extra guest charge-unexpected childen

[Tiare-and-Alfi0]

I have guests who booked for four and said they wanted to bring their child.   WE ususally do not host children but thought one might be ok- but they showed up with TWO small.  First they claimed I misundetstoond and then when I showed them their messages they said it was no big deal and most did not count children.  Which all of us do. They flew here- I bet the airline counted:)

The children were bad (terrible) from check in- jumping on every piece of furniture and they were so noisy on the first night, I had to contact them to keep the children from jumping as well as running around on the furniture on the 2nd floor deck unattended.  Clearly stated in our rulse as a big no-no. We live on the ground floor and hosted for over a year and had family live above us and have lived in the home for over 50 years.  We had ever heard noise like this and had to assume they were jumping off furniture- more noise than during construction! When my housekeeper cleanend midway thru the two week, the entire home had been re- arranged assumedly to coral the children.  It was not too dirty but very very used. They had used most every pan in the kitchen and have made bags of garbage- probably form diapers. Used the day bed and the extra sheets. We are quiet concrenred at how it will look when they depart.  They have been hard to reach and snarky when asking for things. ( they wanted to know if I could give them more of the cheap toilet paper we provided and asked guests to use in the rules. - Scott septic safe special $$$ TP that we use as we are on septic).

We now feel we are due the extra guest fee for the extra child.  And possibly may have to make a request for damage repair.  Can we request the extra guest fee at the end of he reservations?  At this point, we just want them to depart with no drama and no additional damage. 

We were careful to document the surprise extra guests in our Airbnb message system and Airbnb has confirmed their original request and corresponding messages stated one child.  I feel lied to and used. This is a very nice home and not child friendly at all. I think the owe me the fee.

[Maria-Lurdes0]

I hate this kind of a situation.   These guests took advantage of your kindness.   Of course hindsight is 20/20 and I'm sure that you're going over the list of things that you could have done differently.   It sounds like most of the advise that you'll get will be too late, is the reservation over? 

Here's my input. You absolutely should have stopped them in their tracks as soon as they showed up with an extra kid.  You could have just said -oh, this isn't what we agreed to, we need to alter the booking right now to show the correct guest count.  Then you could have either charged for both kids, or more fairly just the one that you had not agreed to.

Then, when they started making noise you could have told them - you have to keep control of your children as they are making excessive noise and bothering the neighbors.   I think it also might be nice in the future to just knock on your neighbors door when you have a family and let them know that you have guests arriving with kids, they will be here for X days please call me if there's any bother.  Something like that.

Just today I received a survey from Airbnb asking for input on "family bookings" with questions like do I charge for kids, at what age, why charge or not charge for kids,  do I accept kids, etc etc.   I've posted on the forum time and time again about kids - whether it's an issue of an extra guest fee or a question of kids making noise and mess.   I don't have kids myself so of course my tolerance is different.   It's not every single family that makes a huge mess, but the more kids and the younger they are, the worse the mess is.    Some parents are super concientious with their kids, but most parents on holiday are wanting a holiday themselves, so they may let kids run around a bit more without the normal discipline.  

[Hetty0]

 I have just had a guest book in for one then said he wants to bring his son.  My policy is stickly no children.  I have asked him to cancel his booking but am worried this will look bad on my profile.  Help!!

[Kika1]

Yes, you can claim for extra guests. Actually, you can do it it while they are still there. You request a change in the reservation, and they have to approve it, or else get airbnb to move them somewhere else! The cheek of some people. 

[Robin4]

@Kika1 Hi Kika....yes this happens so often....guests don't regard their children as additional guests! They look on them as a 'suitcase' a hair dryer, or some other bit of paraphenalia that just happens to get carted around with the guest on their trips!!!!

Animals are the same! We state in our house rules that we have a dog, and that makes us 'open season' for every guest who travels with an animal. The last thing we want is a St Bernard or a Great Dane rampaging their way through our back yard terrifying our Aussie Shepherd....but we rarely get notice of it until the guest arrives and it actually happens.....

And worst of all, the guest doesn't understand what the big deal is all about....after all, it's only their little pride and joy!!!!

Good on you for your comments Kika, enforce your house rules otherwise it becomes the 'thin end of the wedge' and they go on to do the same thing to other hosts....cheers.....Rob

[Kika1]

Robin I've had my fair share of guests stepping all over my house rules and boundaries as a new host back in the day. 

I understand hosts who manage separate properties and do rentals for a living are a different story, and even they have to protect themselves from damages. But the people who come into your home really need to respect exactly that: it is a home.

Would they behave rudely if they were visiting an old friend? 

[Robin4]

Ah, your last sentence says it all @Kika1.....you must remember they are paying you so they consider it's ok!!

Hey, don't get me wrong I have never had a guest I would have regretted having, they have all been wonderful, I have learned so much and my life is so much richer for having been an Airbnb host. Despite the fact that we have not hosted on Airbnb since April owing to exchange school student home hosting we are still 'Superhosts' and I miss the interation with the lovely world that we live in.....

But I am not mad on the prospect of animals that go with these people!!!....Cheers.....Rob