August Slow to Book

Up, down, could be better? How to get more bookings is our number one obsession. Talk shop here.

August

August .Bookings Down
22
61%
August Full
13
36%
August Bookings Up
1
3%
 
Total votes: 36

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apexblue
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:58 pm
Location: UK

August Slow to Book

Post by apexblue »

Any having this problem? Especially for 2 bedroom rentals.
Last edited by apexblue on Tue Jul 09, 2019 6:31 pm, edited 3 times in total.
It is better to remain quiet and have one think you are stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt....

The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.
newtimber
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Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:57 pm
Location: Brighton
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Post by newtimber »

Yes August is slow to book.

Everyone seems to book later nowadays so I hope the dates will book eventually.
rosebud
Posts: 625
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Steyning, West Sussex

Post by rosebud »

Actually yes - the same experience. My cottage has 2 bedrooms and sleeps 3

August is usually booked up way ahead but not this year. Wondered if my prices (which I have not increased for a couple of years) were putting people off?
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apexblue
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Location: UK

Post by apexblue »

Just received 4 bookings for August :P
It is better to remain quiet and have one think you are stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt....

The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.
LotBoy47
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:40 pm
Location: SW France

Post by LotBoy47 »

We had an August booking in April which was cancelled later that month and 2 more confirmed August bookings in May.

Then utter silence until yesterday and we’ve now had 2 August bookings in the last 48 hours, so I guess a lot of people are leaving it to the last minute and searching for deals.

We are running various deals and promotions with Booking.com and Air BnB at the moment to get some reviews built up as this is our first year.

Our latest booker said she’d seen all the gites she was interested in our area start filling up overnight, so it could be that there’s mid-July booking frenzy on the cards.

Fingers crossed that everyone gets fully booked!
e-richard
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Post by e-richard »

apexblue wrote:Just received 4 bookings for August :P
Was that as a result of advertising the vacancies on LayMyHat I wonder :wink:
** Richard
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
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Sanchisimo
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Post by Sanchisimo »

Finally had out last available week in August booked. It's never been this late.
CarolineJ
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Post by CarolineJ »

Half full at the moment. I had an enquiry last week from someone who wanted the whole of the remaining fortnight, but after answering all her questions she hasn't come back, so I'm guessing that's a no. This time last year I only had 1 week booked though, so technically I'm ahead of myself!
Faint heart never won fair holiday let...
rosebud
Posts: 625
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Steyning, West Sussex

Post by rosebud »

Last 5 days of August left!
chipiechoo
Posts: 155
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 7:07 pm
Location: SW France

Post by chipiechoo »

We need your advice and suggestions.
For the first time in 13 years we have no bookings for the entire month of August, though fully booked after. Our price has not changed for three years and we are no longer with any of the big boys.
Hopefully this is the last of our years in this market but we would like to go out with filling this month.
Not knowing anything about ABNB, Booking.com or how Homeaway now work, where would you suggest we advertise on a purely commision basis to fill this month?
As always your help has always been invaluable.
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apexblue
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Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:58 pm
Location: UK

Post by apexblue »

Our late bookings are thru HL and ABB.
It is better to remain quiet and have one think you are stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt....

The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.
Joanna
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Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:12 pm
Location: Chester, North West England & Sidmouth, East Devon
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Post by Joanna »

I'm thinking about trying ABB to shift our last August dates. it'll be interesting to see if it works - guests end up paying a lot more that way.
Jo

Joint owner of Baker's Cottage in Chester & Chandler's Cottage in Sidmouth
aasta
Posts: 800
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:17 pm
Location: Pe da Serra, Portugal

Post by aasta »

OLA!! After much hestitaion, we signed up with Booking.com to hopefully be able to let some of the nights still open in August (usually we are fully booked in August) and it has worked. We listed in the last minute bookings section and gave a 10% discount off standard rate....not great finacially but better then having empty nights in High Season
aasta
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apexblue
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Location: UK

Post by apexblue »

Still 2 x 2 beds available from 10 August. This has not happened in 14 years.
It is better to remain quiet and have one think you are stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt....

The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.
LotBoy47
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:40 pm
Location: SW France

Post by LotBoy47 »

Joanna wrote:I'm thinking about trying ABB to shift our last August dates. it'll be interesting to see if it works - guests end up paying a lot more that way.
Internet savvy guests will find you via ABB and then check if you have a website that allows directs bookings to see if they can save money.

With the various deals and promotions we’re using on ABB and BCom, that wouldn’t save them much at the moment.
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