Self Catering holidays have moved on a long way from being the main-stay of families who can´t afford to go to a hotel; experienced world travellers are now making a conscious decision to book a holiday rental for the freedom and flexibility that it offers. But does that mean these guests have left their high standards at home? No way!

Today´s holidaymaker has high expectations, and they demand a level of quality that easily matches the fabulous hotels stays they have enjoyed in the past.  And if you think about it, one of the best bits about a holiday is that very first time you step inside your room in anticipation of how it´s all laid out, the décor, and what kind of welcome you are about to get.

Under promise – over deliver

If you’ve ever received an unexpected extra touch on arrival in a hotel, like being offered a glass of Cava by the concierge while you check in, or finding a plate of fresh fruit or a bottle of wine in your room, or even just a handwritten note from management, you will know that it puts a smile on your face even if the room is not the best in the world!

So how do you create a 5* hotel experience and replicate this warm welcome for your holiday cottage guests? Well, we think you can do it even better!

As with any holiday provider, you have to expect that your guests will be arriving tired, stressed and probably hungry. So one of the most thoughtful things you can do is to offer a carefully put together welcome hamper, complete with a handwritten note to welcome them to the property.

The definition of “carefully put together” is where your creativity really can run wild, and savvy owners can turn this seemingly simple customer service gesture into a real “wow” factor to impress your guests.

Here are some ideas of what you might like to include in your welcome hamper

• If you are running a high-end and luxurious rental with a premium price tag, your welcome pack/gift should form part of your marketing angle, and be factored in to your pricing accordingly.  For such properties, think luxury touches such as chilled Cava on arrival, custom chocolates and a freezer full of Haagen Dazs.
• Consider who is in the party – are there children, and if so what would really delight them on arrival? The quickest way to impress Mum and Dad is to enthral the kiddies, so what will really make them happy? Quick tip: if you go for food items here, always choose organic, free from colouring and flavourings.
  Market your rental as dog friendly? Then provide treats for canine guests.
• You may want to tailor your welcome basket to suit the time of day are they are arriving.  Night time arrivals might appreciate something they can make quickly for supper, or some herbal teas/hot chocolate to help soothe stressed travellers to sleep (or a nice bottle of red should do the trick!)
  Evening arrivals might also love having their first morning´s breakfast sorted out for them so they don’t have to rush straight out in search of food on an empty stomach, while lunch time arrivals might prefer some fresh salad or a box of your home grown herbs and veg to get their first evening off to a great start.
  Regardless of the arrival time, a home baked cake is always appreciated!
• A really popular trend in UK farm cottage rentals is to include some local artisan type products to showcase the area and what makes it special.  There is no reason why overseas property owners cannot follow this same standard with some of the delicious local ingredients you can buy abroad.  Whether your guests are conscious followers of sustainable tourism or not, they will certainly love getting to know your region that little bit better.
  For added sustainability brownie points, be sure to tell guests a little about the ingredients and encourage them to buy more from the source.  For an example of a holiday property that really gets the value of a good welcome pack, see what they are doing at Blakelow Cottages.
• From your correspondence with guests you may know they are celebrating something special — birthdays, honeymoon, anniversary etc. Leave a card, some fresh flowers or a bottle of wine to celebrate their special occasion.
• Many guests will do their grocery shopping online. Include the contact details of the local supermarket which does home deliveries so guests can arrange for their shopping to be delivered to your holiday home when they arrive. Better still, support your local village shop by setting up a pre-arrival guest grocery delivery with them.

So what about non-food ideas?  

• Here is where you can be really creative and score a branding home-run for your rental.
• Leave a handwritten note on a compliments slip with your logo and contact details, together with a special advance booking offer for next year on the back.
• Prepare an “essentials” list of all the places you bought the supplies from, with directions to the local supermarket, delicatessens and a good bakery so they can very easily get stocked up and settle in for a relaxing stay.
• How about a carefully chosen candle of essential oils, so they can take home a special memory of their holiday whenever they light it?
• Have some special postcards made up for them to send family and friends, again with your logo and contact details (social media, website, telephone)
• Include a soft toy or gift for each of the children – you can get gifts made up easily and cheaply using a site such as cafepress.com or seek out a local supplier to make it extra special.  Another amazing idea is to offer The Holiday Buddy; Oscar the Owl who is ready to greet children as they arrive at your cottage.
• Work with local suppliers to include their free samples and gifts in return for promoting their product – do you live near an olive oil or wine producer?  Is there a theme park nearby where you can get some discount vouchers?  Do some brainstorming and you will be sure to find some creative ideas here.

Making just a little bit of effort with your welcome hamper can reap huge rewards by making a good first impression, and if the personal touch lingers with a take-home gift then it helps to leave a lasting impression on your happy guests.

What Would Make You Feel Welcome in a Holiday Cottage? Add your suggestions in the comments.

The post Holiday cottage welcome pack ideas to wow your guests appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

-Enquiries have completely dried up!
-Help! bookings down
-Where have all the bookings gone?

Don’t panic!

I know it’s difficult not to, but try not to panic. If this is your first year letting your holiday home it’s hard no to (as you don’t have historical booking trend data) but hasty decisions could impact your rental income. Don’t discount peak summer weeks (that you could potentially let twice over) just yet.

Holidays remain a top priority for the majority, with more than 70% feeling a holiday is more important than a new gadget or eating out. A recent survey also found that 92% of people plan to take at least one break  this year. However, trends are changing.

What is going on with bookings?

• There is a marked drop in the number of travellers who will book early to get the holiday dates they want.
• There is a downturn in the traditional annual fortnight holiday, with many opting for shorter holidays and weekend/short breaks.
• The weather impacts UK bookings. When it’s wet no one feels in the holiday mood. On the flip side, following the scorching May Bank holiday weekend many saw ‘staycation’ bookings surge.
• For overseas properties, flight prices and the exchange rate has an impact on traveller’s budget.
• People don’t feel as well-off as they did a few years ago, job security is a concern, and don’t want to commit to holidays too far ahead.
• A growing number of people are shunning the traditional booking rush in January/February and waiting until the last minute to book – and get a deal. Searches for holidays peak about two to three weeks before the main school holidays when holidaymakers are looking for a last minute break.

This is evident in the image below showing the trend in those searching for ‘cheap holidays’ peaking in July.

Is it time to be more flexible with your arrival/departure days?

If travellers are opting for shorter holidays or short breaks, can you increase occupancy rates by being flexible with your arrival and departure days? You may end up with odd gaps here and there, but if occupancy is higher it makes sense. You could market gaps as a ‘special offer’ or make use of the property yourself for a short break or maintenance.

How do your guests travel – fly or drive? If they fly, then having a changeover day when flights are cheaper (typically mid-week) could reduce the cost of your guests holiday. Bear in mind that some people prefer Saturday to Saturday as it means less time off work and a chance to catch up with the washing and ironing before the working week. Test varying days to see which are popular.

If short breaks are popular in your area, being flexible can maximise occupancy. Friday to Monday bookings and Monday to Friday bookings work well for many UK holiday cottage owners.

Discount culture

The dreaded ‘D’ word. In the current economic climate many people think they can get a discount to make their holiday budget go further. Be careful about discounting peak summer weeks that you could potentially let twice over. Your objective is to maximise occupancy/income.

However, discounting your holiday rental can help fill vacancies in certain circumstances, for example;
- offering a ‘late deal’ discount 2/3 weeks before the available dates;
- to fill a booking gap;
- discounting a ‘hard to sell week’ that you know from experience is difficult to let.

What else can you do?

Even with a late booking trend, you don’t want to rely on heavily discounting your rates to fill your booking calendar if there are other marketing ideas you can do to get more bookings.

Don’t panic yet. If at the end of the booking season you haven’t filled empty weeks then you need to panic invest in marketing and improving your bookings.

The post Holiday let bookings down? Don’t panic! appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

It’s especially hard when first starting out renting your property because you just want to know the most effective way to get the message out and secure some bookings. But is social media a waste of time?

Social media buzz

Unless you have been under a rock for the past few years, the chances are you have already been using Facebook and Twitter, perhaps LinkedIn is your network of choice, or like so many others you may be enraptured with Pinterest or Instagram?

The internet is buzzing with stories about how fantastic these social networks are as an online tool for small businesses, and if you have done your research you may have seen many holiday rental owners putting huge amounts of effort into their social media activities.  But if you take a closer look at those same owners whom seem to be doing a fantastic job on Facebook and Twitter, the chances are that in the vast majority of cases there will be one thing in common behind those public profiles: a solid foundation – and that means a great interactive website to showcase their holiday rental.

You see, without getting the marketing foundation right to begin with, you will miss out on the full benefit of social media marketing and what it is really capable of.

Here are 6 reasons why you should avoid throwing all your eggs into the Facebook and Twitter basket alone…

1)   Ownership – Stake your claim to your own piece of online Real Estate

Now this may sounds obvious but it’s often useful to remind ourselves that no matter how many hours and resources you put into crafting your fabulous Facebook business page, pinning the most enticing images to your most creative Pinterest boards or cultivating thousands of followers on Twitter, these networks are NOT under your control.  The AOL´s and Myspace´s of this world are truth enough that no matter how strong a network is, nothing is guaranteed online …except your own website, provided you take sensible steps to protect it.

Your domain name, the content you write and publish on it, and followers that sign up to show an interest in your holiday property are all yours, not part and property of another bigger machine that could become obsolete.  Your own website and what you do with is perhaps the only thing you can be sure of online, so building that solid foundation first is a very sensible idea.

2)    Show you mean business

Your own vibrant and interactive website makes you look more professional, organised and will spell out “Quality Holidays Available Here” far better than any other marketing activity you can undertake online.  Just think how much more professional the email address jane@seaviewsvilla.com is compared with janebloggs@hotmail.com. And how frustrated have you been in the past to follow someone new and interesting on Facebook and Twitter and not be given a link to their own website so you can find out more?

Even Pinterest now offers the option to have your own website verified so it shows up in a nice red stand-out link in your profile – this is because people consider it important to see a website as verification that the person they are following is completely genuine.

3)    Create “Evergreen” content that never stops working for you

When you publish a piece of content on a website, be it a page about your property, some local area information or a blog post about a special local event, that content is there forever.  And the longer it is there, the more chance it has to bring visitors to your website who are actively looking for the kind of holidays you have to offer.

They say that a Facebook status update has a lifetime value of about  half a day, and a Tweet only 2 hours, so whilst building a social media presence certainly has a place in marketing your rentals, it could be that those two hours spent following and re-tweeting would be better spent writing a really great blog post about next week’s local festival – and if you “future proof” it (remove reference to specific dates that can change each year, and set your blog up so it doesn’t show the dates of your posts) then that article can bring interested visitors to your web page year after year.

4)    Your website as the power-horse of your business

Now this can be a bit of a learning curve to start with, but it is more than possible to set up your website so it makes life much easier for you, helping to run your rental business and marketing with ease.  By driving all visitors to your main website where you have installed some bookings software, you can streamline all of your admin and bookings processes and make the whole experience far smoother for your guests too.  There are several ways to do this, but the premise is that your website should be your main focus, not your social media pages or even listings sites – these are merely peripheral outposts which drive traffic to the main hub in the centre.  Then you have a chance to really wow your visitors and encourage those bookings.

5)    The money is (still) in the list

Internet marketing may have evolved a great deal with the age of social media, pay per click and SEO, but many professionals would agree that the most effective way to achieve sales is still via email marketing… and the best way to get people onto an email list is via a well thought out website. Now this is where the real beauty of social media comes in, because not only does it extend the reach of your business, reinforce your brand and help to build a community around your holiday business, but if you set it all up in the right way, you can send visitors to a carefully crafted landing page and straight onto your mailing list.

6)    Give clarity to your social media efforts

Finally, and this is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of having a website, is that the more content you put onto your site, your blog posts, and so on, the easier your social media efforts become.  You will always have something to post, talk about and tweet and you can even set it up so you only have to publish one piece of content on your blog for it to automatically go out to all of your networks and email subscribers and be amplified with very little effort.

So the next time you feel yourself becoming enthused by the latest article extolling the power of Facebook and Twitter, stop and think. Foundation first.

How social media can benefit your holiday rental

1. Social media is great for listening to what questions travellers visiting your area ask. These can then be added to your website and blog.
2. Sales pitches often don’t work, but pushing last minute deals to those looking for a special offer in your area may work.
3. To grow your marketing email list.
4. Stay in touch with past guests and get them to share photos of your rental.

Focus on what gets bookings

Holiday home owners spend an average of 8.6 hours per week marketing and managing their holiday rental properties. Many owners have busy family lives and jobs, so it is essential that in the limited time that you have to market your rental, you utilize it to focus on what drives bookings. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Where are your bookings comming from? PPC, rental ads, email marketing? Re-invest in what works.

Ultimately, they are both important. You need a great interactive website to showcase your property and a social media strategy.

I’m interested to know if any holiday rental owners have got bookings via social media?

The post Is a rental website more important than social media? appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

This is an inventory list of over 200 essential items for self-catering holiday cottages and holiday rentals. These are items that we think are important for holiday properties, however the list is possibly quite subjective and will often depend on your target market.

Once you have your inventory list, it is useful to regularly cross check what is missing/broken. Also,  tell your guests before they arrive what you provide, so they can cut down on packing.

It does not include furniture, furnishings etc. as these are to be quite obvious.

If you have anything to add, please list them in the comments.

• Kitchen – for cutlery, crockery, glasses etc. provide double the amount of the maximum occupancy and provide two of essential items e.g. cork screw.

Apple corer
Apron
Bakery items such as cakes tins, cooling racks, rolling pin, cutters
Baking trays
Bin
Bottle opener
Bottle stops
Bread bin
Bread board
Butter dish
Cafetiere
Can opener
Casserole dish
Champagne flutes
Colander
Cookbooks
Cooking tongs
Cooking utensils
Cork screw
Crockery
Cutlery
Draining rack
Egg cups
Eggs poacher
Fish slice or similar
Fruit Bowl
Garlic press
Glass bowls
Glasses – wine, beer, tall, tumbler
Grater
Ice bucket
Ice making tray
Kitchen roll, foil, cling film
Kitchen scales
Knife set/block
Knife sharpener
Ladle
Masher
Measuring jug
Milk jug
Mortar and pestle
Mugs
Napkins
Oil & Vinegar dispenser set
Oil brush
Oven gloves
Pan stands
Peeler
Picnic basket/cooler
Pizza tray
Place mats and coasters
Plastic chopping boards
Plastic picnic set
Roasting tins
Salt and pepper mills
Saucepans (small/medium/large)
Scissors
Serving bowls
Serving plates
Serving spoons
Sieve
Sink tidy
Spatula
Straws
Table runner
Tablecloth
Tea strainer
Tea towels
Tea Tray
Tea, Coffee & Sugar pots
Teapot
Toast rack
Tupperware containers
Water Jug
Whisk
Wine cooler
Wooden spoons

• Bathroom

Bath mat
Liquid soap
Matching towels
Mirror
Non-slip shower mats
Robe hook
Soap dispenser/dish
Toilet brush
Toilet rolls
Toothbrush holder
Waste bin

• Bedrooms

Matching bed linen
Pillows
Duvets
Blankets
Pillow protectors
Bedspreads
Waterproof mattress protectors
Hot water bottles
Bins
Coat hangers
Laundry basket

• Electrical Equipment

Dehumidifiers
Dishwasher
DVD player
Filter coffee machine
Food processor
Fridge/Freezer
Hairdryers
Hob and oven
iPod docking station
Juicer
Kettle
Microwave
Small alarm clock
Telephone (block, international, premium calls – allow local only)
Toasted sandwich maker
Toaster
TV
Washing Machine
Wireless router
Hoover
Iron

• Safety Equipment

Carbon monoxide alarm
Fire blanket
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Smoke alarm
Wind-up torch and or night lights in case of a power failure

• Cleaning Equipment

Air fresheners
Basic supply of cleaning materials for bathroom and kitchen
Bin liners
Broom
Dusters
Dustpan and brush
Mop & bucket
Rubber gloves
Starter supply of dishwasher and washing machine powder/tablets
Wash basket
Washing up bowl with new sponge/disposable cloths/clean brush/washing up liquid

• Other

Ashtrays (if smoking permitted)
Batteries
BBQ
Beach bag
Blank note pad and pen
Binoculars if you have a good view
Books
Children’s toys, bucket and spade and inflatable’s
Clothes drying rack
Decks of cards
Door mat
DVDs
Extension lead
Flower vases
For open fires or wood-burners – Ash container, Coal scuttle/log basket, Fire guard & fire irons
Games
Guide/walking books
Ironing board
Matches/lighter
Mini Sewing Kit
Maps
Picnic rug
Pegs
Plug & voltage adaptors for foreign countries
Safe
Spare light bulbs
Tool box
Umbrella

And the most important – guest information folder and welcome pack with details of how to use all of the appliances.

Have we missed anything? Do let us know what you provide in the comments and we will add it to the list.

The post Inventory list for self-catering cottages: 200 essential items appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

While insurance policies cover against theft, damage and even some acts of god, building and contents cover is unlikely to stump up if someone injures themselves on your property, which means public liability cover is crucial.

Plenty of standard buildings and contents home insurance policies contain a public liability cover element but holiday home owners often overlook this or dismiss it as unnecessary.

‘But what if I don’t let my holiday home?’

A holiday bolthole is a serious responsibility. You must maintain it, ensure that it’s a safe environment for your guests, pay taxes on it – and insure it.

Many holiday property owners wrongly assume that they don’t need public liability insurance because they don’t let their property. If a member of the public, even if it’s a friend, neighbour or family member, is injured on or near your property, you could be held responsible.

Example of claims

According to RoSPA, each year in the UK more than 5,000 people die in accidents in the home and 2.7 million seek emergency treatment.

Claims can be hugely expensive; medical bills, legal fees, loss of potential earnings and compensation claims can run to many thousands of pounds.  Incidents where people slip or trip over are among the most common.

In one high profile case in 2010, a grandmother was sued tens of thousands of pounds after a postman tripped on a cracked paving stone. In another case, an 18-year-old, who was paralysed after an accident at a friend’s swimming pool, sued the homeowners (her friend’s parents) for millions in damages.  More recently, a holidaymaker died after a tragically falling down stairs at a holiday cottage.

Bikes, swimming pools, trampolines and uneven paving all pose a risk so it’s wise to take precautions.

What public liability cover do you need?

Property owners’ liability insurance covers you against claims arising from injury or damage caused to a third party or their property. It not only covers any damages which might be awarded to the claimant but also the legal costs of defending the claim.

There are policies that offer a minimum level of cover of around £1 million. However, we would recommend an indemnity limit of at least £3m. If you are found legally liable as a result of negligence, the cost of certain claims can escalate into several million.

Advice for holiday rentals

Of course, if you do rent your property, it’s essential to have insurance cover to protect you and your guests. If you allow guests to use your bicycles, a trampoline, canoe, hot tub or swimming pool, check with your insurer if you are insured if a third party is injured.

Likewise, if you employ staff, e.g. a cleaner or a gardener at your holiday let business it is a legal requirement that you have employer’s liability insurance.

It is vital that you are properly insured

Regardless of whether you let your holiday home or not, public liability insurance is a fundamental feature that a specialist holiday home policy should provide.

The post Why public liability insurance is crucial for holiday homes appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

Having recently returned from a family holiday at Disney with Virgin Holidays, I picked up some tips on how they operate their travel business and how theses can be applied to improve a holiday rental business.

Holiday planning

Pre-planning is a major factor and travellers will spend considerable time planning the holiday itinerary. Weeks before we set off we got a detailed guidebook which included a recommended 14 day planner and advice on all the best attractions, restaurants etc.

Each of us looked through this guide several times and it proved very useful in planning our itinerary and getting the most out of the holiday. We also asked friends who have visited the area for their recommendations and tips on restaurants and shopping outlets. These proved invaluable.

How to apply this to your rental:

No doubt you have a guest book in your rental full of insider tips and advice on how to make the most of the holiday (places to eat, things to do, the best beaches, where to shop) as well as how to use the appliances.

Send this to guests a few weeks before they depart for their holiday so they can save time and plan in advance. Include and inventory of what’s included in the rental so guests know what to leave behind and save on luggage charges.

This guide is a will constantly evolve. Take note of guest feedback, comments and look for recurring questions that are asked in local travel forums. Add this information to your guest information. Become a resource and destination expert – a blog is perfect for all this information.

The arrival

As a frequent traveller I have observed many irate travellers in airports over the years. Your guests may well be stressed when they arrive and tired from the journey. Don’t make things worse.

After our long flight there were clear directions and Virgin reps in the airport to assist on the next steps. There was a dedicated Virgin car hire desk co-branded with the rental supplier, with no queues compared to their other desk which had a line of stressed travellers keen to start the holiday. As a Virgin customer the car rental had no extra insurance charges, full fuel tank and a free child’s seat and pre-programmed satellite navigation. Stress free.

Mrs S tried repeatedly the night before departure to check-in online direct with the car rental supplier without success. There were also lots of extra charges listed for insurance, car seat etc. The process was easy and without extra charges with Virgin.

How to apply this to your rental:

Guarantee a stress free arrival for your guests. Consider offering an airport meet and greet service or recommend a reputable transfer company. If you recommend a car hire supplier make sure you know they are reputable. There are horror stories on travel forums from ripped off travellers who have been excessively charged for fuel and extra insurance at the airport. Not a good start to the holiday.

Make sure that your directions and arrival instructions are fool proof. You don’t want lost guests phoning you in the early hours, demanding you meet and direct them because they are lost because your directions are wrong. I have seen stories of lost guests driving to similar named towns that are hundreds of miles away from the actual rental and demanding reimbursement for having to check into a hotel for the night.

Provide the correct address to enter into a Sat-Nav and consider adding photos of motorway junctions and landmarks to your directions to make it easier for drivers. Provide simple instructions of how to gain entry into the property and a ‘quick guide’ on how to get everything working.

Most of all, provide a phone number for someone who can help them in the event that something does go wrong.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression

From an easy check-in, to a clean flight where everything worked with great customer service, to modern welcoming accommodation. Virgin delivered.

How to apply this to your rental:

Make sure your property is welcoming when guests arrive. If it’s cold, ensure it feels warm and dry with lamps turned on for evening arrivals. Or cool if it hot and humid outside. Provide a welcome pack of “essentials” so guests don’t have to immediately go shopping after a long journey.

Whether you market your property as toddler, dog friendly or target a niche, have everything ready for guests when they arrive. This sets the holiday off smoothly.

Every little helps

If we had questions during our stay or wanted to purchase discounted tickets, destination experts were on hand. As a Virgin customer we also received 20% off when dining in the hotel, which was appreciated, and got complimentary Wi-Fi in the Virgin Holidays lounge (the hotel charged other guests). We also got a late checkout which was perfect for our early evening flight. A final example of the great service received on our departure.

How to apply this to your rental:

All these little extras made a difference to the holiday experience. How can you provide a ‘concierge service’ to your guests? Get discounts at the best local attractions, negotiate discounted car hire, arrange days out or secure reservations at a local restaurant that is booked up for months, or arrange for a personal chef to wow guests. Free Wi-Fi is a must in holiday rentals and is one of the top features requested by travellers. It’s a deal breaker for many. If you can, allow guests with evening flights a late checkout – it will be appreciated.

Make sure any extras are factored into your headline price – don’t shock guests with extra charges.

Deal with problems

Like most travellers we attended the welcome meeting to gain an insight on the best things to see and do. However, there was only our family at the meeting and the rep was terrible, to put it bluntly.

The next morning I was in the Virgin Holidays lounge checking emails when another rep was doing a welcome meeting to other new arrivals. I listened to the very informative 30 minute presentation and casually mentioned to the rep that this is what I had expected the previous day, but our rep didn’t do so. Upon returning to our room later that day we had a message – a free meal voucher from Virgin apologising for the service.

This was unexpected – but a nice touch.

How to apply this to your rental:

The shower pressure is too low, the heating isn’t working, the pool’s too cold, I can’t get the oven to work. Sound familiar? Guest problems come with the territory when letting. Although you may be tired of hearing the same questions from guests, the problem is new to them so put yourself in their shoes and do your best to resolve issues asap.

If your guest’s holiday is inconvenienced, if for example there isn’t any hot water for a day due to boiler problems, refund a night’s rental and suggest a meal at your local restaurant due to the inconvenience. This will be appreciated.

A happy customer is a repeat customer

Whilst departing on our holiday I noticed lots of families with 3 generations travelling together on once in a lifetime holidays. Why did they choose Virgin? It’s a trusted brand with great customer service (from my experience) and customers know that if there is a problem there is someone to turn to.

It is estimated that it costs 6 to 7X more to get a new customer than to keep an old one. If you get it right and exceed your guests expectations then they are more likely to return and write a fantastic review that will convince others that yours is the right rental.

Virgin claim to give ‘Rockstar Service’ – On a Virgin Holiday everyone gets treated like a Rockstar.

Based on our holiday experience we won’t hesitate to use Virgin again. That’s how we want all our guests to feel when they leave our holiday rental.

What do you do to provide ‘Rockstar Service’ at your rental?

The post What your holiday rental can learn from Virgin Holidays appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

Not only this, but considering the state of the economy and families having to do more with less, many are now choosing to book a holiday rental in place of a comparatively expensive hotel.

However, price is only one reason why a holiday home is better than a hotel, because behind this are many other benefits that mean holiday rentals come up trumps.  Keeping these factors in mind can be a great tactic in attracting guests away from those hotel competitors, so here is why we believe a holiday home has such an advantage over hotels…

Privacy and space

When we compare the standard 20m2 hotel room/cubicle/box with a private apartment or house, it’s easy to see why guests might prefer the space that a holiday rental offers. But perhaps even more compelling than the extra space, is the added privacy you get with a holiday home rental; No worrying about the maid coming round when you are otherwise engaged, no shushing a crying child in the night for fear of disturbing neighbours behind mere centimetres of flimsy partition wall, and complete freedom to pad around all day in your PJ´s if you so wish.  It’s often not that hard to find a private rental that even the most devout naturists would be pleased with, now that´s privacy you won’t find anywhere else!

Live by your own rules

It’s all very nice being in a hotel and waited on hand and foot, but after a few days doesn’t it just get a little tiring? Setting the alarm early to beat the breakfast queues, making yourself vacant right when you fancy a siesta because your maid needs to come in, or suffering the music man blaring out The Macarena until you can finally get some sleep at midnight? In a private holiday home on the other hand, nobody cares if you want to eat breakfast at midday, or if you choose to be the one serenading by the pool at midnight (so long as there are no neighbours in earshot!) …and the sun beds certainly won´t all have been reserved by 8am. Bliss.

Authentic Travel

Guests who choose to stay in private holiday homes are likely to be naturally more adventurous than those who prefer the safety and familiarity of a hotel complex.  Hotels may have everything under one roof and make it easy, but holiday homes can represent a far richer travel experience because guests really do have to go out and experience local life – even if it just means popping to the local shops for groceries.

If a holiday property owner lives by the concept of authentic travel and makes an effort to help his guests “live like a local”, then it will be a truly enriching stay.  So think about those special insider tips you can share about local places to visit, where to get the best local goodies, people to meet and things to do.  You can begin engaging with your guests even before they arrive to share what it is that makes this holiday so special, and leaving lots of local information inside the property, not to mention sharing regular tips via social media and your blog, is a great customer service tool too.

Food, glorious food (that you actually want to eat)

Holiday rental guests have little choice but to go out and buy food, be it at the weekly market, supermarket or by trying some of the different local restaurants, and in this way food can greatly enrich their stay.  Of course one of the best things about self catering is being able to eat what you want, when you want, and not suffer the same repetitive hotel buffet night after night.  A popular choice is to have a local chef come in and cook up a feast based on local cuisine, a far more intimate and authentic way of learning more about the gourmet side to a destination.

Foodie guests will also really appreciate a well equipped kitchen, a nicely considered stock cupboard, perhaps some local cookery books and above all, recommendations for those unknown places to eat that they might not otherwise have found.  An extra special touch is when the owners leave something local and seasonal in their welcome pack, along with recommendations of where to go to buy the local delicacies at non-touristy prices.

Home comforts that don’t cost the earth

No matter how luxurious a hotel, there are only so many “creature comforts” that they can offer – once you have oo´d and aa´d over the fluffy robe and pillow menu, there is little left that can really wow you and make the place feel like home.  Not so in a private holiday rental.

Whether it is having a “normal” TV with just one step to find the channel you want, the chance to put on the kid´s favourite DVD in the afternoon, a proper bowl to eat your cereal out of, or a washer to do some quick laundry without paying 3 pounds per sock, there are many reasons why people prefer the home comforts of a private rental over a hotel.

Be more like a hotel

A great tip for owners though is to think and act like a 5 star hotel, and aim to provide the same level of service, quality and indeed little extras that those frequent travellers have come to expect in hotels – they won’t be expecting it in a rental and they will most certainly appreciate it.

Provide day passes to local gyms, complimentary toiletries and towels, accept credit cards and streamline your booking process.

Exceeding expectations

Now this is where a private holiday rental can really come into its own.  Hotels by nature need to cater for a mass audience, albeit with a different slant perhaps towards business travellers or sun seekers, but a holiday rental can be set up and tailored towards a very specific type of guest.

As a guest, knowing that the owner really has your needs and wants in mind can be incredibly valuable – where in a hotel is there room to store mountain bikes and muddy shoes? Where is there space to put a cupboard bursting with toys and entertainment for families? How can you create a beautiful chef´s kitchen fit for gourmet travellers?  Understanding and marketing to a niche audience can offer so many opportunities to exceed guest’s expectations that hotels just cannot match.

To summarise – the top reasons to choose a self catering holiday home over a hotel

• Privacy & space – Renting a holiday home gives everyone the option to spread out for privacy or to get together and socialise under one roof.
• Affordability – Holiday homes are often better value than hotels, especially when there’s more than two staying. Hotel meals, extra wifi, parking and mini bar charges can cost a fortune.
• Facilities & entertainment – Forget paying extra for in-room movies or wifi. Most holiday rentals offer free wifi, multi room tv’s, dvd’s, games, books, and rainy day items to keep everyone entertained. You can also do your laundry on holiday, which can cut down on luggage costs.
• Noise – You don’t have to worry about hearing the TV, screaming kids, foot traffic, early morning showers or noisy lifts through paper thin walls.
• Bring the pets – Many pet friendly holiday rentals not only let you bring your fury friend along, they often provide amenities for animals.
• Food, glorious food – With a fully fitted kitchen to hand, preparing family meals with local produce and alfresco dining is part of the holiday experience. Avoid the lukewarm repetitive buffets in hotels.
• Live like a local – One of the main reasons travellers stay in holiday homes is to experience the local neighbourhood and culture. To shop where the locals shop and dine at local restaurants.

So there you have it, some of the reasons why we think holiday homes have a real advantage over hotels – would you agree, and what other reasons might you add?

The post Why a holiday home is a better option than a hotel appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

How to attract bookings at your overseas holiday home when the pound plunges

Don’t panic – there’s always cash for a holiday.

Here are some findings from recent travel surveys;

• Holidays remain a priority for the majority, 70% said holidays are valued higher than other luxury commodities even when disposable income is under pressure
• 25% of those surveyed were taking a few long holidays rather than lots of short breaks to avoid rising costs of travel
• Nearly 40% said that budget most governed their choice of holiday destination

Show travellers the value of your destination

Even when the pound plummets, many European holiday rental hotspots remain the cheapest European holiday destination for Brits. According to The annual Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer (which compares prices in resorts), the cost of eating out in Spain is down 50% compared with five years ago. There is evidence of widespread cost-cutting in Europe due to the downturn.

It is often the case that a self-catering holiday significantly reduces the costs for travellers compared to hotels. What else can you do to persuade holidaymakers the value of bookings your rental.

Eating out
What are the best restaurants in your area? How much does the average meal cost? In one of my favourite holiday resorts you can get ‘dish of the day’ 3 courses with wine for €10. It would be difficult to eat in for this price. You should also equip your rental with kitchen essentials for those guests who want to eat in. There is nothing worse than an under stocked kitchen in a self catering rental. Also, tell guests the best markets for local produce.

How can guests cut travel costs?
Which are the cheapest airlines who service your area? What is the cheapest day to fly? Is your changeover day flexible to accommodate these days? Weekends tend to be more expensive to fly, midweek is often cheaper. Arrange discounted car hire for guests or explain how to get to your rental via public transport.

The weather
The British are obsessed with the weather. 2012 was the second wettest year in the UK and the ‘Indian summer’ that has been forecast for the last few years hasn’t happened. Blue skies and sunshine is why Brits travel overseas for summer holidays. Your photographs should showcase your property and the local area in the sun. Highlight the average temperatures and weather by month.

Fully inclusive rates
Make sure there aren’t any extras to for guests to pay. Wi-Fi, cleaning, linen and utility costs should be included in the rental price.

Arrange local discounts
Arrange complimentary membership at your local health club or discounts at local restaurants and visitor attractions in your region. The added value of these can make your rental stand out amongst the local competition.

Expensive Britain
Although I’m an advocate of staycations, holidaying in the UK can be more expensive than going abroad because of the high cost of day-to-day spending. In addition to meals out and rising fuel costs, Britain’s changeable weather often means spending money going on excursions to keep everyone entertained on rainy days.

Target new markets
Can you attract nationalities who aren’t affected by the exchange rate? What rental sites can you advertise on to target new markets?

Overcome travellers budget concerns
As mentioned above, budget governs travellers’ choice of holiday destination. Your aim as a holiday rental owner is to show the value of your rental. Become a destination guide – a blog on your website is the perfect place to put this information and answer travellers’ questions.

No matter what, there are many holidaymakers who won’t forgo their two weeks in the sun – regardless of the plunging pound.

These tips may also help, ideas to get more bookings at your holiday home.

The post Plunging pound: holiday rentals abroad remain great value appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

Moneysupermarket, Confused.com, BeatthatQuote, GoCompare and MoneyExpert have become household names with prominent advertising campaigns running on primetime TV and radio. Even supermarket giant Tesco and, more recently, Google, are in on the act of comparing financial products from insurance to credit cards. Supposedly, it’s all in the name of consumer convenience, but do they always offer the best deal?

How price comparison websites work

Before price comparisons websites burst on to the scene more than a decade ago, buying insurance was a laborious process that required hours of calls to different insurers and brokers in search of a saving. In the early 2000s, price comparison sites came along and promised to do all the hard work; you enter your details once and they list premiums from hundreds of insurers, cheapest first.

Most price comparison sites have commercial arrangements with the companies they feature. Some involve a commission fee payable when someone buys through the comparison site, which can be anywhere between 30 (GBP) and 70(GBP) per sale. Others receive a click-through payment every time a customer clicks from a price comparison site through to an insurers own website.

Do they bring you the best deal?

For many consumers, a price comparison website is a sure fire way to obtain the lowest price and, according to the British Insurance Brokers Association, many insurers receive 80% of their business from these ‘aggregators’, as they’re known in the industry.

It seems like a win, win’ deal for both business and consumer, however, some insurance companies have been accused of ‘stripping out’ cover to keep the prices at rock bottom and many consumers are guilty of not checking their policies until it is time to claim.

The British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) says that where prices are reported by a comparison site they must reflect the product criteria: “Unfortunately this is not what is always happening as many sites return quotes that do not reflect the customers requested cover and instead may introduce a high excess in order to generate the lowest possible premium (so they can get the business),” a spokesman said.

Another area for concern is impartiality. Price comparison websites claim to be independent but Confused.com is part of Admiral, while Comparethemarket.com is owned by BGL Group, an insurance intermediary that owns the Budget insurance brand. esure has a 49% stake in Gocompare.com.

Cutting competition

The clue is in the name ‘price’ comparison – aggregator sites focus on one part of your premium and that’s the cost. If we look at the motor insurance industry, there is widespread evidence to suggest that aggregators are guilty of artificially inflating the cost of cover.

Motor insurance premiums rose 12% between 2009 and 2010, and by a further 9% in the first three quarters of 2011, according to the OFT. This prompted a government industry enquiry into the cost of motor insurance, which revealed that price comparison sites were partly to blame.

Following the investigation, a BIBA spokesman said: “Competition is good but comparison sites have created what many BIBA brokers believe to be unsustainable pricing and the customer has been persuaded to purely search for the cheapest price due to continued television advertising and the sites being marketed as “price comparison sites” as opposed to “insurance comparison sites”

Shop around

While there is no doubt that price comparison websites have dramatically eased the pain of searching for general non-specialist insurance, the advice is still clear: shop around and read the small print.

Consumer watchdog Which? recommends comparing two or three comparison sites, as they all have different deals. In addition, be aware that comparison sites make assumptions about their customers and the online application may not meet specific requirements. For example, if you’re applying for home insurance and your roof is not tiled, the building’s listed or it’s had an extension, you’ll need to notify the insurer as they may not cover you.

The most important thing to remember is that insurance is not a one size fits all product and online insurance comparisons may not always return the best option for you. Don`t choose on price alone and compare the small print like-for-like. Also, how good is the insurer at dealing with a claim? are there hidden admin fees for amendments or cancellation?

You are also advised to “opt out” so that sites don’t sell your information on to others.

Remember that not all insurers are on comparison sites and if you have specialist insurance requirements, e.g. a holiday home, it may be more suitable to contact insurers directly.

Looking to renew or insure your holiday home? Use this holiday home insurance comparison checklist to help you identify potential pitfalls and small print that can leave you underinsured.

The post Insurance comparison websites – deal or no deal? appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.

Although there are fewer people looking to go on holiday during this period, there are still lots of travellers looking to get away.  Here a few ideas to help you maximise the opportunity to attract bookings at your holiday let cottage during the winter.

Offer incentives

Some ideas;

• Offer one day free when they stay for 7 (7 days for the price of 6).
• Don’t ask for a damage deposit – this reduces the perception of the overall cost. Most cottage owners don’t deduct from damage deposits anyway.
• How can you add value? Include coal and logs for the open fire, a free box of chocolates and bottle of wine, include electricity charges and free wifi. Factor these into the rental rate rather pricing them as extras.

The point of these incentives is to differentiate your property from the rest, show that your rental is value for money and a better offer than competing properties.

Discounts

Try to be as flexible and competitive as possible with your rental rates – but only if you make a profit. It may be more costly for you to have an empty property than to give a discount. Check out your competitors and try to attract longer winter rentals.

Why should guests visit during winter?

Some travellers have the opinion that many resorts ‘shut down’ in winter. If your holiday cottage is in a year round destination, showcase the nearby attractions and create a calendar of local winter events. A blog is the ideal platform to do this.

Set the scene, allow potential guests to see themselves lounging by your log burner, walking on the snow caped fells or at dining your local cosy pub.

Christmas and New Year

Although your Christmas and New Year dates are likely to book up, there are still lots of people looking to get away both before and after Christmas. Your rental rates in December, early January are probably a fraction of the cost compared to the festive period, but guests can still sample the festive spirit.

How can you make your property appealing? What special events are on, such as Christmas markets, decorate your cottage with a tree/Xmas decorations and add pictures to your gallery.

Update your photos

Holidaymakers will want to see wintery photos of your holiday cottage (especially your roaring log burner or open fire) and the local area if they’re searching for a winter rental. Update photos on your holiday rental listings to wintery images.

Keep your advertising updated

Don’t forget to update your advertising, re-write descriptions to sell the benefits you provide for winter rentals. Promote your indoor entertainment; a wii, board games for the whole family, a heated hot tub, cooking books and baking utensils for example.

Are there any niche holiday rental sites that you can advertise on that have improved in the last 12 months?

Get winter rental reviews

Third party endorsements from past guests help get bookings. Get reviews from guests who stayed in winter. Showcase what made their stay special. Did they go sledging, build a snowman, enjoy the local markets, your cosy log burner, walks from your doorstep or the winter menu at your local pub.

If you make sure that they could access your property in the snow (a concern for some travellers) ask guests to mention it in the review..

Email marketing

Contact previous guests to let them know about your winter special offers or remind them of their loyalty discount. It’s also a good opportunity let them know about any updates you have done at your cottage. This simple ‘nudge’ may get bookings from those who know your property well. Happy guests return.

There are still lots of travellers looking to book cottage holidays in the winter. If you have any letting tips please add them in the comments.

The post How to let a holiday cottage in winter & get bookings appeared first on Schofields Holiday Home Insurance News & Advice Blog.