phil56
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- Jun 25, 2011
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Hello,
We are regular customers of B&B's specially in France and UK.
We usually break a trip in 2 legs and need to find a room in a given area available at a given date ... and it's always late notice !
Our usual process is this one:
- use all kind of means to find links to B&B websites (search engines, directories, tourist offices, B&B we already know, etc)
- browse these websites to see which offer seems the most appealing
- call or send a mail to inquire about vacancies
Sometimes it takes a lot of calls and disappointments (sorry no vacancies) before we actually book something.
So, I was wondering why there is no 'vacancies / no vacancies' sign on your website while there is nearly always one in front of your building ?
From my traveller's perspective, it would be so much quicker not to spend time on a website if I know that there is no vacancy for the date I want.
Thanks for you views on this subject
Update:
Thanks to all for your views ... I certainly don't want this thread to turn into an argument.
You should not take my question literally. What I mean is: it would be easier for me if all B&B had a way to simply display their availibility (whatever the means ... the vacancy/no vacancy sign is just a 'hardware' image).
I see that there are roughly 2 cases:
1. B&B using a reservation system: my question is not for them because their reservation system usually let you check the availability ... excellent.
2. B&B not using a reservation system. In this case it seems that we have a cultural diffence: the U.S. seem to systematically display their availability, Europe (certainly France) don't.
I have been inspired (should I say innspired here) and searched the web: there are some services which seem ok (simple and cheap) to display availability calendars without going through a reservation system (that must take a fair bit or your bookings I imagine) ...
As somebody (Alibi) mentionned, the best is just to mention it every time: no vacancy ? why don't you show an availability calendar so that we both save time ?
Anyway, apart from the times where an area get fully booked because of circumstances (mainly holiday departures and popular local events), I don't mind a nice chat on the phone to inquire about availabilities ... I always get there in the end
Nice summer everyone
We are regular customers of B&B's specially in France and UK.
We usually break a trip in 2 legs and need to find a room in a given area available at a given date ... and it's always late notice !
Our usual process is this one:
- use all kind of means to find links to B&B websites (search engines, directories, tourist offices, B&B we already know, etc)
- browse these websites to see which offer seems the most appealing
- call or send a mail to inquire about vacancies
Sometimes it takes a lot of calls and disappointments (sorry no vacancies) before we actually book something.
From my traveller's perspective, it would be so much quicker not to spend time on a website if I know that there is no vacancy for the date I want.
Thanks for you views on this subject
Update:
Thanks to all for your views ... I certainly don't want this thread to turn into an argument.
You should not take my question literally. What I mean is: it would be easier for me if all B&B had a way to simply display their availibility (whatever the means ... the vacancy/no vacancy sign is just a 'hardware' image).
I see that there are roughly 2 cases:
1. B&B using a reservation system: my question is not for them because their reservation system usually let you check the availability ... excellent.
2. B&B not using a reservation system. In this case it seems that we have a cultural diffence: the U.S. seem to systematically display their availability, Europe (certainly France) don't.
I have been inspired (should I say innspired here) and searched the web: there are some services which seem ok (simple and cheap) to display availability calendars without going through a reservation system (that must take a fair bit or your bookings I imagine) ...
As somebody (Alibi) mentionned, the best is just to mention it every time: no vacancy ? why don't you show an availability calendar so that we both save time ?
Anyway, apart from the times where an area get fully booked because of circumstances (mainly holiday departures and popular local events), I don't mind a nice chat on the phone to inquire about availabilities ... I always get there in the end
Nice summer everyone