Wrong House - I felt really bad for the guy

[TheBeachHouse]

Couple expected on Sunday from across the pond. At 9:30 PM, when we went to bed, we put a welcome note in an envelope by the office door with his name on it. Lights on, door open (wide open, we never even closed the front door.)
Next morning, it's still there and we have an email saying he's picking up his luggage and should be to us by 10:30.
Guy vanished!
I responded to his email asking if he is ok.
His response said he arrived at our house, banged on all the closed doors he could find and finally went to the police station where they recommended a local motel type place. He also said he phoned us three times to be told our number was out of service.
My response to him: "I think you may have been at the wrong house. I wonder if you were at the Seaside two doors down. They are no longer an inn. Our door was wide open and the lights were on. There was a note on the office door with your name on it and a welcome letter. Our phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Is that the number you were calling?
"We are two people with a small business. We don't have a night manager or desk. Just us. So after hours we have self checkins.
"We are sorry to have missed meeting you and sorry for your experience, but glad you found a room and hope you enjoy the rest of your trip."
We think he was banging on a closed up weekend home that used to be an inn and probably came up on his GPS because their name is similar to ours. We also wonder if he was using the 800 number we stopped using a year ago. If he had consulted his confirmation, he probably would have had a better experience. I honestly felt terrible for him. I dislike travel in general, so I would have HATED being locked out of my anticipated stay.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

Also hoping the cops don't think we are a-holes.

 

[Lee2014]

Oh no!!!!!!!!!

Feeling bad for you all.

 

[JBloggs]

A real smart cookie eh. And you probably slept with one eye open waiting for him.
We had it happen here, big sign out front, sign out back, two of them and go to a place without our name and think THAT is a B&B? Some people shouldn't leave their homes, ever.

 

[JBloggs]

Here is another true story that NO ONE believes whenever it comes up:
We had a couple reserved here who were literally in front, then literally next to our parking area and kept racing past - we have a big white fence - the only fence in town, we have an 8 foot long sign and a parking area. Had them on the phone I was upstairs on the phone and DH was out STANDING IN THE PARKING AREA WAVING AT THEM, and around and around they went. I was like "What! STOP! DON"T DRIVE AROUND THAT MAN!"
This went on about 4 rounds when we told them "we think you need to go to a motel" and he came inside and we were done, stick a fork in us, done.

 

[Jcam]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?

 

[user 26]

wow! My advice --- bake muffins and visit the police station. If it EVER happens again and I hope it never does, they will know you.
I had to do this every season where I was. There was no police station, but I went around to the local businesses in five villages with muffins in hand (and rack cards) to make sure the current staff knew my place.Third year I did this I STILL heard 'I thought that place was closed.' Yes for the winter but I was there in freezing March through lovely summer and closing up in freezing October. Every other place except the general store locked up tight for winter.
Hello? Please don't tell visitors I'm closed!

 

[TheBeachHouse]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.

 

[Generic]

wow! My advice --- bake muffins and visit the police station. If it EVER happens again and I hope it never does, they will know you.
I had to do this every season where I was. There was no police station, but I went around to the local businesses in five villages with muffins in hand (and rack cards) to make sure the current staff knew my place.Third year I did this I STILL heard 'I thought that place was closed.' Yes for the winter but I was there in freezing March through lovely summer and closing up in freezing October. Every other place except the general store locked up tight for winter.
Hello? Please don't tell visitors I'm closed!.

...bake muffins and visit the police station.....

These are cops. They don't know what a muffin is....

 

[user 26]

My brother in law is a cop. He loves muffins. Dunkin Donuts yuck. Just sayin' ...

 

[Highlands John]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

We have some discount vouchers for local restaurants, so the other evening we decided to use one in a hotel we've been to before, and enjoyed. I phoned the number on the voucher and booked a table.
It wasn't until we pulled up outside that I realised the hotel we like is the Waterside and the voucher and the booking I'd made was for the Waterfront. We decided to go to the Waterfront as we'd booked and found it using the satnav, didn't even know it was there. We had a really nice meal, so much so that we've added it to the in-room list of recommendations for guests.

 

[Generic]

My brother in law is a cop. He loves muffins. Dunkin Donuts yuck. Just sayin' ....

What's Dunkin' Donuts....

 

[Jcam]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.
.

Most streets in the US have the same convention. One side odd numbers, the other side even numbers.

 

[Lee2014]

My brother in law is a cop. He loves muffins. Dunkin Donuts yuck. Just sayin' ....

What's Dunkin' Donuts....

.

Love that one, too!!!! I was introduced to it in Alberta Canada….. Now there's one twenty minutes away from our inn. Been there, gained weight, its still good!

 

[Generic]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.
.

We have the same convention, but we keep some streets for evening up. So, at a certain street all numbers might start with 1000 and up, and by another street all over 2000 and up, etc. So they are always in sync on both sides of the street. Therefore 53 would be opposite 52 or 54. They skip numbers in between to keep them in sync.

 

[dumitru]

Here is another true story that NO ONE believes whenever it comes up:
We had a couple reserved here who were literally in front, then literally next to our parking area and kept racing past - we have a big white fence - the only fence in town, we have an 8 foot long sign and a parking area. Had them on the phone I was upstairs on the phone and DH was out STANDING IN THE PARKING AREA WAVING AT THEM, and around and around they went. I was like "What! STOP! DON"T DRIVE AROUND THAT MAN!"
This went on about 4 rounds when we told them "we think you need to go to a motel" and he came inside and we were done, stick a fork in us, done..

I believe you.
BAM! Curse broken!

 

[Tom]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.
.

Most streets in the US have the same convention. One side odd numbers, the other side even numbers.
.

Ever wondered about those really long street numbers? In the West, in rural areas, your street number is actually the State Plane coordinate in feet divided by 100. The coordinate is either the Easting or the Northing depending on whether "Roads" decided the street is mainly E-W or N-S. I am 34694; my neighbor at 35222 is a mile to the East.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.
.

Most streets in the US have the same convention. One side odd numbers, the other side even numbers.
.

Ever wondered about those really long street numbers? In the West, in rural areas, your street number is actually the State Plane coordinate in feet divided by 100. The coordinate is either the Easting or the Northing depending on whether "Roads" decided the street is mainly E-W or N-S. I am 34694; my neighbor at 35222 is a mile to the East.
.

Never knew why towns in the west always had such long numbers.
In the East, my previous house was #18. My current house is #50. In order, the 50th lot on the street.

 

[gillumhouse]

also cops or own mobile had no internet that he couldn't have checked his confirmation email and or web site?.

I know. I can't imagine how frustrated he was getting to what he thought was a comfy stop over and finding a dark, locked house.
But it would have made sense to double check the address. They are "Seaside", We are "Seafarer." Close, but not the same. And they are two house numbers different from us.
.

in the UK its odd numbers on one side of the street and even on the other - lady rings the bell Im looking for 53 (we are 52-54 ie other side of the street) but there isn't a door for that - ie because we blocked it up
No dear 53 is on the other side of the street same as every street in the UK - we do have a bit of an occasional problem with 53 which is a small but perfectly formed hotel and they ring our bell and ask for directions as its about half a mile further up the street due to what was a park being there which shoved all the numbers up.
.

We also have the even on one side and odd on the other. Even in West Virginia the next block (if the city is big enough to have blocks) numbering goes up by 100. Giving directions one says - we are in the 1500 north block of Main Street or whatever the block number is. Even Shinnston has 100 block, 200, etc.
What decides is the designated center of the City - I think Chicago it is State and Madison - for what hundred north or south and east/west.