At StellarStay, we love helping our guests celebrate life’s special moments—birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, or just getting the family together for the weekend. There’s nothing better than seeing people make memories in a beautiful home-away-from-home.
But here’s the thing: for all of that to go smoothly, honest communication is key—especially when it comes to how many people will actually be at the property.
Let us tell you about a recent situation that reminded us just how important that is.
It Started With a “Small Birthday Party” 🎂
A guest reached out to ask if she could host a “small birthday party” for her daughter. That sounded lovely—and totally fine! We told her we’d be happy to host her celebration as long as all house rules were followed, especially things like noise levels, property care, and staying within the guest limit indicated on the listing.
She even asked about bringing a waterslide! We said yes—with a reminder that safety would be her responsibility. So far, so good.
But then, days before check-in, she casually mentioned she’d be inviting “about 18 additional people.” 😳
Why Approximations Don’t Work And Can Lead to Trouble
Now, we get it—maybe 18 sounds “reasonable” to some. But in our experience, these kinds of vague numbers almost always balloon into a lot more. “About 18” often means 25, 30, or even more by the time everyone shows up.
And at that point, what was supposed to be a small, cozy event turns into a large gathering that goes way beyond what the property—and neighborhood—can handle.
That’s why we always ask guests to be 100% upfront about their plans. If you know how many people you’d like to invite, just tell us! We’re happy to work with respectful, honest guests. In fact, when we know your intentions early, some owners are even open to making exceptions and allowing a few extra people. But we can’t do that if the truth doesn’t come out until the last minute.
It’s Not Just Birthdays—Other Events Guests Try to Disguise
Over the years, we’ve seen some creative “code words” for big gatherings. Here are some of the most common types of events guests try to sneak in without saying it outright:
🎉 “Small family gathering” – Can quickly turn into 30+ guests with loud music and neighborhood complaints.
🍼 Baby showers – Often include decorations, catering, and a long guest list that goes well beyond the booking.
💍 Micro weddings – Beautiful idea, but still need approval and can easily stretch the property’s capacity.
🎓 Graduation parties, gender reveals, reunions, anniversaries – All great events, as long as they’re disclosed and approved in advance.
We truly want you to celebrate—just not in a way that surprises us or the neighbors.
How Some Guests Try to Get Around the Rules And Why That’s a Problem
Let’s be honest: some guests try to play the system. They might…
🚫 Book for just a few people, then invite dozens
🚫 Stay vague about their plans
🚫 Ignore house rules or brush off direct questions
🚫 Book last-minute for one night—especially on weekends (that’s a red flag for parties)
This kind of behavior puts everyone in a tough spot. It’s unfair to the host, the property, and the entire neighborhood.
When We Have to Say No
When it became clear that the guest’s plans far exceeded what the home—and our policies—could reasonably support, we had no choice but to let her know that we could not accommodate the event as described. Since the reservation was tied to Airbnb’s strict cancellation policy, and the issue stemmed from her own undisclosed intentions, she needed to cancel the booking from her end. We were transparent about the process and even offered to consider a partial refund if the dates were rebooked—but ultimately, the responsibility to cancel fell on the guest who had attempted to host an unauthorized gathering.
What We’ve Put in Place to Keep Things Smooth & Safe ✅
Because we’ve seen it all, we’ve already added several layers of protection across all StellarStay homes to keep things fun, safe, and respectful:
✔️ Maximum guest capacity is listed clearly in every listing and house rules
✔️ We ask about gatherings up front and repeat the rules in early conversations
✔️ Our guest questionnaire helps us understand your plans and flag anything risky
✔️ We use noise and occupancy sensors to monitor for anything unusual—without invading privacy
✔️ We stay in touch with our neighbors, so they can alert us if anything doesn’t feel right
These steps help us make sure every guest has a great experience and our properties stay safe, clean, and loved by the community.
A Final Word From the Heart ❤️
If you’re planning something special—just tell us! We want to help you make it memorable. But surprises don’t go over well, especially when they involve dozens of people and a quiet residential area.
Honest guests get the best treatment from us, always. When you’re upfront and respectful, we’ll do everything we can to make your celebration a success.
So let’s work together—from the very start—to keep your trip joyful, your event stress-free, and your host (and neighbors!) happy too. 🎈
Thanks for reading, and happy hosting (and traveling)!
— The StellarStay Team ✨
