Alternatives to the major listing sites

[alifrank1]

But if the country you want is not in their Top 20 (which includes Ecuador, UAE and Argentina) how does the punter choose something like, um, Switzerland?
MG

You'll just have to buy an apartment or villa in Spain to rent out

[Partridge]

I've just worked it out Mountie On the first page you choose number of bedrooms etc, then if you look underneath there is the option of the type of accommodation where you will see 'cabins/chalets', once you tick that then the countries chosen to appear include Switzerland.

I had my first booking with Travel Library last month, a real last minute thing.

[Mountain Goat]

Party, that's really great, thanks.

I just wonder if the site publisher is cleverer than we thought?

There's no income from the owners with free ads, so income must come from the Google ads. Punter arrives on the website, tries to puzzle out the search system, gets totally confused, and, in frustration, taps on the Google ads.

Result? Income for site owner.

But it is interesting that some of us have had bookings.

MG

[Partridge]

But it is interesting that some of us have had bookings.
MG

Following on from recent threads I could say that it has been my most successful site but that's only because the enquiries to bookings ratio is 100%. Before anyone gets too excited that actually translates as 1 enquiry in 2 years resulting in one booking hey, it's free though and compared to my 3 bookings from 10 enquiries in 14 months with HL I shan't complain.

[goosie]

since readin this topic I've signed up to travel library and rentability. Now I'm waiting for those bookings to come rolling in

we also advertise on holidayhomerental.co.uk which is a newish site claiming to have free adverts until this summer. Haven't had any bookings from them but it is free so who cares!!!

[Holiday Ray]

Hi Goosie
Just had a quick look at the site and on their 'about us' page, it says they are offering free listings until 'early 2007' which suggests to me that they've not been revisiting their own website and updating for a while

[goosie]

but they are active because I've had personal emails from the owner with very quick turn around so worth trying I reackon.

[Holiday Ray]

Yes fair enough
Might be worth emailing them and asking why that particular page is so out of date. If they're not keeping at least one of the site pages up to date, perhaps they're not spending too much time on other aspects of the site
There may well be a very good explanation for it, but I can't think of one.
I'd be interested to find out Goosie.
I might then have a dabble myself

[Giddy Goat]

If they're not keeping at least one of the site pages up to date, perhaps they're not spending too much time on other aspects of the site

That was my reaction too, Ray - bit slack if they want the site to get somewhere ...

[Linda S]

Hi All,

I recently joined, but I've been reading for a while and really appreciate the sharing of your knowledge.

I listed my newest rental with travel-library in late August and it has been by far my best free listing. Although I only received 2-3 inquiries a month from them last year I did get one 7 week booking. This year I've received 9 inquiries and one 2 1/2 week booking for Christmas. Although their search is a bit unusual my listing is being found. Definitely can't complain about that for a free site. I think it's definitely worth a try. Unfortunately they don't allow a link to our website and also no availability calendar.

[Hells Bells]

I think travel library sent out a survey last year, and a calendar was one of the options they were thinking of introducing.

[alifrank1]

I think travel library sent out a survey last year, and a calendar was one of the options they were thinking of introducing.

Yes Helen, that's the one thing I'm desperate for with Travel Library, I seem to get a lot of enquiries but they are often for booked dates. I would be happy to pay if they had an availability calendar because they come quite high on google searches for my property.

[Liane Goodlife France]

I booked a holiday a few years ago through ebay, it's the first thing I ever bought on ebay and it was great. This is my first year up and running, might give it a go.

Also, have had a message from abooking.com for a free listing on their site, they want iban and swiftbic codes. Not many on there for France. Not sure if it's a wee dodgy, any ideas?

[Chianti]

Lia

I wouldn't leave your garden for this company, they charge a 15% commision from the property owner and a translation fee for the languages in which your property is displayed and I haven't even finished the terms and conditions.

I'm not surprised they have almost no properties for Italy


Chianti without the flannel

[Liane Goodlife France]

Thanks Chianti
Liane.