When do people usually book?

[Trigger]

Hello all,
I've been lurking around here for a while so I thought it was time to get involved

I'm probably in a minority of one here in that I have an apartment to rent in Bulgaria but I wondered if anyone had any general advice on when bookings usually come in.

I'm really pleased with the traffic to my website and holidaylettings but no takers yet. I appreciate this is an emerging market and take up could/will be low for a couple of years but if you had a rental season of say May - October when would you normally expect a bit of firm interest?

Thanks
Trigger

[Paul Carmel]

Hi Trigger,

Do a search for a guy on here called Petehols, he is from your neck of the woods and he is an all-round top fella who might be able to give you a heads-up

Personally speaking, and we have a similar length season, January is usually our biggest month for bookings.

[linda147]

Hi
I am new to this site as well and have had a house in the Costa de la Luz since May. We had our first rental people in last week and have 3 more before Christmas but none for after. I appreciate that Jan-March is low period but when do people starting booking for Spring/Summer? We have only had a few enquiries in the last month (all for October half term!) but nobody enquiring about next year. Is this usual? When can we expect enquiries to get going?
Grateful for any advice particularly from fellow owners in Spain.

[Trigger]

Cheers Paul

We have only had our apartment since July so I don't really know how things usually work out. I had my first scam email last week which was a milestone in a strange sort of way

Trigger

[Big Sis..]

Hi Linda Welcome[seem to have got a lot of new additions lately]

Partridge has a place on Costa del la luz as well Im sure you two will have things to chat about

Have you advertised much,

Bookings for Spain next year should be coming through. Youve done well though to have a couple of bookings before xmas

Theres lots of people here who will give you advice if you want it, so feel free to ask.

[Partridge]

Hi Linda

Yes, we are on the Luz too but a different part. Not sure I can be much help as Ros will tell you, I have already been picking her brains, poor woman

One site you might want to advertise with is Costa de la luz holidays, I have more enquiries with them than with HR and the conversion rate seems better. Having said that I am not talking about loads on enquiries anyway I haven't been at it long enough to form definite opinions but enquiries seem to have been from say October through to Feb for the summer. It is definitely a 'new' area and from the type of previous guests I've had the only thing I can add is that you should target the families who want 'real Spain' and the sense of peace and quiet.

Sorry, not much help but I'm a bit of a newbie myself.

[linda147]

Thanks Ros/Partridge
I do advertise on Costa de la Luz holidays and have had quite a few enquiries from them but no bookings. I also advertise on a couple of other sites and have my own website. I do stress the history and beauty of Vejer and also the fairly quiet beaches but as you say it is not a very well known area and there seems to be quite a bit of competition!
A lot of people who do go to the area regularly seem to use Ryanair into Jerez and they don't have their flights available yet past March, so that probably delays some people in making their bookings. Glad to hear that enquiries should start coming in October though, that makes me a bit more optimistic. My husband says that I am expecting everyone to be like me and organise their holidays a long time in advance! I had an enquiry this week for half term in October which is only 3 weeks away! Seems very late to be looking for accommodation in a peak week.
Anybody else in the area with any views on bookings?
Which part are you in Partridge? Are up up in the Huelva area?

[Partridge]

Hi Linda

Yes, on Isla Canela. Love Ayamonte, can take or leave the island itself as am not really into beaches but hubby is a golf nut.
We have had 11 weeks this year which isn't great but I know I must advertise on more sites, so will attempt to get my derriere into gear.

The plus is that we have two lots of returners.

[Big Sis..]

Glad to hear it Partridge but what sort of gear????

[Partridge]

Preferably forward, would be 5th but I don't think I've found it yet, so 4th will have to suffice.

Must dash, got my bestest friend over to see me

[Big Sis..]

Have fun Im going to bed night, night!

[LaLuz]

Hi Linda,
I have a house on the Costa de la Luz, near Novo Sancti Petri/Chiclana and have just completed my 2nd full year of renting.

My experience so far is that it's not a long rental season, this year I've been booked from May half term to September and out of season bookings have for me been few and far between.

We are very well situated for the golf courses (I'm told golfers prefer low season) and even have golf clubs available for guests use but I'm unsure how to promote this but am wondering if this is the way to go!

Both years summer bookings didn't really get underway until after Christmas and then I was still receiving enquiries for August until the very last minute.

I wouldn't worry about next year, it's still very early!

[linda147]

Thanks LaLuz
We have been quite pleased with the bookings for this autumn -Vejer does seem to get visitors all year round. Unfortunately we got the house too late for any summer bookings for 2006 but hope to do a lot better next year! We are buying a 2nd house on the same development (was actually the original house but completion has been delayed so much we actually ended up buying a resale first!) Our aim is to try and rent out one of the houses as much as possible and use the other one ourselves in school holidays (I am a teacher) but still try and get some lettings on that as well. We will see how it goes - if it goes well it should provide some income for us in retirement which is about 10 years away, if it doesn't go well we will have to sell one of the houses - hence my concern and glad to get some reassuring comments (I tend to be a bit of a worrier!)

As regards your property have you thought about advertising on any specialist golfing sites? You may get interest from golfers looking for somewhere a bit different in Spain - just a thought.

[Big Sis..]

Hi Linda,


From what you say about having 2 houses would they be near each other.?

Ive got 2 houses next to each other & most of my bookings are for both houses this has been a really good selling point as families want to holiday together.
Especially in this area in Spain where there are a lot of 3 bed properties the fact 8-16 people can holiday together has made all the difference
As well as the fact that theyre are usually3-4 families involved in the booking they usually book early[got 23 weeks booked next year] makes a lot of difference .

[linda147]

Hi Ros
thats a really good point I hadn't thought about! They are about 100 metres apart on the same development and the communal swimming pool (when it is finished!) is between them. How do you advertise the fact that you have two as the rental sites are a bit funny about multiple properties as they charge for each property? We are hoping the 2nd house will be finished by Christmas at the latest and then we just have to wait for the 1st habitation certificate. It will certainly be ready for next summer's season so I could advertise it.
Thanks for your help.