How do you normally find and book hotels?
Discussion
To set the scene, my in-laws have opened a small hotel (about a year ago) and whilst they have had a good first years trade, they need more. The hotel only has 6 rooms.
I have taken the photo's and created a website for them, which is getting good hits, but we need to do more to improve the hotel occupancy. So, I am asking the PH Holidays and Travel crew to help me with some market research.
If you were wanting to find a hotel for business or pleasure, in a costal town, how would you go about finding it? Appreciate there is the obvious Google search, which is fine and my website does appear on the first page (depending on the search entered) but how else might you go about it? What other sites might you use? Where else should we be advertising or pushing to improve bookings?
Do you prefer to book direct with the hotel, or through a 3rd party (e.g. Lastminute.com etc)?
Thanks in advance.
I have taken the photo's and created a website for them, which is getting good hits, but we need to do more to improve the hotel occupancy. So, I am asking the PH Holidays and Travel crew to help me with some market research.
If you were wanting to find a hotel for business or pleasure, in a costal town, how would you go about finding it? Appreciate there is the obvious Google search, which is fine and my website does appear on the first page (depending on the search entered) but how else might you go about it? What other sites might you use? Where else should we be advertising or pushing to improve bookings?
Do you prefer to book direct with the hotel, or through a 3rd party (e.g. Lastminute.com etc)?
Thanks in advance.
I use www.laterooms.com , mainly as I never book more than a week in advance, but also as I can find all the hotels in an area I want to visit.
Having chosen an area, I will 1) search the web, and if nothing catches our fancy, 2) ring the local Tourist Information office who typically will offer much more 'human' advice, and that normally turns up what I am looking for. If your parents have a local office, perhaps invite them for as meal and quick tour?
My mam uses guides (Alisdair Sawday [sp?] I think is her fav)- but that's because she doesn't do PCs very well....
However at the end of the day, word of mouth allways works best - social networking sites I am told are the way forward for marketing....
My mam uses guides (Alisdair Sawday [sp?] I think is her fav)- but that's because she doesn't do PCs very well....
However at the end of the day, word of mouth allways works best - social networking sites I am told are the way forward for marketing....
I use laterooms.com quite a bit, even when booking in advance, one thing I like about laterooms.com is you pay the hotel / b&b directly rather than the website fleecing you months before you stay.
I have also used expedia.com and hotels.com before now.
Also, Mr & Mrs Smith is worth a look, as they specialise in smaller hotels, although they do tend to be the more upmarket end of the market.
I have also used expedia.com and hotels.com before now.
Also, Mr & Mrs Smith is worth a look, as they specialise in smaller hotels, although they do tend to be the more upmarket end of the market.
Sometimes use this for research, then google and often phone direct.
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/
Tell us more - where is it?
http://www.information-britain.co.uk/
Tell us more - where is it?
I look at Google map, find the town, village, area I want to stay in and then type in hotel to show all hotel locations.
I then change the map image to show terrain and then look at the contours for a place up high as these hotels have the best views.
I then click on these different hotels to see which ones I like the look of and then do a google search using the name of the hotel to find out reviews from sites like Trip Advisor. I never book through this type of website as I like to contact the hotel directly as I like a good haggle and I get the contact name for someone that works at the hotel in case I want to change my travel plans.
It worked very well for me last year when we stayed at a different hotel each night on an 9 country 11 night European driving holiday so I will use it again for our 10 country 17 night Eastern European driving holiday this year.
It's does require a lot of effort but I found some cracking places to stay at very rasonable prices.
I then change the map image to show terrain and then look at the contours for a place up high as these hotels have the best views.
I then click on these different hotels to see which ones I like the look of and then do a google search using the name of the hotel to find out reviews from sites like Trip Advisor. I never book through this type of website as I like to contact the hotel directly as I like a good haggle and I get the contact name for someone that works at the hotel in case I want to change my travel plans.
It worked very well for me last year when we stayed at a different hotel each night on an 9 country 11 night European driving holiday so I will use it again for our 10 country 17 night Eastern European driving holiday this year.
It's does require a lot of effort but I found some cracking places to stay at very rasonable prices.
Edited by marine boy on Wednesday 31st March 22:54
marine boy said:
I look at Google map, find the town, village, area I want to stay in and then type in hotel to show all hotel locations.
I then change the map image to show terrain and then look at the contours for a place up high as these hotels have the best views.
I then click on these different hotels to see which ones I like the look of and then do a google search using the name of the hotel to find out reviews from sites like Trip Advisor. I never book through this type of website as I like to contact the hotel directly as I like a good haggle and I get the contact name for someone that works at the hotel in case I want to change my travel plans.
It worked very well for me last year when we stayed at a different hotel each night on an 9 country 11 night European driving holiday so I will use it again for our 10 country 17 night Eastern European driving holiday this year.
It's does require a lot of effort but I found some cracking places to stay at very rasonable prices.
Got a route map for the Eastern European holiday ? And which car ?I then change the map image to show terrain and then look at the contours for a place up high as these hotels have the best views.
I then click on these different hotels to see which ones I like the look of and then do a google search using the name of the hotel to find out reviews from sites like Trip Advisor. I never book through this type of website as I like to contact the hotel directly as I like a good haggle and I get the contact name for someone that works at the hotel in case I want to change my travel plans.
It worked very well for me last year when we stayed at a different hotel each night on an 9 country 11 night European driving holiday so I will use it again for our 10 country 17 night Eastern European driving holiday this year.
It's does require a lot of effort but I found some cracking places to stay at very rasonable prices.
Edited by marine boy on Wednesday 31st March 22:54
As for booking hotels, I look for reviews through sites like TripAdvisor and book directly online or as part of a package if appropriate.
autoholic said:
Spudler said:
Puggit said:
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Then book direct
Every timeTripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Then book direct
...I advertise here http://www.directholidayhomes.co.uk/ . Got over 90% of my customers off here last year, 2% from e-bay, 2% direct search on search engines (we appear on first page in google, if search conditions are appropriate, but directholiday is higher), 2% from other advertisers on the net, the remainder is repeat business/word of mouth.
It was my first year.
It was my first year.
Edited by Pabl0 on Thursday 1st April 09:38
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