2 weeks' price conundrum

[ginelli]

Hi everyone,

I'm in the middle of building my first website. All's going to plan until I get to my prices page.

Now my natural reaction would be to show prices for 1 AND 2 week rents, but after some research of your websites (and there are some real good ones out there) I failed to find ANYONE who showed prices, directly or indirectly, for 2 weeks.

I would be interested to hear your opinion of WHY you choose to show only prices by the week, HOW you deal with clients who want to book for more than 1 week, and WHAT kind of reduction you give for such rents.

I shall pause my progress until I have heard from you.

Thanks,

Gino

[A-two]

Hi Gino,
We don't give a price reduction for 2 weeks because our rates are already very competitive for all the amenities our house offers. That's not to say we would never accept a reduced rate for a last minute booking in low season, but in high season, when we are always fully booked, our expenses are the same per week whoever stays. The real skill is in pricing your property correctly in the first place so that you are always fully booked, then there's no reason to offer discounts.

Hope this helps.

[ginelli]

Thanks for the reply Joanna. It certainly does help.

I noticed you're writing from the States. The thing is, I'm going to be mainly targeting UK clients and the 1 week price and 2 week price format is deeply ingrained in British holiday culture. Do Brits not EXPECT a discount when they book for 2 weeks?..............

[Big Sis..]

Hi Gino,

I charge per week for 1 and 2 weeks rent the same as Joanna at least if you put that in the details and someone asks for a reduction you can make your mind up then.
Depending on the season
I charge seperately for the house cleaning though [they leave it in the house on departure] ....So people who stay for 2 weeks get it a bit cheaper as they only pay the cleaning once.
I know a lot of the others incorporate it into theyre pricing though
You really have to look at the competition and see what theyre doing especially early on until you get established...Joannas right a reasonable rate makes a lot of difference to bookings.
[Dont let your Peak go cheap though this is when you can EXPECT to be Full.]This will help pay for the running costs through the year.

PS Is the website your building your only one[Ive tried your www link and it doesnt come up]

[Fraise]

Hi Gino. My prices are per week and that is what people pay whether they are in for 1 or 2 weeks,no discount.Someone came for 3 weeks last year,they paid for 3 weeks. Most of our guests are from UK.Only once has someone asked for a discount,I said "no" they said no harm in asking and they booked anyway.

www.thepetitmanoir.com

[Giddy Goat]

Ditto Gino and virtually all my bookings are generated from the UK; shoulder, or out of season stays of longer than one week are another matter and are usually negotiable, as people have said.

Good luck!

[Jacqui]

Possibly because I am aiming at a specialist "niche" market I have found most bookings are for one week - or at least this last year they were (my first year). Hence I was offering a discount for two weeks - after all it was less work for me.
Now I am again, offering discounts for large group bookings and also early bookings for next year.

I think it is up to you - but also you have to be very aware of how much competition you have in your area - where we are there is nothing around that offers the same as us - but the "general" gite owner has found the past year very hard with bookings genarlly down and people wanting discounts, etc

[Giddy Goat]

Jacqui, I haven't checked your prices, but I imagine that they have to be higher than an average apartment because of the level of comfort offered, plus provision of disabled facils etc; so I'd think that offering a discount on stays of longer than a week would be a very good move in your case, - different market as you said - and especially if bookings in your area have been a bit down.

BTW I have looked at your website and the property and apartments look fantastic: have just passed your URL on to a couple who may well be interested and who are also long overdue a break. What a brave and much needed initiative - good luck!

[Jacqui]

Thank you very much - at times have wanted to throw it all in but hey - still here - chasing that ever elusive dream! Just can't wait for next year - been a bit of a pain this year being overdue with the building works - but the candle is definitely flickering less at the end of the tunnel now!

I don't think that we are charging more than anyone else around here - all seems much of a muchness for 2 bed properties - although yes - it probably is a bit different to the "usual" gite!

Thank you for your very kind words and have to say that this is one of the "nicest" forums that I have found - so helpful and doesn't appear to be any "nastiness" unlike some I could name!

[Giddy Goat]

We do have our moments here Jacqui but they're over and done with quite quickly as a rule!

[Big Sis..]

Thank you for your very kind words and have to say that this is one of the "nicest" forums that I have found - so helpful and doesn't appear to be any "nastiness" unlike some I could name!

Theyre a good bunch here Jacqui and very helpful Im sure youll find them indispensable I know I do.......[specially our Gasc....]

We do have our moments here Jacqui but they're over and done with quite quickly as a rule

Well said Gasc ...Good on yer sport ......I entirely agree.....

[Bellywobble]

Jacqui, that site looks fantastic, what a wonderful service!

[Jacqui]

Just wanted to say sorry to Gino for hijacking the thread!

Thanks everyone!

[Fraise]

Excellent site Jacqui,what a good service you offer Good luck with it.

www.thepetitmanoir.com

[Big Sis..]

Hi Jacqui What a great idea ,

Have you thought of contacting people and offering this ...My brother used to work for Crossroads.... Im sure someone like that or a disabled charity that wants to send people on holiday[paying of course] would be very interested.....

When my brother was terminally ill he and his wife spent a long time looking for somewhere to have a weekend away[while he was still well enough.]
...but he wanted somewhere normal where his wife could enjoy herself as well...this would have been ideal.....


Dont know if its me [it usually is] but the text is overlapped by the photos.