Is this unhygienic?!

[loislaneloves]

I have an Airbnb on my property. It’s basically a tiny home at the bottom of our large garden with an amazing view. Most people come for the weekend by train and I don’t want people to spend their holiday shopping for stuff like coffee, tea, milk or having to cram suitcases full of toiletries or beach towels so I provide all of those. I also provide a little evening snack (crisps usually) some wine to watch the sun set on the deck with and fruit from the garden and a croissant and jam for breakfast. People love it and I make it quite clear on my ads that these things are provided.
Just got a review from a couple who stayed with us a few days ago. They gave us a good review but took one star off and in her private message to me she said ‘We loved our stay with you but we weren’t very happy that the toiletries are in big shared bottles rather than individual use. This is obviously very unhygienic (we don’t know who has used them!!) so we had to make the trip to buy some for ourselves which was an expense and effort we weren’t expecting’.
To be clear I offer Aesop Shower Gel, Shampoo and Conditioner in the shower and Aesop Hand Wash by the sink in 500ml bottles. They get replaced when empty which is usually about every 10 months
AIBU to think this is not unhygienic?!

Really?!. What do you think is going to happen?

Totally agree with this (and I'm also a bit germ-averse). I mean where do you draw the line? Previous guests have used the toilet and the towels and bed sheets, stood on the carpet, touched the same light fittings, etc.

Reviews can feel and can be unreasonably brutal.

People can be slapdash about your business and the care you take, for the most spurious reasons without any thought for the potential
impact.

It’s unfortunately the risk you take.

All you can do is make sure your write up is clear about what you offer and include pictures - because people don’t read properly either!

And no it’s not unhygienic - if it were everything from washing up to conditioner would be sold in individual ‘servings’.

I quite fancy a stay tbh

isn't the soap sheet a different PP?

You beat me to it

This.

Maybe in your description you could say we offer shampoo/soap etc in a dispenser but you are welcome to bring your own. Then you are covering all bases.

It is ridiculous as all big hotels do it now.

Not if it’s a complimentary gift.

How ridiculous. Do they never stay in hotels with dispensers? Frustrating they knocked a star off, but just ignore and move on - I really don't think any sane persom would be remotely bothered by this!

Only if the listing doesn't advertised it

It's not unhygienic she just couldn't pinch them and take them home 🤣
Plenty of hotels have dispensers on the wall in the shower and as ex cabin crew i have stayed in MANY hotels. It sounds like a lovely place to stay.

What your reviewer is really annoyed about is that you didn't provide the "individual" sized toiletries that she could put in her luggage and take home with her...

Wow. I think it’s really off of them to remove a star. It sounds like what you’re doing is lovely.

i don’t really understand the hygiene element. Most places have big pump bottles and cafes/restaurants etc have shared of course. It’s wasteful to have all the little bottles and mini soaps.

i think unfortunately some people are just very picky and bonkers and you won’t please everyone. The coffee thing is silly too. If people are that picky they should bring their own, especially as you list what is there. Stars should only be removed for a proper complaint - not a preference.

Not true. If it's part of what you pay for it is seen as selling the wine to you. The below is a summary.

www.cornishcottageholidays.co.uk/blog/owner-advice-supply-of-alcohol-in-your-holiday-home/

Then you wouldn't be able to see it's Aesop, which is top of the range and lovely, and very generous of the OP.

So when you go to a restaurant, you expect single use hand wash?

My aunt ran a b&b before airbnb times. The bottles were expensive, the contents were supersaver.

I don't use something where I don't know the contents. Refillable may mean more environmentally sound, but also means you as a guest don't 100% know what's in the bottle.

Who provides individual toiletries in an Airbnb, would cost a fortune and be really environmentally unfriendly. I recently stayed at an Airbnb that had lots of toiletries for use, even hair products. I had brought my own but I thought it was great.

That's not true either. You can't leave it without a licence, whether you advertise it or not. Just interested as to why you are so certain it's ok if you don't advertise it?

Plenty of hotels do the same thing, increasingly so. It sounds like you have a similar set up not just random bottles everywhere.

I’m assuming hotels now do it for cost effective reasons and also sounds good on the environmental side: less waste etc,

It’s really interesting on how people make assumptions… 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I never said it was unhygienic I said it’s a personal preference of mine.
Amusingly, we are not all the same and supposedly free to make our own choices. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but the person doing it.

How can soap be dirty? She sounds unhinged.

I’d give you an extra star for the Aesop, personally.

I would be upset in your shoes too although realistically nobody is going to think a 5 star rating is going to mean the place is better than somewhere with a 4.8 star rating. The vast majority of reasonable people know that some people have unreasonable expectations.