Hotels FAQ

Question:

> Hi, > Just wondering what’s the practice with overseas guests? > I have a friend in UK and I’m thinking of inviting her to my > wedding in > Singapore. I can’t afford to pay for her airfare….should I > provide her > with accommodation while she’s here (assuming she’s attending my > wedding)? > How can I tell her politely that I can’t pay the airfare for her? > Thanks > Ivy > to Tommy > (17 June 2000)

Ivy – Is your friend British? If so, I seriously doubt she’d even expect you to cover airfare (and probably wouldn’t expect you to cover accommodations). It’s certainly not expected when you accept an invitation that the host pays transportation costs. However, if possible, it’d be nice to offer help with accommodations. However, if she’s not British (just lives in the UK), and is from a culture where it *is* customary to pay for one’s guests to travel (I understand this is expected in some Asian families, but not necessarily among friends) then the above doesn’t apply. Not sure how to say it politely other than "I’d love to have you come, but unfortunately I can cover your airfare. I can help you to find discount tickets if you’d like." C. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

We’re not inviting any overseas guests, but we are inviting some from the opposite coast of the U.S. We were just straight up front with them and explained to them that, while we would love to be able to pay for their airfare, we just couldn’t afford that. We said we understood and would most definitely not be upset if they couldn’t make it, but if they could, we would pay for their hotel accommodations. -Amy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, >Just wondering what’s the practice with overseas guests? >I have a friend in UK and I’m thinking of inviting her to my wedding in >Singapore. I can’t afford to pay for her airfare….should I provide her >with accommodation while she’s here (assuming she’s attending my wedding)? >How can I tell her politely that I can’t pay the airfare for her? >Thanks >Ivy >to Tommy >(17 June 2000)

Response:

>. We were just straight up front with them and explained to them that, while

we would love to be able to pay for their airfare, we just couldn’t afford that.>> Maybe it is just my circle of friends and family, but the idea of anyone paying for anyones travel expenses is absurd to me.  Sure it would be a lovely gesture, but I don’t think anyone would expect it.  I don’t even know why one would bring it up in an apology for not being able to do so. Not only are we not paying for anyones flights we are not paying for their accomodations either.  Feeling no guilt about it either. There are some nice gestures you can make towards people who are coming in from out of town, state, country, hemisphere to show them you appreciate their effort.  Gift baskets and inviting them to the rehersal dinner are what we are doing.  We also plan to thank people (40%-50% of our guests are from out of state, country etc.) during our speeches at the wedding. melissa to paul 09-24-00

Response:

> Hi, > Just wondering what’s the practice with overseas guests? > I have a friend in UK and I’m thinking of inviting her to my wedding in > Singapore. I can’t afford to pay for her airfare….should I provide her > with accommodation while she’s here (assuming she’s attending my wedding)? > How can I tell her politely that I can’t pay the airfare for her?

        Unless your friend comes from a culture in which this is customary, I doubt she’ll even think of expecting you to pay for transportation *or* accommodations.  You might offer to send her some information about local hotels, if you like, but other than that, I doubt you have an issue here. Best wishes, Ericka Kammerer

Response:

*Hi, * *Just wondering what’s the practice with overseas guests? * *I have a friend in UK and I’m thinking of inviting her to my wedding in *Singapore. I can’t afford to pay for her airfare….should I provide her *with accommodation while she’s here (assuming she’s attending my wedding)? *How can I tell her politely that I can’t pay the airfare for her? * You don’t have to say anything about airfare. We sent invitations to people all over the world. The invitation is NOT a free-travel offer, it’s an invitation. It’s up to the people to come, or not. Most people came. One group of people (in Israel) decided they couldn’t afford to come but extended an invitation for us to visit them next time we’re in their neck of the woods —  "So that’s 2 T-1s and a newsfeed….would you like clues with that?"  Net Access…The NSP for ISPs….The NOC that rocks around the clock.

Response:

Hi, Just wondering what’s the practice with overseas guests? I have a friend in UK and I’m thinking of inviting her to my wedding in Singapore. I can’t afford to pay for her airfare….should I provide her with accommodation while she’s here (assuming she’s attending my wedding)? How can I tell her politely that I can’t pay the airfare for her? Thanks Ivy to Tommy (17 June 2000)

Response: