How to avoid a guest fee?

[raygo123]

Very nicely done.

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[A.Win]

Thanks for the useful replies. I was asking about checking in and not staying at the resort. But responses regarding when I am at the resort too are appreciated. I live near a couple Wyndham resorts so less than an hour of my time to save $99 is worth it. Whether it is renter, guest, or family is not really important. Some of us probably trust certain renters more than some of our friends and family.

It seems like the only way to avoid the fee AND avoid risk would be to check in at the exact same time as the guest.

 

[am1]

It seems like the only way to avoid the fee AND avoid risk would be to check in at the exact same time as the guest.

You would still be the person the reservation under and the credit card hold is only a certain amount and damages and charges can be much higher. But in the end Wyndham can still go over after the owner for damages from a guest.

 

[DeniseM]

am1 - Have you ever had a guest who damaged their unit, or had to cover damages?

 

[ronparise]

Thanks for the useful replies. I was asking about checking in and not staying at the resort. But responses regarding when I am at the resort too are appreciated. I live near a couple Wyndham resorts so less than an hour of my time to save $99 is worth it. Whether it is renter, guest, or family is not really important. Some of us probably trust certain renters more than some of our friends and family.

It seems like the only way to avoid the fee AND avoid risk would be to check in at the exact same time as the guest.

Pretty sure you are right Be there to check in with your guest and then go home

Doesn't scale however. What do you do if you have the 10 reservations allowed by the new rules

 

[raygo123]

What if the wyndham resort says no. Can she pay the $99 to the resort? Is there a possibility the renter will not be allowed to stay?

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[DeniseM]

It seems like the only way to avoid the fee AND avoid risk would be to check in at the exact same time as the guest.

Here is a bigger issue - As a renter, I would not rent from you. I am not going to travel, perhaps a long distance, and show up at the resort, and "hope" that you show up, to check me in, under a confirmation in your name.

I am not going to pay for a rental, unless I have a confirmation in my name, and I can call the resort, or reservations, and confirm the reservation, well in advance.

Without a resort reservation in my name, I may show up at the font desk, and get turned away.

 

[am1]

am1 - Have you ever had a guest who damaged their unit, or had to cover damages?

yes. The amount of rentals I do it is bound to happen eventually.

 

[DeniseM]

yes. The amount of rentals I do it is bound to happen eventually.

So the damages exceeded the renter's credit, and the resort charged it back to you?

 

[ronparise]

Here is a bigger issue - As a renter, I would not rent from you. I am not going to travel, perhaps a long distance, and show up at the resort, and "hope" that you show up, to check me in, under a confirmation in your name.

I am not going to pay for a rental, unless I have a confirmation in my name, and I can call the resort, or reservations, and confirm the reservation, well in advance.

Without a resort reservation in my name, I may show up at the font desk, and get turned away.

Denise has it right. No one is going to rent from you if they don't get a confirmation with their name on it

 

[ronparise]

So the damages exceeded the renter's credit, and the resort charged it back to you?

I do a lot of rentals too and I've never been charged for damages. It's a non issue

 

[am1]

I do a lot of rentals too and I've never been charged for damages. It's a non issue

Not sure where you are coming from on this as the resort can go after the owner for damages. So far you have been lucky.

 

[Bigrob]

Not sure where you are coming from on this as the resort can go after the owner for damages. So far you have been lucky.

It is for this reason and liability reasons I would not want to attempt to check a guest in without a guest confirmation. It sounds like you have had to pay for damages caused by a guest even though the resort had their name and credit card on file. It seems likely that the damage may have been even greater had their not been at least one member of the party who had their credit card at stake in that situation.

It does beg the question - where and when do you rent? We all know that Ron rents during Mardi Gras, which at least superficially appears to be a time and location that would pose damage risk. But perhaps the greater risk is for spring breakers at a coastal location at slightly lower than Mardi Gras rates.

A Win, like you I live in the Northern Virginia area and have contemplated checking guests in at National Harbor. But in the final analysis, for me the increased peace of mind and not having to deal with getting to the resort, hanging around to meet someone who could be hours later than they said, and the potential liability just isn't worth it to attempt to save the guest confirmation. My two cents.

 

[A.Win]

I was hoping this was a smart way to save $99, but I see that it is not. I will follow TUG users' advice and not attempt this.

However, IF I happen to be at the same resort at the same time AND I am very comfortable about the quality of the guest, I may take the small risk.

 

[ronparise]

Not sure where you are coming from on this as the resort can go after the owner for damages. So far you have been lucky.

Perhaps its you thats been unlucky. But I dont think its good luck luck I think its good management

I rent event weekends in New Orleans, often to young people out for a good time. (lots of drinking and lots of parties). You would think that if anyone would suffer damages it would be me, but, no not once

My attitude is that most people are good people and dont do damage to their vacation accommodations.. After all its not the 60's and Im not renting to the Who. I have found over my nearly 60 years doing business (35 doing rentals) that if I treat my customers with respect, I get respect in return. That's both respect for me and my property. I can count the number of times Ive been disappointed on one hand. And that was damage to slum property I owned in Baltimore (you probably saw pictures of the neighborhood around Pennsylvania and North Avenues, on TV recently)

 

[ronparise]

It is for this reason and liability reasons I would not want to attempt to check a guest in without a guest confirmation. It sounds like you have had to pay for damages caused by a guest even though the resort had their name and credit card on file. It seems likely that the damage may have been even greater had their not been at least one member of the party who had their credit card at stake in that situation.

It does beg the question - where and when do you rent? We all know that Ron rents during Mardi Gras, which at least superficially appears to be a time and location that would pose damage risk. But perhaps the greater risk is for spring breakers at a coastal location at slightly lower than Mardi Gras rates.

A Win, like you I live in the Northern Virginia area and have contemplated checking guests in at National Harbor. But in the final analysis, for me the increased peace of mind and not having to deal with getting to the resort, hanging around to meet someone who could be hours later than they said, and the potential liability just isn't worth it to attempt to save the guest confirmation. My two cents.

not to mention that you get 30 guest confirmations per account (me too)

 

[ronparise]

If you really want to avoid guest fees make friends with the resort staff. but again, that only works if you have one reservation. More than one and Wyndhams computers are likely to get you and cancel

 

[A.Win]

Making friends with the resort staff seems like good general advice for mega renters. They can provide better customer service. Maybe give your guests a better unit. But relying on a friend to avoid the guest fee seems sketchy to me. What happens if the friend is not there that day? Why if there are new employees at the resort? And the idea of slipping the "friend" a 20 or giving this person other gifts makes me uneasy.

 

[Vacationfuntips]

It could be done, but should it be?

You could go to the resort and check in yourself. During check in you are given a paper to list the names of the people in your room. Usually this form is done and filled out by you at check in. You put down the name of your kids, spouse, guest, etc...just add the name(s) of your guests. Now the resort has it on file. All they would need to do, if you were not there to give them the room keys is get another reissued. Their name is listed. If you or your travel party lost your room key or your room key was not working - you or your guests would do this? Their name and yours are on file with the resort.

You could always leave an envelope for the guest to pick up at the front desk or some agreed on spot with the room keys?

For resort charges, you could advise your guest to either pay cash if it is not a resort that has the cashless policy in place (like Reunion, etc...) If it was not a cashless resort, they could just make charges as they go by bringing their credit card everywhere with them. You could ask them not to make any room charges unless they put their credit card on file or pay for it in cash. If they forget and do charge something to the credit card you placed on file, then ask them to settle the bill by going to the front desk the night before check out to take care of things (cash, or a different credit card). I know on vacation, I have sometimes went and paid my balance in cash or with a different credit card at the end of my stay. I ask for a printed receipt of my bill.

This whole senario is a huge risk to you by not paying for a guest confirmation for your guest. If you know them well, it is much different.

As Denise, and others have agreed it leaves the renter nervous that they may not have a reservation and be able to check in. I would not feel comfortable buying airfare and showing up somewhere if I wasn't certain that I had a room.

I know that I always call the resort before arrival to check on my reservation and put in my requests. Your guest will be unable to do this without the Wyndham guest confirmation.

If you did any of the above, do so with caution! For me, I would only do the above for immediate family or really good friends that I know. If you reserved more than 1 room for the same dates at the same resort, none of this can happen unless you had at least 2 owners checking into 2 different rooms - for the group.

If you have a rental agreement in place and they understand the check in procedure with you adding their names to a room at the resort and still feel good about renting from you, and you with them and all of the liability issues involved - maybe it would work?

For me, I would just pay the $99 fee online. Less hassle, less chance of trouble, and better peace of mind.

Cynthia T.

 

[Bigrob]

not to mention that you get 30 guest confirmations per account (me too)

True. That doesn't get me through Q1 though, just as I'm sure you don't make it past Mardi Gras with any GC's left.

You could go to the resort and check in yourself. During check in you are given a paper to list the names of the people in your room. Usually this form is done and filled out by you at check in. You put down the name of your kids, spouse, guest, etc...just add the name(s) of your guests. Now the resort has it on file. All they would need to do, if you were not there to give them the room keys is get another reissued.
Cynthia T.

Cynthia is right, I had forgotten about the possibility of simply adding the names as guests at check-in and leaving the keys there. We've actually done that when we've had guest staying with us (in the same unit) but no reason why it wouldn't work whether we stayed or not. But the caveats remain, I wouldn't attempt it unless I had a real good reason to fully trust the person staying in the unit.

 

[wed100105]

I thought of doing this same exact thing this summer. I was at Glacier Canyon and checking out that day. My friend had a unit starting in my check out day. Ultimately I decided it wasn't worth the hassle. She was renting from me; had I given her the unit I would have felt more comfortable just checking in for her and telling her not to charge back to the room.
I build the $99 guest confirmation fee into my price.

 

[am1]

No doubt that I have been unlucky a few times. No one that I rent to gives me the feeling they will damage the unit or smoke in the unit but if you do a lot of rentals you will get a few bad apples.

It is possible other resorts just eat the damage or guests come out of pocket to pay for the damages right away.

I more than anyone am glad the resort enforces the damages as I want the unit looking nice without having to renovate every few years.

Perhaps its you thats been unlucky. But I dont think it good luck luck I think its good management

I rent event weekends in New Orleans, often to young people out for a good time. (lots of drinking and lots of parties). You would think that if anyone would suffer damages it would be me, but, no not once

My attitude is that most people are good people and dont do damage to their vacation accommodations.. After all its not the 60's and Im not renting to the Who. I have found over my nearly 60 years doing business (35 doing rentals) that if I treat my customers with respect, I get respect in return. That's both respect for me and my property. I can count the number of times Ive been disappointed on one hand. And that was damage to slum property I owned in Baltimore (you probably saw pictures of the neighborhood around Pennsylvania and North Avenues, on TV recently)

 

[VegasBella]

Can you check your guests in the resort to avoid a guest fee? Do any of you do this? More specifically, to save $99, can I arrive at the resort before my guests. Add their names to the room. And then they check-in later?

I guess the risk is that if they mess up the unit, I am responsible. Any other considerations that I haven't thought of?

Thanks!

I do this all the time for my mom and my mother-in-law. We book "extra vacations" or "last call vacations" for them to visit us in Vegas. Then we either check in before them and give them the key or we escort them through the check in process.

When we have escorted them, we've been able to put their credit card on the account for incidentals. But we often don't worry about that because they're responsible and don't do damage or charge room service, etc.

At some resorts I've been able to simple call the resort and explain that I'm sharing the room with another party and that they will arrive before me and ask if they can check in without me. This only works at some locations.

I haven't ever rented out units to other people (I've rented from other people just not the other way around). I would not do this for a renter. And honestly, there are many family and friends I wouldn't do it for either.

 

[csxjohn]

This isn't the answer you're looking for but the best way to avoid the quest fee is get into a system like Bluegreen that doesn't charge a guest fee.

 

[am1]

Have any of those times been at a Wyndham resort or using Wyndham points?

I do this all the time for my mom and my mother-in-law. We book "extra vacations" or "last call vacations" for them to visit us in Vegas. Then we either check in before them and give them the key or we escort them through the check in process.

When we have escorted them, we've been able to put their credit card on the account for incidentals. But we often don't worry about that because they're responsible and don't do damage or charge room service, etc.

At some resorts I've been able to simple call the resort and explain that I'm sharing the room with another party and that they will arrive before me and ask if they can check in without me. This only works at some locations.

I haven't ever rented out units to other people (I've rented from other people just not the other way around). I would not do this for a renter. And honestly, there are many family and friends I wouldn't do it for either.