Guests never go out

[Helen497]

Hello,

This is a difficult one. So would appreciate some good advice. I have been a host for 5 years. We have a self contained studio with its own pool. We are quite rural and a car is essential. We have two guests who are very polite. My problem is they never go out. We accepted a 9 day booking which we only in the past did a maximum of 5 days. I didn’t realise that they would not be renting a car I would not have accepted the booking. Our place is used as a base to explore the Algarve but these two have no intention of doing so, it has made it quite hard as I cannot maintain the pool and area. Any advice as they are treating it like a hotel but people do go out when in a hotel getting pretty cheesed off with them

[Alexandra316]

@Helen497 I see from previous reveiws that you used to have a house rule that guests had to leave the premises during the day. I guess you set that aside? If it's really important to you, I would definitely re-add it or add a note to your listing that says something like "our place is ideally suited to active travellers who will be out an about touring the Algarve during the day."

For these guests,  I would just let them know that you would like to clean the pool and outdoor areas and ask them when would be a good time to do so. If they're nice and polite, hopefully they will be fine with it. I would also set that expectation in your house rules and listing: that things get cleaned every X days outside so you will need access. 

You mention privacy in a few places in your listing, and your cottage is cute and the private pool feature is amazing. I'm not surprised that people are happy to relax all day therem especially if they're worried about being out and about too much due to Covid.

I would focus on getting through this stay and make sure you update your listing to better reflect your expectations so future guests will be a better fit. 

[Anonymous]

@Alexandra316  If I were renting a place with a private pool, I'd find it confusing to have a rule that I had to leave during the day. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of having your own pool?

[Alexandra316]

@Anonymous I totally agree, yes. To me, if you book a place, it's yours to spend the time as you like, and I''d definitely want to be able to use the pool in the middle of the day when it's blazing hot. The only places I've seen restrictions on hours you can be there are hostel and boarding house type places, But if that's the hosts' expectation, I guess it's best to be clear about it rather than sitting and stewing about it then writing people poor reveiws or agressive responses to guest reviews. 

I'm finding that people are spending way more time inside the Airbnb than they ever have before. People used to go and do stuff: now many people are working remotely and few businesses or attractions are open so there aren't many things to get the out and about. It's definitely a major trend with guests. 

[Helen3]

If you only want guests who use your place as a base do you make this clear in your listing and confirm with guests you only accept guests who have their own car/hire one? @Helen497 

If not I I would take this a learning and update your listing and vetting processes .

It's a lovely spot so not surprised people just want to hang out 

I would just grin and bare it 

just agree with the guests when essential pool maintenance needs to be done ( presume you have it in house rules this needs to be done regularly) . 

[Anonymous]

@Helen497   Your lovely listing advertises a self-contained home, and says nothing about the host needing to come on site to do maintenance. To quote your description directly:

" Your area is totally enclosed for your exclusive use only. The pool is for your use only. You also have use of your own bbq with a gas griddle."

Amazing views looking at the Sierra Calderas, with lovely walks and traditional Portuguese restaurants in the local town of Sao Brás de Alportel. Total privacy.

Your privacy and the surroundings are there to be enjoyed.

The salt water pool is for your use exclusively. As this is a bed and breakfast accommodation you have exclusive use of barbq you have, tea and coffee making facilities and toaster."

You've really, really driven home the privacy angle there -say something that many times and people start to think you actually mean it. And the way you've sold it, it really does seem like a splendid place for lazy tourists to hang around all day enjoying the weather and the nice amenities without ever having to go out and interact with the outside world (or with the host). 

You can't make people go out and do sightseeing when they don't want to, but by all means you can notify them that you need to do some routine pool maintenance - just be clear on the time window. And maybe you can helpfully suggest an amazing spot in the area that every visitor to the Algarve simply must experience. But if they don't take the bait, I'm afraid you'll have to just let it go. A little 9-day do-nothing retreat might be exactly the thing these people needed in the midst of whatever they're going through in life, and as long as they aren't leaving you a huge mess or behaving badly, I see no reason to intervene.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen497 What a ridiculous complaint. If guests want to stay in 24/7 then they should be allowed to. Your complaint almost surpasses your review response where a guest complained the bed was uncomfortable and you responded that they spent too much time in it. 

Perhaps you should give up hosting if you don't want guests to use the property or the bed.

[Helen497]

Get lost

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen497 Sorry but I can't get lost at present as I am unable to leave the house.

[Helen497]

That’s COVID for you

[Colleen253]

@Helen497  You came here asking for advice. You would do well to heed the feedback you’ve gotten. Good points have been made. 

Your response to the complaint about the bed would absolutely turn me off, if I were a guest looking to book your place. You should ask Airbnb to remove it.

[Helen497]

There was a lot more to it than that but didn’t say perhaps I should of but hey ho I stand by my super host and great reviews perhaps I’m doing something right also the bed is about 800 euros she was just being rude

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen497 If there was 'more to it than that' it is hard to understand why the guest got such a glowing review and an invite to return. By the way price is no guarantee of quality.

[Kia272]

@Helen497  I'm afraid your AirBnB account has been hacked, because this is the "About" section of your profile:

"I am a caring and friendly person and do my utmost to make sure my guests are happy when they stay, I like places to be lovely and clean and to enjoy the facilities and I want this for my guests"

---

Best to get with AirBnB security pronto! 

[Lawrene0]

Hi, @Helen497 . I'm getting lots of guests these days doing things my previous guests never did. They appear to be nesting, I guess I would call it, at my place. The last set even fashioned a sort of fort out of tarps and straps and firewood so they wouldn't have to leave the platform at all.

It does make for more cleanup, but my strategy is not to let it bother me. The pandemic has warped us all a little, I think. I'm the same as you in that I offer my guests complete privacy in a self-contained space. So I give them that privacy to do as they wish.