Lay My Hat Forum

Slovakia

Hi everyone,

First time poster here and would just like to begin by saying what a wonderful forum this is and I must say that I have learnt a wealth of information browsing this forum over the weekend.

I took Paolo's excellent advice about Googling to see which of the BIG paid sites should work best for my holiday home, which is in Slovakia. The results (not including the Slovakia-specific directories) pointed overwhelmingly for Homelidays, which was a little surprising as I had not heard as much about them on here as compared to Owner's Direct, Holiday Rentals, Holiday Lettings, etc.

So, I know what appears to be the best site for my particular region. What I would love to find out from you that have subscribed to their site, is how do they fare on the following:

- Customer Service (from a renter's perpective)
- Customer Service (from an owner's perspective)
- Ease of use (adding description, photos, etc)
- Quality of presentation

Many thanks,

David

Nessie · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

I took out a free trail last year with them and was very pleased with the responses and since then have paid for a 1-year listing

So far this year I am not over pleased with the enquiries received from them, the next few months will tell as we are now starting to get enquiries through for the summer. We have a bed and breakfast and bookings always tend to be nearer the time for us.

I found amending the description and adding photos very easy, the only problem is once you advert is live if you amend it then it has to be validated again which can take 24 hours depending on when you do the update, during this time you advert will not appear on the searches.

I don’t like the calendar simply because I cannot block off one day.

Customer service I find very good, if I have any questions they are normally answered the same day

They have a last minute deals section for apartments and villa , currently this is not available for B&B
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Nessie

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7574 Location: Serre Chevalier

Very few enquiries over the past year, but the two enquiries I have received had both converted to bookings. None of my listing sites are performing at all at the moment, but bookings are still trickling in so I am not too worried.

Slovakia · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks Nessie!!!

I am pleased that you have found their customer service to be good! I think I will go with them.

It is also good to know upfront about the 24 hour delay amending the description and photos. So thanks again for the info!

Nightowl · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:53 am Post subject:

I like the fact you get 15 photos - photos sell the property. But the best thing about Homelidays is their free trial - (not sure what they offer at the moment but in the past it's been several months, long enough for you to see if it works for you or not.
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Nightowl
Forever going one step forwards and two
backwards......
http://www.homelidays.com/london/apartment-flat144480en1.htm
http://www.homelidays.com/london/apartment-flat190993en1.htm
http://www.homelidays.com/chiclana/house-villa70705en1.htm

Slovakia · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks HelenB and NightOwl for your replies!!!

I agree that 15 photos is very good!

As far I can tell, they are not currently offering their free trial, which is obviously a shame, but from the research I have done and your input as well, I have decided that I will go ahead and subscribe for a year. I will let the forum know how it goes!

Brenda · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

We had a 9 month free trial with Homelidays and have since paid for 12 months that is shortly due for renewal.

We will DEFINITELY be renewing as we get a good 80% of our total bookings from Homelidays. Have had 14 bookings from them so far since January 1st 2008. Don't get many Brit enquiries from them though although have just had an English couple for a week.

We also like their Testimonial service - so far we have 14 Testimonials with an overall score of 4.9 out of 5 - and many guests have said that they chose us above other B+Bs because they could read what other guests had put about us.

Only thing we don't like is that if you make a change to your ad it goes offline until it has been checked by the Homelidays staff that can take a full working day - so if you forget and make a change on Friday evening it won't be back online until late Monday. Also, if they have many properties in your area, you need to click on the UPDATE WITHOUT CHANGE button daily to ensure that your property is at the top of the list for places in your area.
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Lake view B+B in Andalucia
www.bandblakevinuela.com
www.spain-holiday.com/rentals/accommodations/properties/5555/La+Vinuela/6/Malaga/0/Andalucia/La+Vinuela.html
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S3364.htm

kevincohr · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 99

I also have had a good experience with Homelidays, with solid bookings. Their review feature is good, as it requires both owners and renters to register. You should make sure to update your details often, as this increases your prominance in searchs by renters on the site.

You can find a fuller review, from an owner's perspective, here:
http://www.compareownerholidayrentals.com/review_homelidays.htm

Regards,
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http://www.compareownerholidayrentals.com

Claus · Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Hi everyone,
My brother and i have a property in Malaga which we rent out. We have it advertised on a lot of free sites and the paid sites are holidaylettings and spain-holiday. Our paid ads work the best so we are considering expanding this strategy.
In searches for our type of property in our area homelidays are good represented in google so they would be an obvious site to list us on. However we have been looking at the site and notised that you must register before you are able to send an enquiry.
I am just wondering if visitors are not turned off by this?

Any comments and advise will be appreciated

Thanks
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http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk - id 53039
http://www.spain-holiday.com - id 4914

Rocket Rab · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 2164 Location: Ile de Re

corepotente · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 36 Location: Umbria

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7574 Location: Serre Chevalier

I've actually got some feedback (all 5/5 Very Happy

) from our booking.

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7574 Location: Serre Chevalier

Homelidays has a new look this morning.

HelenB · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 7574 Location: Serre Chevalier

http://www.homelidays.com/EN-Holidays-Rental/310_Rental_Guide/how_much_details.asp?

And some special offers.

pepsipuss · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 953 Location: Bédar, Almeria

Well, we have been with them for 3 months. Four enquiries, two bookings (one not yet happened), fab testimonial from the one who has been so far. Really like the testimonial idea because if you are confident of what you offer it can really work for you. Also good to be able to check up on a renter.

Not however the most user-friendly site for us because of the way the availability calendar works but that is a B&B problem - no way of showing that some but not all rooms are booked so unless you are full for a particular day it looks as if you have no bookings!

I have just written to them to ask about changing that so we will see.

On the plus site, our recent booking (Italians) told us they always use it for their bookings.
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Soaking up the sun

www.villa-rental-near-mojacar.iowners.net
Your Holiday Matters
www.bedandbreakfast-andalucia.com