What's the most surprising request you've had from a guest?

[Sybe]

Hey everyone!

We all have different needs when we go on holiday. These may stem from what you’re used to doing at home, or perhaps what you plan on doing while away. Some of these requests can feel quite “estranged” to the Host, though, so my question to you:

What’s the most surprising request you had from a guest? Did you end up fulfilling the request? 

Let us know in the comments, and I look forward to reading your stories!

Sybe

[Quincy]

Hey @Sybe, I couldn't let him perform as it was a communal garden, but he tried it out in a park around the corner 😃. I'll check if I still have some photos of his performance 🔥 

[Mariann4]

One request came in which I had difficulties with when trying to get the potential guest to confirm that they understood that they were trying to book a room, not an entire place. And that they share bathroom and kitchen with me. I never confirm a booking before they confirm that they understand this (which makes me loose superhost this October).

After several repeat questions to confirm they finally answered that they were ok with a room but that they might ask for an extra bathroom since they would bring several children......

Yup. I'll just go ahead and build a new bathroom for you €100 stay... Noooo problem!

[Sybe]

@Mariann4 It's definitely a good opportunity to expand, but something that definitely needs more thought than just one guest request! 

And staying in one room with several kids... I think I'd prefer to have a separate room myself if I travel with my kids (once I have them!). 🫣

[Mariann4]

I have two rooms and they have access to a good sized livingroom,  @Sybe 😊 I think bedrooms are for sleeping. Not staying in all day.

But I only have one shared bathroom. And that will remain as such as long as I live here 😊 

[Sybe]

I did not take the living room into account @Mariann4 ! I think I've spent too much time in student homes, most of them don't have one. 

[Paula2086]

Very interesting that you mentioned this. I am new, just launched and my cottage has one bathroom. In the description I highlight this by asking...What is a shared bathroom? And answering the question. Do you mind sharing with me if you have a pre written confirmation that you send when they book? Or do you simply just ask them to confirm. Thanks for your time.

[Mariann4]

Hello @Paula2086 and welcome on board 😊

First: when asking questions to someone on this forum you need to tag the person. We don't get notified on new posts in the thread unless we're tagged.

I have a somewhat pre-written message I send to guests where I ask that they confirm to understand what shared means. Since I homeshare I also ask that they confirm to understand that I will be present during their stay, and that they only rent a room and not an entire place. 

[Paula2086]

@Mariann4 got it. Thanks for sharing. I just opened my calendar so here goes. I love your idea.

[Issam55]

I hosted one gust and the second day he texted me saying he is concerned about his security .. i was shocked asking for the reason.. he said that he is hearing voices for people in the apartment .. i told him yes,, those other gusts in the other room.. he told me no,, i booked private room.. i replied yes,, it is private room ,, and it is clear in the listing its a private room in shared apartment ... then i asked him through Airbnb to leave because he was acting very weird 

[K--Mustafa0]

In November last year, a Hungarian couple stayed at my house with a long-term stay. They were very kind and gentle people.

"Do you mind if we have sex in your living room and record it?"

I was shocked at first, then they announced that they were serving the porn industry and that's where their income came from. They said that the place was very aesthetic and suitable because my house had a seaside view.

"It's okay as long as someone doesn't see you guys."

Yes, I allowed it. Being a good host sometimes takes sacrifice... haha

[Sybe]

@K--Mustafa0 It's definitely nice of them to confirm first! 😃

[Huma0]

@Sybe 

It wasn't a request exactly, but I had a odd experience with a guest who seemed to think she had booked something else.

Firstly, the guest did not show up at the agreed check in time of 3pm. After waiting quite a while and then chasing quite a bit, she finally responded saying she had decided to go to Wimbledon for the day to watch the tennis (didn't think to inform me even though she knew I was waiting for her) and would come before the end of the check in period, which was 9pm. Not a good start. She showed up at 9 (after that a late check in fee would have applied).

Next, as I start showing her around, she questions why my bathrooms are shared and not private. I remind her that it's stated clearly on the listing that they are shared. She responded, "Yes, I know, but WHY are they not private?"

Erm, okay. So, I then show her the room and she has a weird look on her face. This is the opposite of the reaction I normally get when I show guests the room. I ask her if something is wrong and she replies, "This is not the room I booked." I assured her it was. "NO, I booked the pink room." I explain that I do not have a pink room. She insists she booked a pink room. I suggest maybe she is thinking of another listing she looked at before she booked? "NO! I booked the PINK room."

Eventually, I ask her to show me on her phone the room that she booked and then proceeded to point out everything in the room until she admitted that she was actually standing in the room that she had booked and that the room on her booking wasn't pink at all.

The next day, the guest seemed totally normal and happy. I am guessing she had a few too many Pimms at Wimbledon the day before...

[Issam55]

actually it happened to me one time because the gust didn't go through the photos.. but it was normal after that

[Huma0]

@Issam55 

It's so weird. Usually the photos are the first (and sometime only) thing a guest looks at. 

[Estelle285]

I have a checkin time of 2pm. I was out grocery shopping and received a call from guest at 10.30am saying he had arrived. I reminded him checkin time was 2pm and could he possible come back, but he was dropped off to our place by a friend who had returned home an hour away so he said he'd wait in the driveway. My booking clearly states a car is absolutely recommended as transport services are not great in our area. I then raced home to let him in. He stayed a week and texted me one day in a panic saying there were spiders in the room, but when I came to check there were no spiders. But all in all he was a nice person who, apart from an invisible spider phobia, was otherwise a good guest.