add a scroll-down menu for children as guests.

[Elia0]

Dear all,

I have recently two reservations that only listed adults as guests, although they had children with them. Therefore, the children did not come on as extra guests on the airBnB reservation. Hosting a child is fun but it take a lot of work to make the house child proof, and for some reason the people do not want to count the child as an extra guest. I have to explain to them that child is an extra guest, which make me feel uncomfortable.  In the case of instant booking especially there would be a mix up since guests book without asking first, so, the guests might refer to the number of adults only. I think that the airBnB team should add an extra bar or a scroll-down menu specifying the number of adults and children of different age groups. I believe that this will save hosts and guests from misunderstandings.

Especially now, I have six people in the house although the reservation was for four! I do not want to charge them extra, because it was my fault. At the very first email said that they were 4 adults and two children, the reservation was for four person only, they meant four adults (the site refers to adult no. only). So, for some reason it stuck in my mind that it was two adults and two children, especially because our conversation centered around children's amenities. So, I did not read the first message when I have the house prepared for them. Now, it is too late to ask to pay for the extra guest. But it is partly my fault, partly airBnB who only asks for adults no. of guests, and partly their because they want less cost. 

Please if anyone has a suggestion, a similar experience or a shoulder to cry on, please let me know. 

Thank you for your time and effort, and I am looking forward to hearing from any of you out there.

best 

Elia

[Maria-Lurdes0]

Hi @Elia0 The problem may very well be that the site has ALREADY added a scroll down menu for kids, but has indicated to the guest that kids under 3 are free.   Not only do they not get counted as paying guests (if that is your policy it over rides it) but it doesn't even pass on the "kids under 3" info to the host.   So you could have had 6 adults (your max guest capacity) and they could have brought 6 infants/toddlers!

 There has been a lot of controversy of this new initiative that Airbnb has been taking, you can read about it here: https://www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-212057

Do you have "family friendly" ticked off in your amenities?  If so, that may be a setting worth changing.  It's a ridiculous way to get around this, but I've de-selected family friendly on all my listings for the time being.

[Elia0]

@Maria-Lurdes0

Thank you very much for all the information. I had not idea about these changes. It is indeed very upsetting because there is a lot of effort and energy to provide a child proof house. Although, I believe that one of the child I am hosting now is over 3 it doesn't matter, is is not possible to ask for documentation every time I host a child. So, I have completely erased all children's amenities and instant booking from the description and settings respectively.  

Thank you once again. 

Best 

Elia

[Barbara45]

Hi Elia

You could also add "no children" in your house rules, I did that after request came in for 2 adults and 1 child and the room I am offering really is not suitable at all for more than two people (max. 2 guests).

Cheers

Barbara

[Monica4]

I have removed family/kid friendly from my listing, even though it is usually families who stay there. I am OK with this because I have my listing on other sites where I can charge for children, no matter the age. I refuse to allow children under 3 to stay for free.....that is the age of fingerprints on glass and spilled juice! I also recently had a request from a guest to allow the house to be used as a baby sitting place for the wedding guests' children.........and later that was changed to only the children of the guests staying in the house. This is the kind of situation that can happen if you accept children at no charge.......a house full of children with one babysitter....!

[Elia0]

After talking to all of you airBnB ers  I became wiser. I have removed tha family friendly house although it is a pitty  because the house is ideal for children. But I do not want to work free of charge. I will follow all your suggestions to turn it into an unfriendly family house until further notice from the airBnB. 

Thank you once again. 

Best to all 

Elia 

[Elia0]

I@Barbara, yea this is a good idea. I will also do that. Thank you