Holidaylodger

Dutch Tutch began life as the bottom half of a helter skelter on...

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:18:00 +0100

Dutch Tutch began life as the bottom half of a helter skelter on Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, but was rescued from fire back in 1909 and was rebuilt as a 2 bedroom holiday home. On the banks of the River Thurne in Potter Heigham, it has amazing views of the river and the country side, and is in the ideal location for exploring the Norfolk Broads and the coastline. A sleepy location to enjoy the best of the English countryside.

7 Tips to keep your guests coming back for more

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:46:38 +0100

Having a clean and presentable holiday home in a good location is all very well, but how can you keep your guests coming back to you again and again, and not trying out the villa or hotel down the road? Here are 7 ideas that might just give you the edge over the competition…

Get the basics right, like clean linen – its essential that bed linens and towels are fresh on change-over day, but what about for the rest of your guests’ stay? In some villas, the first day is the only day they are clean. Make sure your guests know when their linen will be changed so they don’t use all their towels in the first 10 mins of arriving. And consider doing at least one mid-week freshen up. Don’t forget, some guests will be used to hotel service and changing linen every day, but you will also need to weigh this up against the cost. If you can negotiate a good price without it affecting the cost of your villa, the more often the better.

Offer extra facilities to keep the luggage light – Clothes are heavy enough, so if your guests are using their luggage allowance on extras like hair dryers, irons, etc - its a few less clothes and suncreams that they can take. Make sure you offer as many of the extra essentials as you can, and make sure your guests know before they travel exactly what you are offering – then they can use their luggage allowance for the fun things it was meant for.

Baby items – If you are in an area for families, its good to offer as many baby and toddler facilities as you can. Bedding is usually not provided for hygiene reasons, but cots, high chairs, bottle warmers, etc are essentials that your guests might not be able to bring with them. Make sure you are known for being family friendly, and this will make sure as many people as possible will be able to enjoy your home

Welcome hamper – Do your guests spend all day on buses, trains and planes, and arrive at their destination to be faced with an empty fridge? Do they get to have a cup of tea on arrival, or do they have to hunt down the nearest shop before they can relax? Think about offering a welcome hamper for your new arrivals with the essentials for their first day – tea and coffee, bread, jam, cheese, etc. Try to negotiate a price with the local store or supplier, and see if this is something they could drop in on change-over day. You can make the hamper as basic or luxurious as you like, either will ensure your guests start their holiday on a relaxed note.

Have a file on the local area – How many times have you been to a new resort, spend all holiday hunting things out, only to find the best bits on the last day? Put together a pack, just like many hotels offer, telling your guests all the things they need to know. Include things like a map of the area, where the nearest shops, bars and restaurants are, dates of any special events, what attractions there are, and also more practical advice like emergency numbers, local taxi companies and bus times. Its all information your guests will appreciate not having to find out for themselves.

Include things to do in the price – Why not offer some extras in the price? If there are local attractions, offer tickets in with the price. You can probably negotiate a better price for the repeat business, and your guests will appreciate the thought. However make sure you tailor your extras to suit your guests – an elderly couple wanting a quiet holiday might not appreciate Waterpark tickets, whereas a young family would.

Don’t forget your guests when they get home – Contact your guests once they get home, it will make them feel appreciated. Ask for feedback on their stay and ask for a testimonial, or address their concerns. Schedule to contact them again when they are ready to book their next holiday (probably 12 months from when they first contacted you). Think about offering discounts if they stay with you again, or for anyone they refer – it doesn’t have to be a big discount, just something to make them feel appreciated. Just make sure that you don’t spam them or make them feel pressured. The aim is just to show that you care, and to keep you in their minds for when they are booking again.

Event: Bang Fai Phaya Nark festival

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:45:12 +0100

23 - 24^th October is the Bang Fai Phaya Nark festival in Thailand. At the end of the Buddhist rains in late October on the night of the full moon, you can witness the Naga Fireballs – an amazing natural phenomenon in which hundreds of colourful fireballs rise from the Mekong river high in to the air. There are conventional theories as to what causes the fireballs, however legend has it that the fire comes from the mythical Naga (a serpent), produced as a gesture of homage to the Lord Buddha.

The two day celebration also includes many other events in the dark to make it a real party, such as light and sound shows and an illuminated boat contest, but nothing can outshine the impact of the main attraction.

Find out more.

Update to the bookings overview

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0100

Today I’ve launched a redesign of the bookings overview, which has changed from being a single calendar to a 6 month calendar and booking list.

At the top, just below the main navigation you will see a new date navigation, with back and forth links on the left and right. These will advance or reverse the booking calendar by 1 month at a time.

The calendars show availability. The individual bookings are listed on the left, and are in the same order you would see them on the calendar. The idea is to show more of your bookings on one screen, making it easier to find a specific one.

10 reasons why renting a holiday home beats a hotel

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:43:00 +0100

It’s easy to book a package holiday without having to think very much about what type of holiday you are going to get at the end. But the experience can be mediocre, and not the amazing holiday experience you were hoping for. Here are 10 reasons why renting a holiday home or villa could turn your next holiday in to your dream get-away (and its easy once you know how!)

Live in a home that’s cared for – For private rentals of holiday homes and villas, people are relying on a good reputation for you to tell your friends, or for you to even come back yourself. They will want you to stay in a property you’ll enjoy having as your own for a week or two. Most holiday homes you will find are safe, well maintained and well loved - just the type of accommodation for the perfect holiday.

Get tips on the local area - If you are living in someone’s home they are going to make sure you enjoy your holiday more than a receptionist in a hotel. Ask about the area, find out all about the local must-sees and hotspots that aren’t always in the guidebook. The personal touch from a knowledgeable landlord can make an ordinary holiday in to an extraordinary experience.

Bigger choice of location – hotels are usually found in the popular areas and resorts, but what if you’re looking for something off the beaten track? By choosing a holiday home you get to decide if you want to be in the centre of the action or if you want to stay in a secluded and private hide-away. Stay in a tourist area or be as much of a native as you want to, it’s up to you.

Get the pool to yourself - Don’t fancy having to wake up at 6am to get the best spot by the pool? Whether you want a lazy morning, a midnight swim, or just to enjoy the peace and quiet all day, you can sit by your own pool in the knowledge that you can have what you want when you want and not be disturbed.

More space - Holiday homes differ greatly, but you can always choose how much space you and your fellow guests need. From studio apartments to 10 bedroom mansions.

Know where the kids are – Relax in the knowledge that your kids are always in your safe keeping and can’t go wandering off anywhere or go with anyone else. You can keep watch on them by the pool, and also they know exactly where you are in case they need you. You’ll be able to keep an eye on them at all times much more easily than in a large open complex or around a noisy crowded pool.

Lock your own front door – you know that your property and your family are safely behind your own front door. There aren’t any maids or other staff wandering around with access to your room whenever they feel like it – lock the front door of your holiday home and feel safe in the knowledge that all your stuff will be there when you get back from your trips out.

Buy your own groceries - sometimes it’s nice to have your meals prepared, but you can never be sure of how your food has been handled before it gets to your plate. You usually get the same bland things on offer every meal. And it’s even worse in an all-inclusive buffet – half the guests have handled it before it’s your turn! Take the opportunity to find some wonderful fresh local produce, try the local dishes, go out and meet the shopkeepers or brows the market stalls – maybe even practice a bit of the language! They’ll be able to recommend something to truly get those taste buds excited, and you’ll know exactly what you’re eating and how it’s been prepared. And if you fancy a night away from the washing up? Go out and discover where the locals like to eat. There are some amazing restaurants in fantastic locations cooking up fresh meals you’ll remember, rather than the same old mush from the hotel kitchen.

Find out the local pastimes– They are the ones who get to enjoy these places all year round, so find out the local haunts, go out in to the area, see the sites and get the local perspective, rather than staying in the complex of the hotel. There are festivals, museums, shops or just great places to chill out and pass the time of day, that you’ll never get to see from your hotel balcony. Plus the locals will know where all the best parties are! Go out and explore!

Take as many people as you like – If you fancy taking the whole family or going with all your friends, look for a holiday home with plenty of rooms. The more people who you take the cheaper it is, rather than everyone having to pay for their separate rooms. And you get to share all the holiday memories with the ones you love, without having to make them sit looking through your holiday snaps! Or if it’s a quiet escape you’re wanting, there are plenty of cosy retreats for couples and small families.

I'm building a web application for holiday home owners.

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:42:38 +0100

I’m Mitchell Bryson, a web designer from Sheffield, England. I’ve had the idea to build Holidaylodger for about 3 or 4 years, and I’ve only just had the free time to start building it!

I have a much larger vision for Holidaylodger from what it is right now. It allows you to manage your offline payments, bookings and guests in one place. This is useful for the organisation of your holiday home business, as it helps you maintain accurate records of every interaction with your guests.

But it won’t stop there. Next up will be online bookings through an external booking form right on your website. This will obviously require you to have a website in the first place. But if you do, it will take bookings for you day and night. With live availability and booking rules that ensure every new booking is a valid one.

At this point, the pricing will change. Don’t panic, you’ll still be able to use a basic version for free, but every major feature addition will cost a certain amount each month. Probably around £20, but you only pay for what you use.

Then we’ll add online payments. You’ll be able to receive deposits and payments online, made at a time suitable to your guests. This means you’ll also be able to take fully confirmed bookings through your website. This, along with some smaller features such as guest notifications, is where I consider phase 1 to end, and phase 2 will begin. More on that next time.

If your a holiday home owner, and you like to stay ahead of the competition, you can help me build something awesome, by signing up and using the feedback form to let me know of any improvements or bugs you can find.