Travels with Mort

[Morticia]

Why your guest gives up and doesn't book with you:

• Resnexus does not load
• Resnexus never gets the date selection correct and makes you go back and forth 3 times before the correct dates are selected
• Your online booking engine (not resnexus) makes the guest enter their dates 3 times before saying you have no availability after Oct.
• You don't show on your home page that you close for the season in Oct
• You offer the guest a page full of photos of rooms but do not state which ones are available for the dates the guest has already chosen
• Your offerings page doesn't explain what the guest gets if they add on a 'table for two' (the guest gets to pay $131 extra PER NIGHT for dinner in the restaurant, not even delivered to the room)
• Your listing on bedandbreakfast says 'rooms start at $139' but there's nothing under $250 listed on your site at anytime in the foreseeable future
• You don't show prices on the page with the room details. No prices. Not even a range of prices. Thus forcing the guest to find the reservation page (which, if it is resnexus, doesn't load).
• You make the guest click 'view next room' to see the next room.
• The guest has shown they want TWO nights and you list the room rates for VERY expensive rooms as '$378'. Then the guest sees the less expensive rooms listed as 'two nights - $358' and realizes the room she wanted is $378 PER night.

However, one thing I really liked was a chart showing a room comparison. Nicely done!
I still don't have a place to stay. I'm going to have to call to get rates.

 

[Arks]

However, one thing I really liked was a chart showing a room comparison. Nicely done!

I put such a chart on my website years ago. I think it was your suggestion. Thanks! It's very good to have.

 

[Anon Inn]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

 

[Lee2014]

Must not be us since we didn't get a call yet and we don't have resnexus!

 

[Morticia]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

 

[gillumhouse]

I just looked (because I was not sure) : RezKey on my Book Now can be searched by date or can display in calendar mode. All available rooms display with blurb about the rooms with prices (yes, it helps that I only have 3).

 

[Morticia]

Must not be us since we didn't get a call yet and we don't have resnexus!.

Must not be us since we didn't get a call yet and we don't have resnexus!

It's an in state vacation! We go to a different location every year with friends of ours. For some reason they still want me to make the reservations. On multiple occasions I have forced these lovely people to stay at B&B's with

• no heat,
• with burnt breakfast,
• with innkeepers who actually blocked the door to our room and talked to us for 30 minutes non stop,
• innkeepers who met us at the door in shorts and tank tops in Nov and said it was too hot to have a fire that night (the rest of us had winter coats on)
• where two of us got sick on the afternoon refreshments (the other two didn't eat them),
• where the rooms had not been dusted or vacuumed in who knows how long

And yet, they let me make the plans. They say they get to laugh about their little break for the rest of the year.

 

[Morticia]

However, one thing I really liked was a chart showing a room comparison. Nicely done!

I put such a chart on my website years ago. I think it was your suggestion. Thanks! It's very good to have..

However, one thing I really liked was a chart showing a room comparison. Nicely done!

I put such a chart on my website years ago. I think it was your suggestion. Thanks! It's very good to have.

I need to do this again myself. It looks like this one got lost in the shuffle.

 

[TheBeachHouse]

I put a chart up. Not that anyone reads it, but it's there if you need it.
(Most of our one nighter guests simply book the cheap room without looking.)

 

[Anon Inn]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

.

Beds24 has a calendar with prices off to the side for each room. Not what you're after I don't think but similar. I briefly considered it but it doesn't come with ResKey's features.
Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking. Never had that with Resnexus. I think it may be my configuration. I've done a test booking with no problem but because it is fairly common for people to phone and say they have problems, I feel it is a problem. But will have to do some delving to figure it out.
No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.

 

[Arks]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

.

Beds24 has a calendar with prices off to the side for each room. Not what you're after I don't think but similar. I briefly considered it but it doesn't come with ResKey's features.
Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking. Never had that with Resnexus. I think it may be my configuration. I've done a test booking with no problem but because it is fairly common for people to phone and say they have problems, I feel it is a problem. But will have to do some delving to figure it out.
No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.
.

Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking...No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.

I occasionally hear from people who say they couldn't complete the booking, but since 95% do it day in and day out, I think the 5% who don't complete are cases of user error. On those, I make the reservation for them and have ResKey send them a secure online payment link. So far they've all been able to complete payment of the deposit that way. Well, all except a couple who were booking from foreign countries. Foreign CCs often don't go through for me through Authorize dot net, probably due to my settings in Authorize. But the cards work fine through Square when the guest arrives.
In case anybody wants them, here are my Reskey email templates to ask them to pay:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make the first night's deposit payment of {{amountdue}} for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink}}
{{resdetails}}
And this template asks for payment of the full amount of the stay. I use it for those arriving the same day as the booking:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make payment of the {{balance}} due for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink_balance}}
{{resdetails}}

 

[Copperhead]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

.

Beds24 has a calendar with prices off to the side for each room. Not what you're after I don't think but similar. I briefly considered it but it doesn't come with ResKey's features.
Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking. Never had that with Resnexus. I think it may be my configuration. I've done a test booking with no problem but because it is fairly common for people to phone and say they have problems, I feel it is a problem. But will have to do some delving to figure it out.
No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.
.

Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking...No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.

I occasionally hear from people who say they couldn't complete the booking, but since 95% do it day in and day out, I think the 5% who don't complete are cases of user error. On those, I make the reservation for them and have ResKey send them a secure online payment link. So far they've all been able to complete payment of the deposit that way. Well, all except a couple who were booking from foreign countries. Foreign CCs often don't go through for me through Authorize dot net, probably due to my settings in Authorize. But the cards work fine through Square when the guest arrives.
In case anybody wants them, here are my Reskey email templates to ask them to pay:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make the first night's deposit payment of {{amountdue}} for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink}}
{{resdetails}}
And this template asks for payment of the full amount of the stay. I use it for those arriving the same day as the booking:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make payment of the {{balance}} due for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink_balance}}
{{resdetails}}
.

Arks, by what I see your emails don't give the guest a time frame by which the payment must be made?
Do you ever have to contact them a 2nd time? Or do you have it posted on your site or tell them during a call that they have X amount of time to submit or the reservation is refused???

 

[Morticia]

We have a winner! Even tho I can't seem to figure out how they come up with their prices we have a winner!
I tried calling this resort at 8:30 and got an after hours phone concierge. Why the heck do people expect B&B owners to be available 24x7 when this resort, in peak season, doesn't answer?
Also up for grabs is when they consider winter starts. There's no breakfast mid week in winter.
However, for 2 days, 4 people we get a cottage with ocean views for $400. Sold!
I'll call tomorrow.

 

[Arks]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

.

Beds24 has a calendar with prices off to the side for each room. Not what you're after I don't think but similar. I briefly considered it but it doesn't come with ResKey's features.
Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking. Never had that with Resnexus. I think it may be my configuration. I've done a test booking with no problem but because it is fairly common for people to phone and say they have problems, I feel it is a problem. But will have to do some delving to figure it out.
No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.
.

Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking...No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.

I occasionally hear from people who say they couldn't complete the booking, but since 95% do it day in and day out, I think the 5% who don't complete are cases of user error. On those, I make the reservation for them and have ResKey send them a secure online payment link. So far they've all been able to complete payment of the deposit that way. Well, all except a couple who were booking from foreign countries. Foreign CCs often don't go through for me through Authorize dot net, probably due to my settings in Authorize. But the cards work fine through Square when the guest arrives.
In case anybody wants them, here are my Reskey email templates to ask them to pay:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make the first night's deposit payment of {{amountdue}} for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink}}
{{resdetails}}
And this template asks for payment of the full amount of the stay. I use it for those arriving the same day as the booking:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make payment of the {{balance}} due for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink_balance}}
{{resdetails}}
.

Arks, by what I see your emails don't give the guest a time frame by which the payment must be made?
Do you ever have to contact them a 2nd time? Or do you have it posted on your site or tell them during a call that they have X amount of time to submit or the reservation is refused???
.

Arks, by what I see your emails don't give the guest a time frame by which the payment must be made?
Do you ever have to contact them a 2nd time? Or do you have it posted on your site or tell them during a call that they have X amount of time to submit or the reservation is refused???

I've probably done it 100 times and about 4 times they haven't responded within a couple of hours. For those, I contacted them the next day and let them know I couldn't continue to hold the reservation unless I received payment. Then they pay up right away. It really hasn't been a problem.

I wouldn't put a time frame in the first email because it's throwing rules at people, which gives a bad feel to things. For the 4% who DO need rules, they get that the next day.

 

[Anon Inn]

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?.

Based on your experience, do you have a favorite booking engine as a user?

No. I have not found one I really like yet. You know what I do like that I think only one booking engine does? Show me the damn calendar with the prices! On a separate tab. So I can go back and look at the rooms without losing my place on the calendar.
Some show the calendar with what's open for rooms but not with the prices. (Mine shows price and avail on a calendar that shows 2 weeks at a time but there is so much more I don't like about it I don't recommend it any longer.)
I really like seeing the calendar with the prices. That way I can change my dates and my choice of room by seeing what is avail. It could be the way my brain works. I do much better with charts than lists.
What I've seen so far today:

• resnexus (makes me insane)
• think reservations (this does show a calendar at the bottom of the page but it does not show prices and the chart format is lacking as there are no lines to differentiate dates and rooms)
• a hotel booking engine that didn't specify who ran it (this one asked me twice for the dates I wanted which was annoying)

.

Beds24 has a calendar with prices off to the side for each room. Not what you're after I don't think but similar. I briefly considered it but it doesn't come with ResKey's features.
Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking. Never had that with Resnexus. I think it may be my configuration. I've done a test booking with no problem but because it is fairly common for people to phone and say they have problems, I feel it is a problem. But will have to do some delving to figure it out.
No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.
.

Some ResKey folks end up phoning because they have difficulty completing the booking...No one else on this forum has ever mentioned this problem with ResKey.

I occasionally hear from people who say they couldn't complete the booking, but since 95% do it day in and day out, I think the 5% who don't complete are cases of user error. On those, I make the reservation for them and have ResKey send them a secure online payment link. So far they've all been able to complete payment of the deposit that way. Well, all except a couple who were booking from foreign countries. Foreign CCs often don't go through for me through Authorize dot net, probably due to my settings in Authorize. But the cards work fine through Square when the guest arrives.
In case anybody wants them, here are my Reskey email templates to ask them to pay:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make the first night's deposit payment of {{amountdue}} for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink}}
{{resdetails}}
And this template asks for payment of the full amount of the stay. I use it for those arriving the same day as the booking:
Dear {{guestsfirstnames}},
Please follow the secure online payment link below to make payment of the {{balance}} due for your upcoming stay at [Arks' Place] in [Arks' town].
Note that all fields in the payment form are required, including card type (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
{{paymentlink_balance}}
{{resdetails}}
.

Thanks Arks. Funny the folks who want add-ons such as dinners seem to have no problem with ResKey. I thought it was user error too, but the percentage of user error is ticking something in my head that says this needs to be fixed.
If I can find the problem.