Guest is bringing his Mom

[Priscilla150]

5/26/2025

My upcoming guest informed me that he was a day early and wanted to check in at 9 o’clock this morning.  Since it is Memorial day, we were taking it slow this morning and not prepared for the day, let alone for a guest.

I offered to let him come at 10:30. Explaining our situation.  He then decides he will come in tomorrow and informed me he will be here at 11 o’clock. Again prior to check in time.

I agree and again let him know that since we were already in the process of getting our day, he could arrive today if he wanted it.

Now he tells me that he is bringing his mother as she will be staying with him for two days.  My listing clearly states one person per room.   I explain that to him, and I let him know that I did have another room available and would offer it to them at a large discount.

He comes back and tells me that his mom will be visiting only. I tell him that is just fine and I will bring an extra chair out for them.   Then he tells me that his mom will be will now be staying one night only now and she will be sleeping in the room with him. 

There are two rooms in that area. One of them is rented by a permanent tenant. And I am absolutely certain that this will make that permanent tenant very uncomfortable.  As for me, I do not care for the fact that he is going against my listing and telling me what they are going to do when I have offered them other options.

How would any of you handle this?

Thank you.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Priscilla150 

I feel for you! 

My gut would tell me to ask him to cancel with a full refund. Give him a full refund and recommend a local motel nearby. They should be better able to accommodate his fluctuating plans and more than the one person that your room is available for, should he decide that his mother would stay. Ask Airbnb to assist him in cancelling as this is a likely rule breaker, and a very uncomfortable situation for the whole household to accommodate. 

Please follow up on what happens and best of luck!

[Joan2709]

@Priscilla150 

Agree with @Kitty-and-Creek0, you do not want this guest. 

They are already wanting to break your house rules (check-in, extra guest) etc. and will probably continue to do so. It is not worth it. I would ask them to cancel and you will provide a full refund, as having an extra guest is against your house rules. If they refuse to cancel, contact Airbnb and have them cancel based on the fact the guest intends to break your house rules. I would do this ASAP, if you wait until tomorrow, the guest can probably still leave a review which no doubt will be a negative one.

If you don't already, I would add that unregistered guests and visitors are not permitted in your additional House Rules. 

[Priscilla150]

As it turned out, I went back and read the comments my potential guest made over a few more times.  I came to the conclusion it could be a language/cultural issue and not necessarily a potential bad guest issue.

This was my guest's first time with Airbnb and as a young guest, he had not read my House Rules, Check in & Out Times, etc....  He thought this was similar to a hotel.  Upon his arrival, I spoke with him and he was innocent to the fact that he had done anything incorrectly.  I went on to tell him that each Host(s) work differently and have a different set of House Rules, Check in & Out Times and so on....  I advised him to read those prior to booking so he would know what to expect.

So far he has been a great guest, just a little uninformed.   This is his first time away from home and on his own.  He is learning.

Thank you for your input.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Priscilla150 

So glad he found you! You'll give him the proper intro he needs to the way things work, and he'll be safe with you as his host. 

[Priscilla150]

Thank you.