How do you help guests prepare for a successful stay?

[Isabel203]

So, I am coming to the end of a two-week stay with guests who travelled to us directly fom Nigeria. We are in Nova Scotia, Canada - about as climatically opposite to Nigeria as you can get in March! We have a couple inches of wet snow on the ground and the temperature is right around freezing.

They seem like liovely people and we have done our best to make the guests feel comfortable. Nonetheless, from what I can tell, they are MISERABLE. They have come here with no sweaters, boots, coats, or even warm socks. They are wearing sandals, no less! And they are freezing 😞  We have turned the thermostat up significantly, given them extra blankets and even offered to lend them some more appropriate clothing, which they seem to shy to accept. Every time I see them, I think, "Did you do NO research before coming?!". AND I think "This is NOT going to end in a good review."

I would love to hear from other hosts if they have strategies to help guests prepare for the weather or other geographic challenges...

[David126]

It was 12F when I got up this morning.

Perhaps point them in the direction of where they can get seasonal appropriate clothing?

I have a similar issue with Tires, they did go and get some with tread and which were approriate to the conditions.

Why are they staying with you?

[Kelly149]

Good question @Isabel203 

I have guests coming in May who've told me all the places they think they are visiting during their 4 day stay with us, each place is a 2-4 hour drive away & back! I've stopped short of pointing out that their plan sounds awful (many people just don't understand just how big Texas is and they're going to see more of our highways than anything else), so I've wondered if I should say something. Right now I'm sticking with these are adults and google knows things, but I am nervous.

[Rosemarie9]

Hi Kelly,

I'm an Australian who lives in Ireland, so know about living in a  big country, and a small one, but I am continually surprised by the number of mainly mature US visitors who think they can see the whole of Ireland in one week! They are incidently the most miserable looking when they arrive because of their schedule. Even getting around West Cork where I live takes a while with the winding roads, but that is the whole point, who wants to be on a motorway? A lot of people just don't research, which is silly because the internet makes it inexcusable! I just had a couple stay who trekked around in the cold in little more than a light track suit and arrived coughing and spluttering sick as dogs, whining that the heating wasn't working. Try having a hot shower and putting on a sweater. Geez, I don't get paid enough for this sometimes! 

[Gordon0]

On a similar note, we had a couple of very sweet (at first) young Americans from LA who came to stay. They were absolutely nuts about Harry Potter and had intended to go on the tour. But they hadn't purchased tickets and imagined 'just like Disneyland' they'd be able to buy tickets on the day.

They turned quite sour after that and went on to suggest that everything in London 'sucked'. The three days after were spent sulking and grizzling.   

[Rosemarie9]

What is the saying? Fail to prepare and prepare to fail? At least they were young, most of my difficult cases are old enough to know better!

[Isabel203]

I'm thinking of preparing a short addition to my standard pre-check-in message to guests, to given them some seasonal tips about what to bring and to plan to do. Maybe just some key links to weather info and community events. Still thinking...

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Isabel203

I always check with guests whether they have been to Korea (or even anywhere in Asia) before to gauge how much information I should provide to them pro-actively. I know some guests might feel like I'm over-communicating but Henry and I just don't have the patience to watch people muddle through things which are obvious to us. Most of our guests seem to have appreciated all the links and advice and suggestions we sent them 🙂

[Fred13]

  We have a weather synopsis in our 'General Information' list, and cover things like the importance of sunglasses, sun screen, Alovera, etc in the island (which we have in the island in case) and again warn them about such things during 'introduction' when they arrive.

  Many run their general 'plan' with us also, and we totally change it for many of them, from transportation, the reality of distances, best places to go (and not), weather inland, etc. Easy to do when we see where they are from and based on what they want.

  Honestly, we leave nothing to chance. The easier they have it, the happier the guest.