guests early check-in

[Emily124]

Hi, I have guests coming in this Thursday at 1:30am staying til Sunday. They wanted to not have to pay for that Thursday but explained that they would be spending most of the night on Thurs so they would need to pay for that night. They are now saying they're driving in and they'll check-in at 4:30am. They're asking again if they could just pay for two nights. Should I meet them in the middle and have them pay for two & a half nights? I'm afraid that they'll show up at 2am though like they originally planned and try to get away with paying less. It's still an inconveience for them to come in the middle of the night. They'll get the keys from the lockbox so we won't have to greet them, but I feel we've been more than flexible in letting them come that early. I had the check-in time as flexible and have since changed it to 8am. Any suggestions?

[Eileen4]

Emily, my check in is 3 PM and that's about average. I've seen as early as noon and as late as 7 PM. 

These guests are taking up time that could be sold to another guest. I don't know, maybe you're not getting a lot of bookings, or maybe you're new, but if it were me, I wouldn't even entertain this. I would just say, "Sorry, but my check in is during the day, after I've had a chance to clean, and 4:30 is just too early. (This would cover any sort of flexibility that you've stated in your listing.)

I would, if I really felt stuck, just block off that Thursday night and tell them it's not possible. I've done that on occasion when someone has gotten a bit pushy about an ultra early check-in and balked at paying for it. If you're lucky, they'll cancel the booking. Flexibility doesn't mean giving away the farm here--the idea of afternoon check-in and morning departure is pretty standard, no matter what flexibility a host might offer. 

Honestly? These guests sound like a real headache. I would give them a miss entirely. 

[Dee9]

Charge them

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

1:30AM or 4:30AM, it's all the same to me - the middle of the night!  I absolutely wouldn't make any concessions for this guest.  Like someone else noted, they already sound like a headache.  Stay strong!

[Lynne2]

People like these are usually the most trouble - it's not going to end with arrival time.  And they only want to stay for 2/3 nights.  Concessions may be made for longer-stay folk, but for this short stay?  I don't think so

[Sandra126]

Since you have a check in at 8am you can't say you got a last minute booking, but you can say you have a friend in there until the morning and it is completely not doable. It is another night, no question at all. I have back to back bookings all the time and how would it be of someone arrived in the middle of another guest's stay?

[Sandra126]

and take the key from the lockbox until 8am as you agreed.

[Eileen4]

Actually Sandra, just blocking the day will indicate a booking...I would do it and just say it's being used (used to set limits with these guests!). That way there's no argument and no reneging on an agreement. 

[David126]

Suggest you review your check in and check out times, they look really odd.

[Alison0]

Tell them that you have guests that have paid for that night and that they are free to hop into bed with them when they arrive. 

Being facetious - but you get the point....and mabe they will too!!