Why I ask for your arrival time and contact information
A few separate incidents.
A Dutch couple came in in the middle of the afternoon, brought in their luggage and was shown around the house: the pool, the garden and the internet house. They got the WiFi code for their laptop, they ordered breakfast and started undoing their bags. It was only then that they noticed that the laptop and other electric/electronic items were missing from the suitcase. Followed a trip to the police station, canceling cards and changing email passwords, but in the end nothing was recouped.
An American family arrived at 930am straight from their international flight. Their luggage was stored here, they had breakfast by the pool, and then took a nap (on the chill-out-sofa, in the hammock) before they took the keys of their would-be room and went to town to start their exploration of Sintra. Two days later when they left, we kept their luggage for several hours after check-out time as they still went sight-seeing before their night flight.
A family driving in from France arrived in Sintra, parked their car and started visiting the town. When they wanted to make their way to Casa do Valle, close to 8 pm they were surprised by the traffic being cut due to a sporting event - and had to wait until 10 pm to get through. Luckily my daughters were home and stayed waiting for the clients so I could go to our anniversary dinner with my husband.
A Portuguese young couple came to Casa do Valle because of a dinner and decided not to check in before dinner as agreed but rather after dinner, ringing the doorbell at midnight, wondering why it took me such along time to get to them (I had to get dressed as I was already in bed thinking they were no longer coming). But at least they had their room left. Another couple had not arrived by 9pm, though they told me they were arriving around 6, had their phones turned off when I tried to call them to find out if they were lost and were surprised to find out at 11 pm when they rang the doorbell that I had rented their room to someone else at 10pm. They had another available, but not the one they had wanted...
Why tell you all this? For security reasons? Actually, Sintra is in fact very safe, you can walk easily even in the dark in the streets without feeling afraid. Naturally, anywhere touristy you should not leave your luggage in the car and leave the car unattended, unfortunately the thiefs have arrived in Sintra as well. What do all these little incidents have in common?
Our announced check-in time is between 2 and 7 pm (14h-19h). Our Bed and Breakfast is small, and does not have 24 hour reception service. As the guests leave for the day, this is when we are busy: the rooms are cleaned, the shopping is done, the patios are swept. We realize that not all of our guests can arrive between 2 and 7 pm. It would be unreasonable of us not to let the clients arrive early and leave their luggage; or late driving in from the North or Spain. We are happy to oblige, to welcome our guests before 2 and after 7 when we know to expect them.
The Dutch couple whose laptop had been stolen had rung the doorbell at 1130 - no one heard them as the cleaning lady was vacuuming and I wasn't here. But I could and would have been had I known to expect them. So they didn't leave their luggage here but instead left it sitting in the car from where it was stolen from. I also knew about the traffic alterations the other night but had only advised a couple who said they might not make it here until 8 pm and the traffic was altered after 7 pm, after the check-in time. And I didn't have a working number to the French family to inquire about them when they had not arrived by then.
When we confirm your reservation, we mention the check-in and check-out times and ask for an estimated arrival time. We also ask for a contact phone number for any eventuality. Please, please, especially if you come early or late, do let us know a rough estimate of your arrival time and the phone number. This can really help so you (nor me) don't lose your day waiting around or worse yet, so you don't lose your time and your luggage.
A Dutch couple came in in the middle of the afternoon, brought in their luggage and was shown around the house: the pool, the garden and the internet house. They got the WiFi code for their laptop, they ordered breakfast and started undoing their bags. It was only then that they noticed that the laptop and other electric/electronic items were missing from the suitcase. Followed a trip to the police station, canceling cards and changing email passwords, but in the end nothing was recouped.
An American family arrived at 930am straight from their international flight. Their luggage was stored here, they had breakfast by the pool, and then took a nap (on the chill-out-sofa, in the hammock) before they took the keys of their would-be room and went to town to start their exploration of Sintra. Two days later when they left, we kept their luggage for several hours after check-out time as they still went sight-seeing before their night flight.
A family driving in from France arrived in Sintra, parked their car and started visiting the town. When they wanted to make their way to Casa do Valle, close to 8 pm they were surprised by the traffic being cut due to a sporting event - and had to wait until 10 pm to get through. Luckily my daughters were home and stayed waiting for the clients so I could go to our anniversary dinner with my husband.
A Portuguese young couple came to Casa do Valle because of a dinner and decided not to check in before dinner as agreed but rather after dinner, ringing the doorbell at midnight, wondering why it took me such along time to get to them (I had to get dressed as I was already in bed thinking they were no longer coming). But at least they had their room left. Another couple had not arrived by 9pm, though they told me they were arriving around 6, had their phones turned off when I tried to call them to find out if they were lost and were surprised to find out at 11 pm when they rang the doorbell that I had rented their room to someone else at 10pm. They had another available, but not the one they had wanted...
Why tell you all this? For security reasons? Actually, Sintra is in fact very safe, you can walk easily even in the dark in the streets without feeling afraid. Naturally, anywhere touristy you should not leave your luggage in the car and leave the car unattended, unfortunately the thiefs have arrived in Sintra as well. What do all these little incidents have in common?
Our announced check-in time is between 2 and 7 pm (14h-19h). Our Bed and Breakfast is small, and does not have 24 hour reception service. As the guests leave for the day, this is when we are busy: the rooms are cleaned, the shopping is done, the patios are swept. We realize that not all of our guests can arrive between 2 and 7 pm. It would be unreasonable of us not to let the clients arrive early and leave their luggage; or late driving in from the North or Spain. We are happy to oblige, to welcome our guests before 2 and after 7 when we know to expect them.
The Dutch couple whose laptop had been stolen had rung the doorbell at 1130 - no one heard them as the cleaning lady was vacuuming and I wasn't here. But I could and would have been had I known to expect them. So they didn't leave their luggage here but instead left it sitting in the car from where it was stolen from. I also knew about the traffic alterations the other night but had only advised a couple who said they might not make it here until 8 pm and the traffic was altered after 7 pm, after the check-in time. And I didn't have a working number to the French family to inquire about them when they had not arrived by then.
When we confirm your reservation, we mention the check-in and check-out times and ask for an estimated arrival time. We also ask for a contact phone number for any eventuality. Please, please, especially if you come early or late, do let us know a rough estimate of your arrival time and the phone number. This can really help so you (nor me) don't lose your day waiting around or worse yet, so you don't lose your time and your luggage.
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