AirBnB Guest terminal illness

[Zazz101]

Hi, I am looking for suggestions. I rent out my house on airBnB and I have just found out that my next guest has a terminal illness.

They have organised a family get together. I would love to do something to make this an extra special time for them all. I know I could just knock money off the house, but they are wanting to make memories, and I would like to do something to ensure it’s a lovely holiday for them.

My only contact is the person that is ill, so I cannot ask them for any ideas.

so please, if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

I assume that your Airbnb is a lovely space which is why the family have chosen it as a place where they can spend time with each other together. Isn’t that enough for op? Leave them to enjoy each other. Do not impose yourself on them in any way whatsoever. Just be a quiet presence in the background ready to help if they need you to

This is spot on, @Ramalangadingdong

In response to some other comments: if guests have additional needs or requests (grab rails, shower seats, non-slip bathmats, hypo-allergenic bedding, fragrance-free toiletries/cleaning products - I have heard it all!), they will tell the host. The host's job is to respond to guests' requests, not to ask intrusive questions. I had to source an oxygen tank for one guest. They will always ask if they have needs which go beyond the things that a host would expect.

Keep it all clean, warm and welcoming. All guests should have the same good treatment, tweaked to their needs if they make specific requests.

If they don't make specific requests, you can pretty safely assume that they don't want any additional fuss.

Perfect!

We had a guest who didn’t have long left and they booked the house to make memories. I invited them all to my farm to feed the lambs and have some animal therapy - have you anywhere nearby that you could organise that with? Some farmers will be lambing mid December I would think, calving all year round or just see some ponies etc? Just a thought, they absolutely loved it.

OP. We had an airbnb when my FIL was very very ill. In fact he passed away whilst we were staying there (he was at his own house, we were staying in airbnb).
tbh, I wouldn't have wanted the host being around. It was a very personal family time.
I agree a basket of essentials would be nice though.

Jesus Christ! Please don't ever do this!

These guys do free stays for people with cancer. You could message to ask them for ideas. https://instagram.com/this.is.tinas

No.

For goodness' sake, please don't encourage anyone to be so intrusive.

This family is perfectly capable of organising the Christmas break that they want. It's horribly patronising to think that they need the interference of a total stranger.

Remind me never to book an AirBnB when dying....

Some great ideas here.

• a private chef or the owner cooking every meal
• a personalised bauble of the dying person ‘front and centre’ on a tree
• a Photo Booth with a ‘fun’ beach scene and cameras to snap pics of them before they die
• a basket of board games
• an undecorated Xmas tree to decorate
• hiring a brass band to play
• arranging for the guests to go to a farm for animal therapy

I tell you what, when I’m dying and looking for some family time I do hope I’m surprised by all of this.

Fortunately, most people who have come up with batshit suggestions don't let out holiday properties!

Thank goodness that it never occurred to me, or to my late husband, to tell anyone about his prognosis when we booked holiday accommodation.

I'm sorry, I'm actually laughing at the personalized bauble. You all know dying people are just people, right? Immortalised on a bauble. I can't wait!

You forgot about the recommendation for the host to provide silly props and hats to make the soon-to-be-dearly-departed look like Bozo the Fucking Clown in their last family photos.

You forgot about the recommendation for the host to provide silly props and hats to make the soon-to-be-dearly-departed look like Bozo the Fucking Clown in their last family photos

yes! Me in some of the glasses and silly moustaches. #makingmemories

Don’t overstep or impose. Telling them that you’re happy to help them with anything they might want or need would be nice. Leaving some fresh breads, eggs, milk, butter and cheese would also be nice. Everything else would be intrusive and weird.

Do not hire a brass band, carol singers, or organise an outing to a petting farm.

In fairness, the person suggesting looking at the lambs was hosting on a farm, and I think it's entirely appropriate to add on something relevant to the site if that's something you would normally do- we used to stay on a camping site on a farm and go visit the lambs.

Behave normally is my recommendation!

I think that it would be safest not to suggest any activities, and wait for the guests to ask.

She was, but she was also actually suggesting that the OP find a farm that she could arrange for her guests to visit!

Had she been the OP, petting lambs would have been a natural activity to offer. But she isn't.

*a private chef or the owner cooking every meal
• a personalised bauble of the dying person ‘front and centre’ on a tree
• a Photo Booth with a ‘fun’ beach scene and cameras to snap pics of them before they die
• a basket of board games
• an undecorated Xmas tree to decorate
• hiring a brass band to play
• arranging for the guests to go to a farm for animal therapy

I tell you what, when I’m dying and looking for some family time I do hope I’m surprised by all of this.*

I don't think OP was going for any of the above ideas but you're still catching up.

I think she was more of the goodies hamper and lit fire in the hearth, direction.

You managed to take the piss out of her too though.

You don’t think the family is capable of bringing what they need for themselves? I would find that all so patronising.

How have I been unpleasant?

Surely that wasn’t a serious suggestion? @stopbellyaching you were taking the p** weren’t you?

I don't think OP was going for any of the above ideas but you're still catching up

nope pretty caught up on the crazy on this thread.

@Zazz101

You started this thread with the best intentions and kindest notions.
99% of the people on here saw that.
A few rogue posters chose to see ugliness and awfulness and bad intentions with your lovely idea and you know what? There will always be negative people like them.
Ignore them. It takes an iron will, but do your level best to just shut them out.
You have a kind and empathetic heart and that’s always a good thing. It’s the best thing.
Don’t ever let anybody tell you any different.

A few rogue posters chose to see ugliness and awfulness and bad intentions with your lovely idea and you know what? There will always be negative people like them.
Ignore them. It takes an iron will, but do your level best to just shut them out.
You have a kind and empathetic heart and that’s always a good thing. It’s the best thing. Don’t ever let anybody tell you any different.

you go girl!