How do you politely tell family of booked guests that they are not welcome?

[Catalpa]

It looks lovely - possibly too cheap! But this year, that's probably no bad thing. I can understand the other family de-camping - when I look at how some British people live around here, your gite and pool is luxurious.

I'm glad you resolved the issues amicably. When you encounter the renters over the next few days, be polite and jolly because you don't need them to feel bad for the rest of their stay. Personally, you might... but professionally you don't. [:)]

Baypond -

What a nasty experience. It kinda proves that people often don't appreciate something that's free. Or, they were jealous of what you have and they don't. [;-)]

[fatscoleymo]

Just spoken to the guy that made the booking and said I hoped he understood the situation. He said no problem, in fact we'd done them a favour - they didn't want them here but couldn't find a way to get them away. They just turned up yesterday expecting to stay the rest of the week!

Families eh!

[Théière]

Looks stunning,

Well done btw

 

[fatscoleymo]

Catalpa  - thanks again for your help.

[Hoddy]

I'm really pleased that the experience of other gite owners has helped. It occurs to me that your original guests might be as pleased to see the back of them as you are. I'm sure you'll let us know if there are any repercussions. Well done.

Hoddy

It seems we were all posting at once. How gratifying that my hunch was right !

[baypond]

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]

Just spoken to the guy that made the booking and said I hoped he understood the situation. He said no problem, in fact we'd done them a favour - they didn't want them here but couldn't find a way to get them away. They just turned up yesterday expecting to stay the rest of the week!

Families eh!

[/quote]

Proof that we always assume the worst, and things are not always what they appear. Great looking house by the way. I'm not suprised you are fully booked. I hope that hot tub doesn't cost you too much to keep up to temperature at this time of year!

[Ysatis]

This is a wonderful outcome, well done you. Enjoy the rest of your season.

By the way.....who's Harold [8-)]?

Regards.

 

[Quillan]

Firstly, well done to the OP, seems matters are resolved.

Dave - Think the 'trick' is to get in first (as I see somebody else has already said). We do this on our first contact when people ask if we have a room for the B&B. We give them some information via a bit at the end of our first correspondence "Things you might find helpful" which includes the fact we have tourist information, maps etc and things like we have fridge and some mountain bikes they can use and that they cannot bring other people into the B&B unless by prior arrangement etc. We learnt this at the very beginning having had a couple who went rafting next door and invited another couple to use the toilet and shower in their room afterwards, bloody cheek.

The rest - We have loads of blank contracts which are sent to us each year from Clevances and are to be used for both B&B and Gites. They are much too complicated and long for B&B but they look just right for Gites and of course comply with French law. There is a English language one now available I am told through their forum.

Our gites (riverside log cabins to be more precise) will be for couples only with no facilities to accommodate more than one couple at a time so we are probably not likely to have this sort of problem thank god.

I don't like having rules especially on holiday but unfortunately there are always those that want to try it on so rules you must have.

I had a couple of PM's about running gites and some suggestions which I have paid attention to and would like to thank those that sent them, they know who they are.

Sadly one thing I have noticed in the past when there have been problems is that it always seems to be the English. I wonder why this is? Fortunately there seems to be far less English holiday makers around down my neck of the woods and we are getting a lot more French and Spanish this year that more than make up for the drop. We never have problems with the French and Spanish, really nice people and always leave the rooms in perfect condition although the Spanish it must be said always sem to shout at each other. I don't know if this is the norm or we are just lucky with them?

Well anyway a few things learnt although at another's expense but a satisfactory outcome at the end of the day.

[Catalpa]

There are probably more tales about the British because for a lot of "members who let" on here, Britain is their main market. But I've read plenty of stories about French people bringing extra people - over and above those listed on the booking form - inviting people round to use shower etc - especially if it's a wedding party with lots of guests for the wedding arriving and wanting a free shower and brush-up after travelling but without the expense of accommodation... I don't think taking the pee is restricted to any particular nationality... it's a human trait...[6]

[Clair]

I've had two instances of extra guests, both with Belgians families/couples.

[Jacqui Too]

I'm so glad this has resolved its self and I have been following this story with interest, I did run a holiday cottage for four years, let through Hoseasons.

I find some different ideas coming from some of the posts! I had a 2 bed roomed cottage sleeping a total max of 6 : double, twin and a double sofa bed in the sitting room (stating for two children or one adult) and two bathrooms.

Now the rent was for the cottage and I only gave a discount for couples using only one of the two bedrooms, other that that it was full price whether there were 3 or 6 occupants. We didn't have a pool or any other facilities, but anyone who had booked and paid full price I would not been in a position to moan about extra guests arriving to stay the night or two! so I was prepared for 6 people and if only 4 turn up I was on a winner! (the rent was rather high even though I say it myself)

I have also rented gites in France and villas in Spain and would expect to have full use of that property for the time I was paying, we rented a 2 bed gite once (2 of us)  and invited our French friend to stay for 2 nights and as far as telling the owner why should we?

Exceeding the stated number a property should sleep is not on and I do not condone it.

One reason I would never rent a gite that was not detached or that was next to the owner, as far as I am concerned I like my privacy. 

Buy the way I hated doing rental, cramped my life style and was so pleased when it was empty!

[fatscoleymo]

Ysatis - Haroldh was the less than helpful person who posted the 1st response to my initial post.

After reading his reply my wife made the comment ' why is there never a Frenchman with a bow and arrow around when you need one?'

If only I had been that quick.

 

[Quillan]

[quote user="Clair"]I've had two instances of extra guests, both with Belgians families/couples.
[/quote]

I understand they bring their own potatoes (Belgian joke) [;-)] .

[Maricopa]

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]Ysatis - Haroldh was the less than helpful person who posted the 1st response to my initial post.[/quote]

Don't you mean NormanH?[8-)]

[fatscoleymo]

You're right I did.

It gotta be something to do with the Norman conquest hasn't it.

I've had a funny few days - please forgive.

[Maricopa]

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]I've had a funny few days - please forgive.[/quote]

Nothing to forgive, glad you sorted your problem with guests out.

[Cendrillon]

 "But my oh my had they come for a holiday!!! They carted loads and

loads of stuff to their Citroen C5 estate - it was chocker. Bedding, a

bed (big sort of soft dog bed thing), towels, suitcase, bags and bags,

crates of beer, etc. etc. The large cool box wouldn't fit in the back

and had to go on the knees of the kids. They all made a big fuss of

saying goodbye where we couldn't help seeing  - lots of big hugs etc. 

For our benefit we think. They only live 15 miles away!!!! "

I was beginning to wonder where they all slept and did they use your bedding or bring their own.

I am so pleased you have managed to resolve the problem.

BRAVO!

"All's well that ends well"

Now go and have a nice drink and a lovely meal, you deserve it.[B]

[odile]

yes - we all learn new tricks everyday! well done and bonne chance for the future!xx

[fatscoleymo]

I'm taking Cendrillons advice and starting on the Cognac.

Cheers to all for your help.

[NormanH]

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]

Ysatis - Haroldh was the less than helpful person who posted the 1st response to my initial post.

After reading his reply my wife made the comment ' why is there never a Frenchman with a bow and arrow around when you need one?'

If only I had been that quick.

 

[/quote]

But you aren't are you..even the 'joke' falls flat given the inaccuracy of the reference.

I'm happy you have managed to solve your problem.

[LEO]

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]

Ysatis - Haroldh was the less than helpful person who posted the 1st response to my initial post.

After reading his reply my wife made the comment ' why is there never a Frenchman with a bow and arrow around when you need one?'

If only I had been that quick.

 

[/quote]

Hi fatscoleymo,   you have confused some of us by introducing the name Harold to this thread!

NormanH, wrote;

I would politely suggest that you are in the wrong business..

You should never have got into this situation.

Why did you let it develop?

And

as for asking advice on an Internet forum where you know nobody, that

suggests that you have no idea about what you are doing.

NormanH's comments may have be blunt and hurtful to your ears but, they were not innaccurate

Some of what NormanH has written would appear to have merit

[Owens88]

[quote user="Quillan"]

Being a bit new to the Gite business myself (I shall be opening 3 next year) I have a couple of questions about this sort of situation.

I have spent a bit of time looking at gites on the Internet both through GDF and other commercial websites and it seems to me (and its how I will price my gites) that the price is for the gite and not the number of people staying in it. Basically its a very short term house rental. The only thing I can see is that there is a limit on the amount of people who can stay in the gite by the capacity given i.e. sleeps 6 as an example. Therefore I would have thought legally you only have the opportunity of redress if the capacity goes beyond this.

[/quote]

Hi Q

Yes and No to this.  We would not charge per head, but we do get numbers and names on the booking forms. We have even allowed renters to have overnight guests if they tell us names. We would therefore reserve the right to exclude (or more practically hold something from the deposit) if something had been abused.

However we do have an optional 'linen-charge' per head (because the mainland continentals generally drive and bring their own, and expect a discount ).

 

Our apartment will 'dine for nine' and entertain for many more so we would never seek to limit numbers for socialising (inc. using the loo) as long as the neighbours are not upset. Though as I type this I now wonder about somebody camping in the meadow/garden and using our facilities . Hmm.

 

Good luck with the gites

John

[Tancrède]

[quote]Some of what NormanH has written would appear to have merit

[/quote]

Yes.  Certainly his proposition that the present state of the the GB economy should be attributed to Mrs Thatcher has brought laughter into many homes.

[fatscoleymo]

 would politely suggest that you are in the wrong business..
You should never have got into this situation.
Why did you let it develop?
And as for asking advice on an Internet forum where you know nobody, that suggests that you have no idea about what you are doing.

Leo - the comment that I have no idea what I am doing was strange.

Please explain to me how to get to 'know' people on an internet forum without starting to post? Was NormanH omnipresent on the forum and knew everybody before he made his 1st post? Isn't this what forums are all about?

I explained what had happened and asked if anybody else had been in a silmilar postition to offer advice. I also made it clear that this was our very 1st let. Rookie. Brand new.

Perhaps he was having a bad day. Like I was.

 

[fatscoleymo]

Hi  Norman - yes the 'joke' wasn't was it.

Anyway we got sorted and all advice and comments helped, yours included.