Booking Software recommendations?

Hi Everyone -
We're new here, and looking for recommendations for booking software. We bought our place about 2 and half years ago, and have been using Lodgix for that time. It's ok, but it has some shortcomings, and the company has been less than responsive to our needs. We'd like to hear about your experiences.
We're looking for the usual - online booking and availability calendar. Our inn is more of a collection of guest cottages than a BnB - there's no one on-site; we live about an hour away, and so I run the whole thing from my iPhone. We have a terrific housekeeping staff that does the turnovers, and it runs pretty smoothly.
The things that we're missing from Lodgix are:
-gift certificate management - guests should be able to buy and redeem them online.
-return guest accounts - about half our guests are returns, and having them avoid re-entering info would be nice. Also, in this age of often-compromised CC's, it would be great if the guest could change their CC on file without us having to call. This is a weekly occurrence for us.
- Customizable calendar interface - we don't take bookings more than 90 days out, mainly b/c we want to use it too! Currently, the default Lodgix message for outside of the booking calendar is 'call to reserve.' They are unwilling to allow us to change it.
-We require a 2-day weekend minimum; either fri-sat or sat-sun. Ideally, once two are taken, the third should be free to book for a one-night. Lodgix can't seem to figure that one out.
-It would be nice to be able to track how many guests we have had in each cottage. Again, no easy answers with Lodgix.
And finally, though there are other wishes, we'd like to keep our CC processor, CDG commerce. They have a special for online-only businesses at a 2.3% starting commission, based on the card. And no monthly fees. I'm familiar with them, and setting things up again with someone else would be a pain.
Thanks for any input. And glad to be new members here!
Cheers,
Greg and Rachel

Hi Greg and Rachel,
We are similar -- collection of cottages -- but we live on site (in-season). Many of us on this forum use ReservationKey. It will do a some of what you are asking for, although not everything.
The things I am not sure about are the integration with your credit card processor, or the storage of and changing of guest credit card information -- at least guest contact information can be stored in the system, though (but not as a user account kind of thing, rather the guest just has to use the same name or e-mail -- I forget which -- that they used last time and click the search button to pull up their record).
The gift certificates, calendar interface issue, and handling the minimum stay exceptions are all things I think it can handle easily; the accuracy of number of guests will of course depend on the guests putting in the right number when making their reservation, but you can certainly get that information out in reports if you want it.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome! You have come to the right spot for innkeepers! We already have a bunch of places like yours here. So pull up a chair and stay awhile!
A tip; You might want to have your user name different so you can't be traced back to your place. Just a thought.

I use ReservationKey - not cabins but it works wonderfully with a variety of configurations. John just helped an innkeeper in the UK get set up and hers was complicated. She loves it. I love it.

I use ResNexus and am quite happy. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.

Welcome Dancing!

We use ReservationKey.
This question comes up very regularly here on the forum. If you want to get lots of feedback about different booking software as well as many other questions, use the search bar near the top right. Make note of the dates as you read!

We created the software www.hotelidesk.com which we price as low as $10/10 Euro a month.
We can provide you with a customized online booking solution that meets all your needs including
1) Availability Calendar
2) Guest Database for returning guests
3) Credit Card Integration (we keep credit card info encrypted),
4) Stay period minimums
5) Statistics on guest stays and occupancy reports.

We use Rezstream and we are quite happy! It works very well on a smart phone. Online booking is great. And we really like that the company is very responsive AND they are constantly listening to their customers and improving things. We have the cloud version so updates happen automatically. They DO have gift certificates and a wide range of reports. Haven't found much it won't do.

We use ReservationKey we are quite happy! It works very well on a smart phone. Online booking is great. And we really like that the company is very responsive AND they are constantly listening to their customers and improving things. We have the cloud version so updates happen automatically. They DO have gift certificates and a wide range of reports. Haven't found much it won't do.
Cost is $20/month (up to 4 rooms) or $25/month (5 to 10 rooms), $30/month 11 to 20 rooms, etc.