BnB Hosting - my autumn years
Running a bnb cum self-catering establishment is a whole load of hard work but also great fun; guests booking for all kinds of reasons and calling at all hours of the day or night.
For me, the most rewarding part of this new job is receiving guests who arrive stressed and strained but depart totally relaxed. Reading their reviews afterwards really is so heartwarming and makes all the blood, sweat and tears very worthwhile.
When we first started, we did not realise the demand for short-term accommodation would be this big.
Living in a popular coastal city which also hosts many events, probably is a contributing factor.
This job has been a blessing in more ways than one; a great way of supplementing our income after being discarded by the corporate world when in our autumn years. Actually the best job I have ever had, and I'm really sorry I did not have the courage to start earlier.
Airbnb was a fabulous starting block for us, bringing guests from all over the world.
We subsequently registered with our local authority and tourism bodies so now run this as a thriving little business.
So what brings guests to establishments like ours?
Firstly, the kind of people who prefer a home from home experience rather than an impersonal hotel room, the guests who prefer a tranquil haven after a busy day at the beach or working on special projects.
Excited guests arrive for the holidays; annual or mini breakaways - multi-generational guests are the norm here in our little Lily's Cottage - we even hosted four generations on one occasion!
Then we have the sportsmen - body builders sporting skimpy speedos and bikinis,
bringing tons of food - eggs, eggs and more eggs, smelly fish, giant protein powders and of course the instant tanning sprays that find its way to the sheets, towels and even the ceiling!
Ultra Marathon runners arrive looking super fit and lean, carbo-loading just before the event and then wake up in the dead of night to make the 5:30 start to the big ultra-marathon, the Comrades, an epic 89 kilometer run between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
BMX riders came and one young champion gave us one of his medals as a memento, we were very touched by that. We framed it and the medal collage now takes pride of place in Lily's Cottage.
They're coming back this year so it will be great seeing just how much young Caleb has grown!
And then the Darts team arrived for the SA Nationals. We were a tad concerned as we all know this sport involves consuming quite a lot of hard tack!
But they proved us wrong; very disciplined contestants and every night at 10 on the dot, it was lights out as the games started early in the morning, this was serious stuff!
The young players however made us chuckle when they walked up to their cars in the morning with a beer to steady the hands they say; no morning coffee during the competition ;)
We went along to support them on the last day
We hosted dancers and the cottage was literally turned into a dressing room with outfits of all kinds set out, ready for the next gig, there was no tidying that up!
Make-up, glitter, jewelry and whatever tools of the trade they use, would be everywhere, organised chaos they called it!
As I said earlier, guests book for all kinds of reasons - weddings, sickness, funerals, business, training, mission work, seminars, even setting up a satellite office here at times before court cases; we've had some real interesting guests from all walks of life!
Everyone however is treated as VIP's, whether it's a high court judge or a young apprentice.
MR RIGHT and MRS always RIGHT also paid us a visit ;)
Every year when the holiday season is over and the new year kicks off, we think things are going to slow down, but we've been proven wrong time and time again!
It's back to business with a bang and we're fully booked again with long term business guests.
We however have an excellent housekeeper and leave her in charge when we take our own mini vacations throughout the year.
If you are a people's person and the idea of working from home appeals to you, I would highly recommend you consider BnB hosting. Not only are you making your property, which probably is your biggest investment, work for you, but you also have the added bonus of meeting interesting people from all walks of life, cultures and dispositions.
Little charmer ready for his board meeting
I will be starting a little series on setting up a bnb from my perspective soon, hope to see you back here then :)
Thank you for stopping by
Comments, upvotes & resteems all much appreciated :)
Copyright @lizelle - All Rights Reserved
Well, I went and looked up "self-catering" tonight -- because you've used that term before. It sounded to me like "they get their own meals" -- which is exactly what it turns out to be. (See, I'm clever that way.)
I haven't traveled much (and never overnight outside the country) so I hadn't come across it before. I have stayed in some places that listed "fully equipped kitchen" or "private cooking facilities provided."
I know of one B&B near us that allows guests to cook in off-hours using the main kitchen. One of the compensations for me though is "eating out." Travel is hard enough without the extra mess of shopping and cooking!
Fully equipped kitchen is used in our description, the cottage is very spacious. Self catering is a more affordable way of travelling especially for families but also preferable for those on special diets like our body builders and others. Many guests Braai (BBQ) rather than cook, South Africans are crazy about that, perhaps because of our great weather. Even our long term Swedish guests braaied every night after we treated them to a genuine South African braai ;)
I encourage self catering as it's much easier on the hosts too ;)
What lovely photos - that wee BMX champ Caleb is adorable! And a very interesting report too. I used to host a couple of Airbnb flats, getting paid by the owners to arrange bookings, keep the place clean, do laundry etc. I used to meet all kinds of interesting people too, although no dancers or BMX champs. My phone used to ping at all times of night!
So you know exactly what I'm talking about, the linen is the worst when it rains day after day! It's so hard turning the phone off as prospective guests often are in different time zones but I also find locals do their vacation bookings at night!
Caleb is too gorgeous, a lovely little boy! The track is close to us so it's easy going there to support him, quite a competitive sport!
I just love meeting so many different people, we often end up lending an ear to someone burdened with whatever life has dealt them; some spoil us with gifts when they leave; amazing how different people are :)
Thank you for your feedback @natubat!
I did succumb in the end and put my phone on "Do not disturb" at night. I thought the messages could wait a few hours!
And I never ever tried to dry the linen outside! We have a saying in Scotland: "If you can't see the hills, it means it's raining. If you can see the hills, it means it's about to rain."
This sounds wonderful @lizelle! Congrats on such high ratings (although I have to say I am not surprised in the least!) It's important do do what you love and you obviously love this because it shows! Everyone who stays with you comes back again! I'm so glad you shared a glimpse into your world and the people you host everyday. I am certain it is brings you great joy! Your guests are certainly lucky to stay at your B&B!
Oh it does just that my friend, even though it has been keeping me away from steeming of late with the staff away but everything is back to normal now thank goodness!
It really is a wonderful job!
Thank you for your lovely words :)
Wow, that's an interesting job! I always wondered how people thought about running their own BnB... we don't have enough space to do it ourselves. When I talk to the hosts, they are usually most interested in the diverse range of people that pass through their doors... just like you have detailed!I guess, that is pretty rewarding... to be able to chat with people that you just wouldn't ordinarily run into!
That certainly is the best part of it, always amazes me what draws people to some career paths or businesses one would never dream of. Often feels like we're seeing the world right here at home as we're seeing it through the people of the world ;)
Thank you so much for your lovely comments @bengy!
Lovely place you are having! I always liked the idea of having a small BnB in a warmer climate. It's on my Bucketlist ;0)
I do hope you fulfil that dream one day @lymepoet, it really is the best! I will be starting a short series on setting up a bnb soon, may be of help.
Congratulations! This post has been chosen as one of the daily Whistle Stops for The STEEM Engine!
You can see your post's place along the track here: The Daily Whistle Stops, Issue 373 (01/17/19)
Thank you so very much @thesteemengine, really appreciate your support :)
There is no better way to earn a living than doing what you love.
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Thank you so very much @catweasel, really chuffed that @enchantedspirit and her doctor, who we can always trust, chose my post along with these other lovely posts :)
Firstly, congratulations on being selected by @catweasel and @enchantedspirit for their curation reward for their The Magnificent Seven effort!
And congratulations on what appears to be a wonderful new business venture in "your autumn years"... nothing like being your own boss! Sadly, much of the corporate world's philosophy is cold-hearted and they forget that we autumnals have so much experience and knowledge to offer but are cast aside in favour of spring vibes... in the end, no one is indispensable, even spring chickens, so we have to look after ourselves.
Lovely pictures, it looks like a wonderful place to stay!
I like that term autumnals and you're so very right, but I sometimes think I should have steppes out earlier and done this job rather, but things happen when it's meant to not so ;)
Thank you for your lovely and thoughtful feedback @thistle-rock, really appreciate it!
Life does not always go as planned.... my philosohy though is that what is meant to be will be, one way or another, and all in its good time. 🙂
Hello friend, I have nothing more to congratulate, I love the enthusiasm with which you write and have a very interesting activity, where you can meet many customs and cultures, I love your space, I would like to know that place that looks wonderful. Excellent publication and I virtually transfer to you, to enjoy so much beauty. Greetings @lizelle
Ah thank you for your lovely words @perlanacarada, it really is the best job ever! I feel so blessed that I can do this :)
You're the kind of host one hopes for and I'm not surprised that you are constantly busy.
You write with such warmth and genuine liking for people and obviously it is reflected in your BnB.
It's the DETAILS in your writing that bring it alive and I read every word.
I laughed when I read about spray tan ending on the ceiling!
As people our 'antics' are incredible.............one has to keep smiling.
Well done Lizelle.
Thank you so very much for your kind words @justjoy, people certainly are most interesting not so!
Well those body builders made my eyes pop out more than once with those skimpy Speedos, and all that food! Everyone had their own stash of food and supplements galore, but they really were very nice people, looked quite normal when they arrived minus the fake tans and were not pumped up ;)
I think I'd ban things like tanning spray and hair dye if it were me making the choice. (Not that you can really enforce it I guess.) But washing / repainting the ceiling shouldn't be part of the "regular service." Do you have something like theft / damage deposits -- or is that just "part of the cost?"
It was not so difficult to remove, and the young lady fortunately reported it immediately so we could take remedial action. We can ask for a breakage deposit but really have not suffered any big losses, mostly rare accidents with crockery. I use whilte towels and sheets and bleach does a marvelous job.u
One learns to smile and enjoy various characters and stay away from being judgemental!
Kindness and tolerance matter.