One of the threads in the Facebook group last week was around charging for extras, and specifically children, and I thought you’d find the comments interesting.
Overwhelmingly and unanimously everyone said YES and here’s why….
Children are often more work than adults.
They sometimes spill or break things
They sometimes knock things over
They can leave a mess to clear up
They sleep in sheets and use towels that have to be washed afterwards (like everyone else!)
They sometimes need a special breakfast prepared for them
They’re naturally curious and often wander into spaces where you don’t want them to go, so you always have to be aware of them in the house, which can take up more of your time and energy
So what should you charge for them?
It depends…
But first, I’m curious to know why you might be taking children?
Unless you’re running a children-centric activity-type establishment that would be a child’s paradise, here’s some reasons to say no to them and their doting parents
Other peoples’ children are not interesting to other guests who may not feel comfortable about them being there. Other guests may have booked a special occasion away from their own kids only to be confronted with someone else’s offspring.
They can sometimes stifle proper adult conversation, where certain topics cannot be discussed
They are prone to interrupting, to get their parents’ attention if they feel they’re being left out
They often run around because they have more energy than adults, and this could be noisy
They distract the parents who cannot relax and enjoy your hospitality when their antenna is always on red alert
And then there’s the nappies/diapers left in the bathroom bins!
This is not to say I don’t like children, I do
Very much actually
But as guests at my B&B?
No
Keep in mind that you are running a business, not a kindergarten
Be specific about who you welcome and who you don’t
You’re not obliged to take anybody and everybody
Still want to take children and don’t know how much to charge?
Charge whatever you need to charge so you don’t feel resentful or disrespected
This applies to everything you do
It’s YOUR business, YOU make the rules
Yvonne x
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I LOVE children, but like you NOT in my B&B. I have made the odd exception, when nobody else is booked in, and have charged just slightly less than the adult rate. I do advertise as childfree unless all 4 rooms are block booked.
Love that Nikki. Making the distinction between what goes in your business as opposed to what goes outside of it. Very important, and thank you for commenting 🙂
Exactly what I thought.
Now without advertising for children (no playground, no special deals for them) there are some times when it’s difficult to say “no” ( a whole family with just 1 or 2 youngsters, weddings) unless you are ready to lose the whole booking.
I have always explained was I was charging and as you said provided specific breakfast and services. Some “kids” actually pre adolescents are always hungry and gulp a lot of food….
Thanks for commenting Martine. Discretion is key on this, and as long as you don’t feel disrespected or resentful 🙂
Totally agree. I try to agree to children at Ninety North only when there are no other business guests – like on a weekend. I also don’t have family rooms, so that puts people off and I don’t mind and will not create a family room. This is not my primary market. At our self catering lodge homes in Swaziland, families are welcome as they book the entire house or themselves anyway. How many people will you be? 6? We charge for 6 people! not 4 adults and two children (unless they are babes in arms and then they come free). The children definitely need watching more, they make a HUGE mess and we have more cleaning to do – sticky fingers on walls and shoes on furniture, GRRRR.
Absolutely Lynda! Thanks so much for commenting.
This sounds wonderful, and wish we could do that, however, we are in California where we are not allowed to discriminate against children, etc. We have had mostly respectful parents and well behaved children, however, that isn’t always the case. A screaming child at breakfast is not a good thing, or one left unattended. We can refuse pets, however, not service animals.