Weirdest/Most Insteresting/Ballsiest Guest Request

[Alexandra316]

I had an inquiry this week that really made me scratch my head. The guest sent an inquiry, asking if they could check in late, at 11 pm. I said absoltely no problem: we have self-check-in, and you can check in anytime that suits you after 3 pm. They went ahead and booked, adding a second night to their reservation. Then I got an email from them, saying oh no, we weren't asking if we could check in late, we were asking if we could check in the night before at 11 pm. I was gobsmacked, and responded that it wasn't possible, because we have someone staying the night before they arrive who will be checking out at 11 am, and the earliest they could check in would be 1 pm on the date their reservation starts. I also let them know that if that wouldn't work out for them, they were welcome to cancel the reservation, as the free cancellation window is still open. 

I just can't believe that someone would ask to check in the night before they booked for, and I was wondering what kind of weird, interesting, or cheeky requests you've received from guests, and how you've dealt with them. 

[Lawrene0]

Inquiring guest and his girlfriend from a city 300 km away needed a "well-deserved holiday" and my place looked perfect. 

One problem. No car. Could I pick them up? 

It was a good try, I suppose.

[Alexandra316]

@Lawrene0 Er, seriously?? I can only assume that was a Toronto request...

[Lawrene0]

@Alexandra316, yup. GTA. No matter how well-deserved anyone's holiday is, I will not be persuaded to face Brampton traffic. 🙂

[Alexandra316]

@Lawrene0 These people are also from Brampton!!! Maybe they're putting something in the water...

[Carole341]

I also had a odd request a few weeks ago, guest asking to check in around 3 am as flight arrives around 1/2 am in the morning. 

They asked if I could leave the door open , which wasn't going to happen as I thought , I live in a block and couldn't be sure that it would stay unlocked for that time, also they are coming into a house they don't know the layout of and to find their own room. 

I would never ask anyone to leave their doors open and think they would allow strangers into their house at that time in the morning.

i asked them to get a later flight or was going to decline offer.

[Victoria567]

Yes some guests seem to think we all floated up the river Clyde on a water biscuit!

[Alexandra316]

@Victoria567 I love that expression! Hillarious.

[Victoria567]

Hi@Aleaxandra

Scottish wit at its best.... The rest of the Brits have some great wit too.

eg Lady Astor an American young woman who married well and became the first woman member of parliament said to Sir Winston Churchill

Sir if YOU were my husband I would put poison in your tea!

Churchill replied..... Madam if I were your husband, I would drink it!

[Alexandra316]

@Victoria567 I'm English by extraction (Saarrfff London) and I love all the British expressions and idoms. I love collecting them. It makes my co-workers laugh, so job done I guess.

[Sarah977]

@Alexandra316   A friend who has traveled to Australia quite a bit had a little book of "Aussie-isms" in her bathroom. The one that still cracks me up is slang for a man's Speedo bathing attire. "Budgie-smuggler".

[Alexandra316]

@Sarah977 That's certainly an evocative mental image!

I watched that TV programme Rake from Australia, and I learned tons of new sayings. Who says TV isn't educational?

[J-Renato0]

Last week I received an inquire:

"Please, send an special offer to me! I have asked for special offer to several other hosts! I will choose the best offer!"

My answer:
"I lament to say, I am not interested in joining this contest. Good luck to you!"

PS: I also send an offer raising the price by 50% ! It was him who asked for that!  🙂

[Alexandra316]

@J-Renato0 I love it. Good on you for refusing to participate in the race to the bottom.

I saw a thread this week where someone was asking for a catering quote:  they were quoted $5000. The quote requestor's response was "I'll pay you $2200, take it or leave it!" The caterer's response was, "I'm good thanks love!" 😄 It made me smile.

[Mel101]

I had a similar one recently. Someone was trying to book a 4 day stay in my room (We live in, and the space is shared). He started by saying we like your house,  but want the entire space to ourselves (not possible with the type of licence I have with the local govt). The next message was "but we also want a discount. It's €xx in total". I, having absolutely no intention of giving him either request, asked what he did for a living. He replied with (generic service industry job), and I countered with "OK, I'll give you a discount, but I want you to give me a free (service related to his work) in return." Of course, he declined. I've never heard from him since, funnily enough.

[Ann10]

I like you!