-8s, and some drinking bottles full of Brita water.   I have some small little bags of nuts, some raisins, some cereal in ready-to-serve  cups.   I just provide enough for the night of their arrival and the next morning, usually.   There are many grocery stores  nearby, so they can stock up on their own supplies. I buy in bulk, so this amount of stuff usually works out to about $20.

My main food rule, though, is I don't supply stuff for them that I'm crazy about!  SO. no chocolate! no pastries!

Regarding the laundry issue, what I tell them is halfway true.. my washer is pretty old, but I am happy to  share.   I really need to help you,though,  or I'll feel horrible if it damages your clothes.  That always works, and if it's too big for my washer ,I give them the address for the nice near-by laudromat.