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A lady with a 4,5 star rating (4,5 on everything) has just made a reservation. She has written quite a few nice lines about the following:
She not coming, it’s for her 14 and 17yo children (unclear boy or girl), because her mom fell ill so she’s sending the kids on their own to Peru (from Switserland).
The kids love to surf, they know are neighborhood already, they know where to eat and where to buy their surfboards.
She might also stay at our place later on if we have availability.
Problems:
Third party booking.
Two teenagers.
Only 4,5 star guest.
We don’t have any space to clean and dry wetsuits.
We don’t have any space to store surfboards.
I hate the thought of having sand all over the place.
We’re not a surfhostal.
Their reviews don’t read too bad, apart from one host (close by) who mentions an undisclosed misunderstanding in the beginning that was solved.
One of the reviews only mentions that they stayed for 2 nights. Not a word extra.
What do I have to do? I’m still traumatized by the 4yo that I admitted. And I’m doubting, aka my instinct says to at least be wary.
I’m afraid I’m only good at giving advice when I look at it from a distance .
For the moment I have send a large message to the mom, telling her my worries. At the end of her message she had already mentioned that she was open to answering questions. I will see how much empathy she shows to my worries.
@konacoconutz When I read about the surfers, I immediately though of you and the tons of sand you used to find in your shower .
Logic says no way! But I have IB so I’d not have a choice. And I’ve always had wonderful teenage guests, I’d tell the mother that there’s no room for surfboards or facilities for wetsuit-drying and then leave it in the lap of the gods
It took me two days to get rid of all the sand our last guests left after they went to the beach around the corner! They were fine guests but sand can be persistent lol
Even without the surfing and wetsuit component, our rentals’ bathtubs are invariably filled with the best part of Fort Lauderdale Beach. So much for coastal living
Although we’re on the coast, this is really NOT a beach destination. I didn’t even think about the possibility of one day having a guest going to the beach or going surfing.
Why on earth did I paint a yellow circle on the wall and called it the sunshine room? To have a hippie mom with hippie kids (Indian names referring to sunshine) wanting to come and surf. Life’s a bitch. I really have to work on my bad character, so karma stops pursuing me.
Then they will be suitably chilled and amazingly laid back.
I’ve loved this forum ever since I first found it and have received a load of valuable information such as how to remove mascara marks from pillowcases - but can ANYONE tell me how to reduce the sand infiltration???
I always think teenagers must hate my place as there is nothing to do but relax and enjoy the sea view and sunsets and read books which is not a very teenagery thing to do (my idea of paradise when I was a teen though). No shops or even a park to hang out in. I had one lady stay with her young daughter who wanted to come back at Xmas for a month with husband and teenage daughter from over 1500km away but the teen nixed it as the oldest girls who live here are only about 10 and then there is a 17yo boy which we agreed was probably not a good mix even though he is a lovely boy.
Two teens on their own in a rental in another country? Is this a joke?
This is what ABB is allowing?
Is there some punchline I am missing?..seriously?
NO -
no no no
What if “something” happens to one of them? “anything” at all ?
Is 14 the age of adult in Peru? or 17? Who is in charge in case of emergency?
If this is stressing you, please cancel as is your right with a 3rd party shout. Call me paranoid but if they know the area so well as keen surfers, why are they not staying with someone who already knows them, unless they have proved a handful for hosts, even with Mum present? I think her reviews hint at this. I guess Mum is basically asking you to stand in Loco Parentis for her two teenagers, and might well know that none of the people who they’ve stayed with before will contemplate doing so. A 14 year old in particular would be classed as vulnerable without Mum around, and her saying that they know all the cafes etc, where to go, simply gives me the willies. You could end up feeling responsible (and worrying endlessly) but without parental control.
I’ve just remembered the 15 yr old whose mum left her in Goa with a “friend” in about 2006, Scarlet McSomething I think. Mum went travelling with her b/f, her daughter was raped and murdered on the beach.
Apart from anything, I simply wouldn’t contemplate sand and surfboards in my home. If you have other guests, it’s not fair on them and certainly not fair on your family or you.
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