A guest messaged me once with photos. The place, he said, didn’t match the listing. He was right. He was in the wrong house.
He’d gone to a different property, tried the access code and it opened. So he went in. From his point of view, why wouldn’t he? We moved him to the correct property the next day.
I doubt he found it very entertaining at the time. After that, we added photos of the entrance to the arrival instructions, so guests could compare the door in front of them with the one they were supposed to enter.
I run holiday homes around Mijas with SunnyCoast HomeStays. When people ask about arriving, the conversation usually starts with the time. After that incident, I’d put finding the right door fairly high on the list too.
Our check-in is 4pm
If the property is empty and we can let guests in earlier, we do. Ask us. But until you’ve had a definite yes, plan around 4pm.
“Can we check in at eleven?” is a question. “We’ll be there at eleven” sounds like an arrangement, even when nobody has agreed to it. A quick exchange before traveling saves that misunderstanding.
Ask about leaving luggage separately. Dropping bags off doesn’t automatically mean you can use the bedrooms and showers. Explain what you need, particularly if you’re traveling with children and were hoping to settle them down after an early start.
I generally tell guests to allow about 45 minutes for the drive from Málaga Airport to our Mijas properties. That’s the drive, not the time from landing. Collecting bags and picking up a hire car come before it. Traffic can add time, so don’t treat that estimate as an appointment.
Tell your host when you expect to reach the property. Flight details help, but they don’t tell us whether you’re coming straight over or stopping for lunch.
Check the entrance before trying the code
Save the directions and entrance photos before traveling. When you arrive, compare them with what’s in front of you.
The map pin gets you close. You still need the right entrance and door. A development might have separate vehicle and pedestrian gates, with several blocks beyond them.
Send a photo and ask, “Is this the gate we should drive through?”
“We’re outside” is harder. Outside the vehicle entrance? At a pedestrian gate around the other side? Looking at a completely different building?
If the entrance doesn’t match the photo, ask before going in, even if the code works. A working code convinced our guest he’d found the right place. It wasn’t until he compared the interior with the listing that he contacted me.
Make the instructions available offline. Give another adult in your group the address and contact details as well. Otherwise, one flat battery becomes everybody’s problem.
Drivers should check the parking instructions before setting off from the airport. Finding the front door and finding somewhere to unload are separate jobs, especially with several suitcases.
Update the arrival time when it changes
If someone is meeting you at six and you’re still waiting to board at five, send a message.
Give a realistic new estimate once you have one. “Twenty minutes” while you’re waiting for your suitcase won’t help someone decide when to leave to meet you.
The same applies if you stop for dinner or shopping. Enjoy the stop; just tell anyone who is expecting you.
For late arrivals, establish beforehand whether you’re meeting someone or letting yourself in. Check that you have the instructions and a number to contact if you get stuck. Keep that information with the address, rather than buried in separate email threads.
Dinner can be straightforward
For groceries, we recommend Mercadona. For eating out, we suggest local tapas places or a beach chiringuito.
Check the opening hours of the place you choose for your arrival day, especially on Sundays and public holidays. With restaurants, check when the kitchen closes. The venue staying open later doesn’t necessarily mean you can still order dinner.
I’d leave the first evening flexible rather than reserve a meal too close to your expected arrival. You haven’t yet collected the car, found the property or discovered whether everyone still wants to go out.
If you buy groceries on the way, include breakfast. Ask what the accommodation supplies instead of assuming there will be milk or coffee waiting. Sort out any allergy requirements before traveling, when you have time to check suitable options.
Before unpacking
Ask specific questions before arrival: “Is there bedding for the sofa bed?” or “Are there steps from the parking space?” Those are easier to answer properly than “Is everything provided?”
Once inside, learn how the lock works and find the house instructions. Report anything important that’s broken or missing promptly, with a photo if useful.
Then unpack what you need for tonight.
Plan tomorrow, tomorrow.
