Towels! How should I rate my host?

[Ann298]

As a host coming from a different city and started hosting this month, I invested a lot of money into towels and essential for my guest. However, I am currently traveling and have a problem with my host. I booked for an entire week and as soon as I arrived I only ended up with one towel. We talked, I got to know more about her, she gets irritated if some guest ask her for anything. She told me one guest ask her for a glass of filter water in the fridge, and it bothered her so much she gave them a bad review. I told her my concern with one towel for an entire week and she got very irritated. It’s as if she is stingy with people using her materials or water bill. Anyways she ended up leaving me one more towel by the door and that was it... how should I rate her?

[Linda108]

You have hit on the biggest issue for Air BNB hosts and guests, @Ann298, that is matching expectations and reality.  Just because you intend to run your place a certain way does not mean your guest experience will match your expectation.  A single towel per week is not all that unusual, BTW.

As to your review, you could acknowledge that the host was responsive, but the place did not meet expectations.  Thinking of your expectations, were they realistic or did you think you got what you want at a reduced price.  Be honest because you will want guests to be honest for you.  

Most of the time I exceed guest expectations and the reviews reflect that.  That is my strategy.  As a guest, I, too, have been disappointed by the discrepancy between my expectations and what I actually experienced.

It certainly has helped me be a better host.  

[Paul154]

Poor host. She went to all the expense and trouble of providing you with another towel, but lost goodwill because of her bad attitude.

While one towel is the minimum required, I give more if a long stay.

Even if they are one day I give them 1-2 towels, a hand towel and a wash rag. But I am reconsidering because NO guest has ever said "host provided ample, fresh towels" nor have they left a tip for this service. 

So I can understand your host's attitude.

As for rating her, you could say "host provided minimum towels. She did reluctantly gave  me another after I asked."

As for the number of stars, I hope you figure in the price of your room , your access to the laundry and the fact she is a sole proprietor.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Ann298

While I personally agree that 1 towel for an entire week is not enough, it would also be related to the type of place you are staying at. If it is a very competitively priced place, I would understand that the host would only be providing the bare minimum.

As a guest, I have stayed in a place that did not provide towels and also a place that provided one paper thin small hand towel per person for a 3 night stay. I ended up buying a new towel both times. (I used to have long hair LOL!) Despite the towel situation, I was happy that both places were clean, had nice beds and I considered them good value for what I paid.

As a host, I am like you and provide high quality hand and bath towels to my guests. When I travel, I actually don't mind no amenities - there are plenty of travel kits readily available, but I would hate having to pack towels and/or bedding.

 And the guest asking for a glass of filtered water from the fridge.... as a host I would be offended too. Guests can and should pour their own water if they are thirsty. Hosts are not maids. Also, I've never been considered a stingy person but I really hate it when people waste electricity/water. I currently have a long-term guest that does teeny tiny loads of laundry (usually about 10 items or less - like 2 tees, 3 undies and 4 pairs of socks) every 3~4 days but always sets the machine at normal load (I have a 16kg top load washer)!!!!!! I've asked very nicely several times that the laundry machine be AT LEAST around 1/3 full and to set it at "small load" if it is less than half full. He smiles, says of course, then ignores me. It's driving me crazy and the guest probably knows I don't approve of his teeny tiny loads of frequent laundry but of course he doesn't really care. He may think I'm nitpicky but I see him as extremely wasteful.

In terms of reviews, I think it's best to be as factual as possible. You can say something like "Initally only 1 towel was provided for a 1 week stay. Upon hearing my concern, host provided 1 extra towel."

[Marzena4]

One question, @Ann298. Were towels on the list of amenities? If they were, it should be "full service according to common sense," by which I second other hosts that one 70x140 cm towel a week is an absolute minimum. It also should depend on the price of stay - if it's a budget place you cannot expect 24h service.

As a host that occassionally travels as well I try to be objective. At my last stay in Warsaw there weren't enough towels for our group, but the rate was so competitive that I was far from even mentioning one missing towel. And my host didn't charge us for one extra person staying shorter with us. So it's a question of compromise and good attitude on both sides, the host and the guest.

[Marie82]

@Ann298

If it is only 1 towel for a week who is an issue and all rest good me personally i will not added to the review but only on the private message during review to the host so she will know what you felt

I always think regardless what happening during guests stay during booking they tend to focus only in 1 thing they did not like and forgot about the whole rest and loose honest vision of the situation.

And for the filter water that little bit too much for me

[Matthew285]

We provide a set of nice, thick, fluffy towels for each guest (face towel, hand towel, body towel).

I certainly agree that it would be nice to have another body towel if the stay is longer,

but I am not sure what the consensus would be for what length of stay calls for a second body towel.

What do people think?

How many days would call for a second body towel?

[Gordon0]

You get what you pay for.

Pay little, get little. 
Pay more, get more.
If you're in the second camp, review your host accordingly. 

[R-And-R0]

imo, you should give a review taking into consideration the entire experience eg. rate, space, cleanliness, amenities, etc., and average it out.  for example, if everything else is excellent, to deduct a star because of the towels seems excessive.  i would give five stars for an excellent space, but mention in the comments for other guests to note only one towel is provided.  however, if the entire experience is sub-par, rate it fairly.  it's like yelp (if you are familiar with that site).  people often give one star to a restaurant because they had to wait 20 min passed their reservation, but everything else was amazing.  that doesn't make sense to me.  average it out as it weighs on your experience.

that being said, for our listing, we provide six plush towels for every two guests that stay.  should it be only one guest for our three night minimum+, we'd probably leave three or four.