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?

When DC1 was under 2 we definitely let bedtime slip a bit, by about 2.5 we really regretted this every time. She's now 5 and goes to bed around 8. Much later than this we have grumpiness to deal with both going to bed and the next day. We're not wedded to a routine but it usually takes a while for us to get over the regrets when we push the envelope too hard.

We've generally gone away with ILs (now shielding) so they can do babysitting once or twice.

People really need to cop on to the fact that cleaners and holiday owners are working to industry guidelines and are not doing this for fun. We're only just starting to come out of lockdown, the virus is still there. They're not doing this to be awkward or to ruin tourists trips. Hospitality has taken a massive hit from the pandemic and people need to be understanding. The stringent guidelines are causing bookings to be hit further.....its not wanted by owners but needs to be done.

@Seasiderabbit

We had the same email!

We start the bath at 6pm, kids in bed by 7pm.

Not sure what we are going to do.

Put it back a couple of hours? And have a quiet day the next day?

It's not insurmountable.

I must say - i am the most militant parent when it comes to getting DCs to bed quick smart each day (i like my evenings to myself and i don't mind getting up early with them) but when it comes to check in for a holiday a couple of hours wouldn't phase me. Just means you might get a lie in on the first morning? (MIGHT) I might balk at having to arrive at 9 or 10 at night but 7's ok.

Yes I really can't wait to sit under a dripping umbrella in a layby.

I'd just go the next day I think. The first day is usually a bit of a write off anyway.

It would make me think how far I was prepared to drive though. A couple of hours sees you in your property by mid-morning on the second day. A five or six hour drive means you've lost over half a day of your already curtailed time.

YANBU. It’s absolutely ridiculous, even more so if they’re not offering a significant discount for significantly changing your holiday.

I’d cancel. If others do too they’d soon get the message that what they’re proposing isn’t viable.

@heartsonacake

YANBU. It’s absolutely ridiculous, even more so if they’re not offering a significant discount for significantly changing your holiday.

I’d cancel. If others do too they’d soon get the message that what they’re proposing isn’t viable.

But it's not their fault!

That's the gamble you need to take going on holiday at this time, tbh.

When the kids were young we preferred holidays by car to remote lets in UK, or France (drive, ferry, more driving)which often meant arriving late with small sleepy kids after a long journey. The journey was part of the adventure , with car games, plenty of stops to pee and run around, snacky picnics. The kids travelled in loose comfy clothes for comfort and ease of toilet stops and nappy changing. If they were fast asleep in the on arrival we just transferred them straight from car to bed, fully dressed. One of the pleasures of a holiday is a far more relaxed routine for everyone; later to bed, skipping bath time, less cooking, casual meals etc.

@sqirrelfriends

DS is 2, a change in his routine has knock on effects that last days and tbh I don't want that on holiday.

It used to be the same for us too. It's actually only since lockdown that they've learned (at almost-6 and almost-7) to stay in bed to catch up on lost sleep the night before.

My DS was an appalling sleeper for 4 years. We stuck to a routine as to do otherwise made a godawful sleep situation loads worse.

But it's not their fault!

Spidey66 I never said it was anyone’s fault. But there are things property owners can do to mitigate these issues for their guests.

If they feel they need so long to clean between guests then they either leave a day between each booking or hire more staff to do the clean in a reasonable time (10 hours is not reasonable).

i dont think you should have a discount its really not their fault-however all these people sahying jsut got to a cafe pub etc even if they are open they will be severly reduced in numbers and most are saying you will have to book in advance to come in

so no leisurel meals out all will have to be planned unless u get a take away every day

interested in the welsh guildlines as i have family there is there any update?

@Elphame why aren’t you using furloughed hospitality workers to clean so that the extra can be done in the same time?

This thread is a bit like the landlord ones where there’s a bit of confusion between running a business and doing someone a favour by allowing them to spend thousands to stay in your house

i dont think you should have a discount its really not their fault

GabsAlot No, it’s nobody’s fault. But the fact of the matter is that they are changing the holiday and the price should be changed to reflect that.

As I outlined above, there are things property owners can do to mitigate these issues for their guests.

I am very unroutined but I actually found it more stressful to impose "normal routines" in abnormal places ie holiday cottages/caravans etc.

But I know for lots of others routine is key for a harmonious holiday.

The point here is that its not a made up rule because the cottage owner (or indeed holiday company) felt like being awkward. there are strict guidelines and after most losing a good deal of income after having closed for 2 peak periods, they will be doing everything possible to mitigate against someone going on holiday, falling ill and holding them responsible. (and trying to claim financial compensation)

Anyway the OP made their decision by about page 3 and is going to defer until next year.

@heartsonacake have you read the thread, explaining that holiday let cleaners often have to go in and clean multiple properties? And having a gap of a day between guests reduces the amount of time they have to let out, and can be a logistical and financial nightmare. The property i own i have as a Saturday changeover, a day in between wouldn't be practical. And owners are having to take a financial hit from the increased cleaning costs, but you want to give the guests a discount on top?

And people wonder why I decided to suspend bookings for the summer! Yes I have to take a financial hit as a result but it's really not worth the hassle, not this year anyway.

That's the gamble you need to take going on holiday at this time, tbh

People booked way before the virus was even known about.

If they've booked now, that's different. But if they booked say straight after last year's stay which a lot of people do, then they should be offered the same terms and if that's not possible because of the guidelines then they need to come up with a different solution eg having a day inbetween bookings or prioritising cleaning so those needing an earlier check-in can have it and those who don't care can be later.

Is this (later check in times) happening in hotels, too?

I’m surprised it needs a deeper clean to be honest. Surely after one family leaves they need to be cleaning everything including disinfecting switches, door handles, surfaces, etc. Anyone could have had a stomach bug!

Makes me wonder what on Earth they were doing before. What extra exactly needs doing and why does it take an extra 5 hours. I’ve got a 3 bed house and i couldn’t spend 10 hours cleaning it if I tried!

The property i own i have as a Saturday changeover, a day in between wouldn't be practical

Yes it would. People leave on Saturday and arrive on Sunday. 6 nights instead of 7. Not insurmountable at all. Obvs you wouldn't get as much money but I can't see this happening for more than a few weeks - things will calm down eventually.

I would have thought 6/7th money was better than no money at all, but your choice.

I’ve got a 3 bed house and i couldn’t spend 10 hours cleaning it if I tried!
no one is suggesting it takes 10 hours to do 1 hours but a team of cleaners may have to do several. Also when you clean a domestic house you probably don't have a check list or inventory that you have to check against and sign for

I’ve got a 3 bed house and i couldn’t spend 10 hours cleaning it if I tried

The 10 hours thing is because they have multiple properties - either the owner or the cleaner to clean. But then you make an order for doing them by desired check in time. It's really not hard.

Also agree I would have expected it to be spotless before Covid so not really sure what needs to change. Visit England's guidelines are completely over the top.

I would have thought 6/7th money was better than no money at all, but your choice.

Equally, 5 hours less holiday is better than no holiday at all...

@cologne4711
Most owners would have given the option to cancel or change dates. If this wasn't offered on the grounds that the property may (and its not guaranteed) be able to be booked i dont think the owners or agents are being fair tbh.

Fair enough, I hadn’t thought about multiple properties. Maybe they need more staff but appreciate that might be easier said than done.

7pm is a ridiculous time to check in and 9am is pushing it too. I would cancel

@cologne4711

The property i own i have as a Saturday changeover, a day in between wouldn't be practical

Yes it would. People leave on Saturday and arrive on Sunday. 6 nights instead of 7. Not insurmountable at all. Obvs you wouldn't get as much money but I can't see this happening for more than a few weeks - things will calm down eventually.

I would have thought 6/7th money was better than no money at all, but your choice.

6/7ths of the price, plus higher cleaning costs all adds up.

In fact the cleaners I use are refusing to go in for 72 hours to clean, on the grounds the virus lives on surfaces for 72 hours. Plus all unnecessary items e.g. the hairdryer and soft furnishings such as cushions to be removed. The only way I could do it would be a rolling week of guests/no guests. So a cut of 50% of my guests but higher cleaning costs.