Getting back to normal . or not!

In March 2020, I had to shut down my business. I run an Airbnb in Warwick Neck. The pandemic really took its toll on so many businesses, including mine.

It was a dark time for me because I really liked hosting. I had no choice but to wait it out and make sure that I could open without having to cancel any guests. If you cancel a guest that has booked, Airbnb fines you and it affects your rating as a host.

I’m a real people person, so I felt lonely and bored. Over five years, I have hosted hundreds of guests from over 16 countries. I loved cooking them breakfast and guiding them around Rhode Island. It was fun learning about life in other parts of our country and around the world. Rhode Island and nearby states were prohibiting travel, and I wanted to be sure that our state would stay open and it was safe to have guests.

Finally, last month, I opened my room to travelers. I did a lot in those 16 months to ensure their safety as well as my family’s. My room now has a separate entrance and a kitchenette. Airbnb offered a certification for strict COVID cleaning procedures. I stock a small fridge in their room with breakfast goodies. Fruit salads, hardboiled eggs, yogurts and a loaf of my famous zucchini bread await them! There is a coffee maker, toaster and microwave.

I hoped that my safety precautions would pay off and people were ready to travel once again. So far, it’s been good.

I’m hoping that this variant won’t be bad, and the governor won’t close our state or require masks and social distancing again. My business and many others need to be able to stay open. If we are forced to close again, I feel it will be the death of many that are just starting to recover.

If you are having out-of-town visitors or would love to stay in a beautiful suite with a deck overlooking the bay, check out my listing on Airbnb, under Harbor View Suite!