To think that a 7pm check-in is too late when you have young kids

[sqirrelfriends]

I woke up to an email this morning from the company I booked a holiday cottage with for next month.

For corona reasons:

7pm check in (instead of 3pm)
9am check out (instead of 10)
Removal of all high risk items (they mentioned board games and the DVD player but I would imagine it's going to be barren)

We would have to drive about 4 hours to get there with a young child, 7pm just seems too late to me to check in, and equally 9am is too early to check out, especially with all the extra stuff we would need to bring. Am I being unreasonable to think it would never take 10 hours to clean a cottage? And would you be cancelling?

What@Helgathehairysaid, it’s a small risk but I’d never leave all my stuff in the car in a public car park at a beach, attraction, etc.

We drove 6 hours to cornwall once but as we left at 5am we were there by 11 and we couldnt get in our accomodation til 2 or 3pm. We went to a nearby beach. I would obviously take my bag with purse/phone etc but I didnt feel that suitcases of clothes and towels, bags of shopping or kids games would be that desirable...maybe I'm being naive...?

write back and say that while you understand and respect their reasons for the change, these terms are effectively making what was booked as a 7 night stay into a 5 night stay because with young children who cannot be properly managed according to that timetable, you will have no option but to arrive a day late and leave a day early, therefore they either need to reduce the price to an appropriate amount for a 5 night stay, or be allowed to cancel without penalty.

I'd hate that too. Yanbu
I'd ask for a discount.

I wouldn't expect a discount. The extra cleaning and laundry required will probably cost more than any discount you would get for what is essentially a few hours knocked off your stay.

Most holiday cottage owners haven't had an income since March, they are hoping to reopen under very restricted circumstances and are doing their best and having to compromise like everyone else.

However, I think what a lot of the booking companies are dictating isn't actually what will happen in practice. We are pretty sure we can still have people checking in at around 4ish (rather than the usual 3) but our booking company has emailed all our bookings and everyone else's and told them it will be 7pm across the board.

Most of our bookings are people who have stayed with us before and a few have already contacted us directly knowing we will be happy to make more sensible arrangements.

I'd cancel. I don't think any holidays will feel like holidays this year. Not only because of social distancing, strict rules, stressed to hell staff and all the lack of entertainments etc and how weird it will all feel as people push themselves to try and have a normal holiday. A LOT of people will think they deserve one more than others there - they have been affected most, lost the most etc etc. People will be very fragile mentally, and a lot of people won't be able to relax like they think they will.

I can see a hell of a lot of fights when pubs and clubs properly open and people get drinking together and emotions come rushing to the surface.

We’ve booked a holiday cottage for August - check in is now 5pm and check out is 9am. A bit inconvenient but I understand why.

I'd be very disappointed. But I think asking for a discount when this whole sector has not made a penny since March, is pretty unreasonable. Seriously, give the owners a break. It must be a nightmare, and if they're anything like other sectors, they'll have been bombarded with conflicting guidance and had loads of work to do to even think of opening up again.

I think we all have to be a little more understanding as the country starts up again, and swallow our disappointment. By all means ask the owner/cleaner to keep in touch with you and let you know as soon as they've finished and/or if it's likely they won't be arriving until later on your last day so you can have a bit longer.

Why don't you reply, explain that you have small children (+ associated situation), and suggest a compromise on check in - ie, 5pm (assuming that makes it better for your planning).

It won't be resolved unless there's communication between yourselves and the property owners.

Thank you all for your replies, I think we're going to ask to move to next summer. At least then we know that we can have people come and share it with us as intended.

In terms of spending the day there before checking in, it's a good idea but wouldn't work for us as we will have our bikes on a roof rack and I don't think they will be safe to be left. Also I would be concerned with the toilet situation.

For the sake of 5 hours I think you are being a bit OTT. At least you know the place will be in good shape.

Ask for some flexibility.

If there isn't any then I would do the night time routine with ds but then get in the car.

So tea at the usual time, put ds in PJs, read the story in the car (one of you might need to be in the back). Arrive and carry ds in and put straight to bed.

Personally I’d cancel. A 7 pm check in means you’re losing much of a day for which you’re presumably paying quite a lot of money.

And I doubt very much that they’re reducing their rates accordingly.

As for a 9 am checkout, I wouldn’t want that even for just me and dh, no kids!

I feel like a lot of PPs are acting like holiday home owners are changing the times/rules for fun, or to be inconvenient.
Firstly if owners let through a holiday company there might be a blanket policy that covers all the cottages (and not up to the owner to decide whether they pay for extra cleaners etc)
Secondly they've lost 2 chunks of peak bookings income (Easter and may half term)this year and dealing with the associated costs of extra cleaning, laundering etc.
Btw I'm not a holiday let owner but think we all need to give a bit of leeway.

It’s a really difficult situation. Dh still wants to go on our holiday just for a change of scenery, but I resent paying £3k to go on a holiday where I have no idea what it’s going to be like, I imagine it’s going to be mayhem in the actual town. All the places we usually visit like hayle railway, the farm and paradise park probably won’t be open. Il be bloody cooking most nights, preparing picnics every day and having to queue for the supermarket/shops. Will the public loos be open or will we be having to go in a hedge every time we go anywhere? I’ve just looked at Newquay zoo website and they do t even know if they’re going to be open (say they’re aiming for early July) but if we pre-book tickets how can we guarantee we’ll get in during our 2 week stay if it’s really busy?

And the thought of trying to social distance in st.ives is making me have a mild panic attack!

I really don’t fancy it. Staying home sounds more relaxing.

I can't believe the number of people who routinely waste the first day by not starting the holiday until after they've checked in and unpacked at 3pm.

@Bleepbloopblarp that's one of the issues I'm facing, I feel sorry for the cottage owner, it's not their fault but I think it would be more fun and less stressful to stay at home.

Ask them. 7pm check-in presumably allows the cleaners to get round ALL the properties will all the extra cleaning. They might prioritise yours and allow you to get in a bit early because you've got little ones. No harm in asking. Otherwise can you do the next day and ask for a price reduction as it's not what you originally booked?

I live in a high tourist area and every week in the summer there’s a story of people having their car broken into. To be fair, not usually from the main car parks. It’s when the car parks are full and people park down side streets.

We have a cottage that we rent out with Cottages/Hoseasons. I suspect it is them you are talking about. I believe this is a optional thing so contact the owner.It's crazy what they are asking of property owners. We haven't agreed to it. What difference does it make to remove cushions if you have a fabric sofa or dining chairs? Our housekeeper always cleans all hard surfaces anyway which is what is feasible. She has 6 hours to clean a property, which should be sufficient!

They have been treating owners terribly too. We had a guest who just didn't turn up mid-March (prior to lockdown). He spoke to the housekeeper the evening before and said he wasn't sure what time he would make it. They didn't inform us he cancelled for 6 weeks. Our housekeeper waiting in for them to check them in a whole evening. The property was cleaned and the welcome pack provided. We paid her and Cottages have ignored all emails and not paid us a penny. We will stick with our usual check in/out.

I am SE. I wouldn’t care if they have lost income etc... I have too and I wouodnt dream to make my client’s life harder just because of that.

My first reaction was that they needed more time to do a deep clean. But actually, they already do a deep clean anyway so I don’t think that should impact time of arrival and leaving.
The removing items can make sense. Decorations for example. And yes board games or books. But the DVD player?!? That doesn’t make sense at all.
For my work, I’ve had to do all the risk assessments, cleaning etc... They are over the top.

I suspect the owners are worried and stressing out completely.

Cottage apart, I just can't see being on holiday any time soon will be any fun. I'm hoping to get away for a few days right at the end of the summer, but that would be to walk in remote areas with a picnic. I'm under no illusions that the usual attractions will be open but if they are, I dont think they'll be enjoyable. TBH, I'm not even that hopeful that a short walking break will happen.

as a holiday cottage owner I can confirm the requirements are fairly extensive - we have to basically clean twice, once with disinfectant and disposable paper towels and once as normal
And yes, alot of stuff has been recommended to remove as potentially poses a risk
Steam cleaning all soft furnishings and carpets.
You may be able to request that they call you when finished. Maybe go and have a meal before check in?

Well,that doesn’t make sense at all Nettle.
The industry I am in have very high requirements (health related) and we aren’t asked to clean twice. Ever.
Actually the message has been very clear. Normal soap will do the job very well because the cell wall of the virus will always be destroyed by soap (or 70% alcohol).

@Bleepbloopblarp this is more to the point than losing a few hours - it’s not much of a holiday if everything in the area is shut so you’re doing all the cooking and if it rains there’s no entertainment. Since we do t know what might be open (apart from zoos ffs), it’s quite a gamble to assume conditions outside the rental property will be vaguely holiday like (though this of course is another reason that if cottage owners want to get something g at all out of this season, they should be bending over backwards to keep bookings rather than imposing unilateral reductions)

I really don't think it's that big a deal, although I seem to be in a minority. So your DS's routine will be thrown off for a day; so what? It's a holiday and there are always some disruptions to routine on a holiday. And there is hardly a gulf of difference between 9am and 10am.