Anybody use some kind of form the guests fill up on check in?
Or some kind of general agreement/regulations of checking in/out, the guests read and sign?
In our small space we really try to respect our neighbours, we have to be a little bit strict about noise at night and respecting stairs way and elevator use, any ideas how to make sure guests understand and respect it at all time?
Right now we do explain in a friendly way, and it mostly respected, we would like to improve and make sure.
Thanks,
J.
15 years
I plan to scan passports once open in the U.S. They are already scanned comming in the country, so people should not have issues with it. Plus it's an easy way to record info just in case you need it.
I think there's probably a big difference in peoples mind between the Govt scanning a passport and a hostel. (I have no idea what, if any regulation there would be on this in the USA).
15 years
Some US states have regulations on encrypting personal data -- like in Massachusetts:
http://www.bingham.com/Media.aspx?MediaID=7759&eID=7759
...but a hostel has to follow them in any case if they're storing credit card information.
The interesting thing about the Massachusetts law is that it seems to apply to all states that have customers from Massachusetts. I'm not sure how they enforce that.
15 years
Some US states have regulations on encrypting personal data -- like in Massachusetts:
http://www.bingham.com/Media.aspx?MediaID=7759&eID=7759...but a hostel has to follow them in any case if they're storing credit card information.
The interesting thing about the Massachusetts law is that it seems to apply to all states that have customers from Massachusetts. I'm not sure how they enforce that.
Wow, that seems pretty thorough. I'd imagine that it's be easiest to store as little personal data as possible. I find it hard to see how they could take a business in Texas (for example) to court for breaching a MA state law though?
15 years
Wow, that seems pretty thorough. I'd imagine that it's be easiest to store as little personal data as possible. I find it hard to see how they could take a business in Texas (for example) to court for breaching a MA state law though?
I'm not sure how enforcement in different states would work. Maybe they're trying to crack down on companies who lose data in other states, but who also have offices in Massachusetts? Then Massachusetts might be able to do something.
15 years
Hello,
We give guests a check in sheet with rules and useful information about the hostel, and I do highlight to them the most important things, but many of them complained in the reviews that they have to read the sheet.
Im a bit confused why is that, especially since it doesnt contain anything extraordinary, we just ask them not to move the furniture ,use their reading lamps when others are sleeping in the dorm etc.
Most of the times I get a very negative reaction when i hand them the sheet and many are shocked by the fact that we have some rules (although we dont require anything extroardinary from them beside showing some respect towards their fellow backpackers).
But the biggest problem I have is the check out. Although its stated on the sheet that they receive at check in and we have a sign with the check out time (and I mention the check out time when I show them the hostel and highlight the infos) no-one actually wants to leave! Since its high seasons we have almost all the beds booked so we need at least one hour to clean the place and make the beds from the new coming guests. When its past check out time, I ask them kindly to allow us clean the hostel and get it ready ,but again no-one leaves. When we insist on them checking out... in the end they leave (most of them even after check in time !!!) ,but they leave us a horrible rating.
Id really appreciate some advise and tips on making guests check out on time.
15 years
...but they leave us a horrible rating...
Your ratings look great -- people keep saying how great the staff are :)
What time is checkout?
15 years
Hi Julija,Do you have a breakfast, and is it free? What time does Breakfast start and end? What time is your check out/in times? Is your Hostel a Party hostel? Do you ask "stay overs" to leave the hostel for awhile for HK?
Thanks
Patrick
15 years
Italian law states that all hostels must ask for valid guest I.D. (I.D. Card or Passport) and that every guest should be registered on arrival at the hostel. These registration forms then have to be communicated to the police within 24 hours.
I have experienced situations where guests who had been in trouble with the police were easily traced thanks to their I.D. details being registered.
15 years
We provide a free breakfast from 8am to 10am and our check out time is at 11 o'clock.
We arent a party hostel, I occasionally organize evening out to restaurants and bars or we provide free dinner/ snack at the hostel. We also took the unsual measure to write in the description of the hostel that we arent really into drinking parties because we are a typical Eastern European hostel that doesnt have a bar or some isolated lounge where people could party as loud as they want without bothering the other guests.
But guests who party out till dawn arent exactly the ones that refuse to check out on time, in most of the cases we have problems with those who wake up early,have breakfast but then they simply hang around the hostel,surf the internet ... when i remind them about the check out ,they tell me "the bed is free" and then I find myself in the situation when i begin to explain that check out actually means leaving the hostel. Most of them say "ah..ok, Im almost done" but one hour later they are still online or having a snack in the kitchen.
Well the ones who give bad ratings dont leave any comment ...or I had a review on hostelbookers from a girl that said "The woman was rude and her and her boyfriends stunk out the place...u cant have fun as the woman stomps around like a school teacher! do not stay here unless ur like 40 years old! " She refused to check out on time, in the end she left but only for a couple of hours but then came back after her luggage and wouldnt leave (opened a bottle of wine, sat at the pc)...
I want to allow guests to leave their luggages at the hostel for the rest of the day,but on the other hand the ones that refuse to check out on time use the luggage as an excuse to come back shortly after and never leave.
15 years
I want to allow guests to leave their luggages at the hostel for the rest of the day,but on the other hand the ones that refuse to check out on time use the luggage as an excuse to come back shortly after and never leave.
We see this a lot, especially in peak season when prices are higher and beds are in shorter supply. Guests ask to leave their luggage because they have a late bus or train, and then they try to hang around the hostel all night. Some of them try to leave it with us overnight while they go out drinking until dawn so they won't have to pay for a bed in the hostel. They always think they're being very clever.
To avoid it we tell people they are welcome to hang out and leave their bags with us until 5:00pm for free. After that we have to charge them. Almost everyone is there to collect their bags on time or ask for another night. (This works for us becase the last train leaving the city rolls out around 8:30pm, and we know that anyone sticking around longer than that will have to stay for another night anyway)
Our checkout time is 11:30am. As long as I can make the beds and clean the rooms I don't have a problem with people hanging around the hostel after checkout time. I even let them take showers before they hit the road so they can start their next leg of the trip fresh and clean. It always leaves them with a positive last impression.
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