Holiday bookings down considerably

gwynlas

We changed to a different agency late last year as we felt that their  dynamic pricing was all over the place and putting people off. The one we are with now discounts by 10-20 % if space available within four weeks. We are now booked through to October, people seem to appreciate that we do not charge extra for dogs and we are getting good reviews.

Sea_Shell

You're also having to compete with the likes of Darwin Escapes and what they offer.

TBagpuss

I agree with others that it is most likely that combination of cost compared with overseas holidays, people tightening their belts generally, and people feeling increasingly comfortable travelling overseas.

I went away on a UK break a couple of weeks ago - it was because the location was one I wanted to visit, but in terms of cost it was more expensive than going overseas would have been.

I suspect that there are a lot more places offering holiday lettings then there were pre-covid, and so  unless your place has unique features that make it particularly in demand, you are likely to have a lot more competition for a smaller number of potential renters.

Your agents may well be correct that you are getting more bookings than others on their books, but that may mean you are getting 50% occupancy and others are only getting 20% (or it could mean you are getting 50% and others are getting 45%)

It may be worth reviewing your listings and thinking about whether you can make small changes that might make your place more appealing.

Electric car charging is one, another is to look at your check in and out times - a lot of places switched to a 5 p.m. check in and 10 a.m. check out in lock down to allow more time to deep clean - if if found somewhere which was (say) 3 p.m. check in instead it would be a major factor in picking them over a broadly similar place, and the same with  slightly later check out!  

It's also worth considering where your property is listed - I assume that each extra platform means more fees, but I think a lot of people look first at sites like AirBnB and Vrbo rather tan more traditional holiday lettings companies.

In your position,  think I might look at switching back to normal tenants, which would likely have lower running costs and would be of benefit to the local community (especially if you found it fairly easy t find tenants in the past. I suspect other holiday owners may be having similar issues so you may benefit if you make the switch sooner rathr than later.  but of course it is your choice. 

Divorcing_Dad

Interesting that you're struggling. I spotted a post from someone who was complaining about both the price and availability of UK hotels at the moment.

I've found them quite horrendous and due to an upcoming stay in the bourgeois City of Milton Keynes (I jest), I have opted for an AirBnB. The local travelodge, for instance, want £140 a night. The Premier Inn is more than this and the only other options are Leonardo or Holiday Inn which are upwards of £200 a night. All the local B&Bs are sold out, including some that I know don't advertise much and rely on return trade.

Yes, it happens to be a busy weekend and there are a few things on, but really, the City is geared up for business visitors during the week rather than weekend travellers, so you'd think they'd all be empty.

Don't know what the answer is - my folks AirBnB in East Anglia is now fully booked until the end of October (it's not anywhere particularly special, just large village based and 20 minutes from the coast).

BobT36

MobileSaver said:
has resulted in my monthly bill more than halving to £500 a month.

The heck, mate. TO £500? Mine is only £170 on a bad month, and that's with two beasty gaming PCs, monitors, dishwasher and all the usual household appliances... 

Do you have the heating on full blast all day everyday in a mansion, or what? 
How were you paying 1.1k a month before? O_O

onemouseplace

Pennylane said:

DiamondLil said:

@Pennylane - whereabouts in the country is your holiday let ?

We've been searching for B&B and/or holiday lets in the UK and can't find anywhere not fully booked.

North Norfolk.  

That is interesting - we go to North Norfolk reasonably regularly and have a favourite cottage we head back to every other year or so which is in a prime spot right in the centre of a prime location.  I was looking at availability for next summer and was astounded that there isn't a single booking for the school summer holidays - yes, I appreciate I am looking over a year in advance, but previously when we have booked I haven't been much later and I've had to grab the last week available.  The prices haven't even gone up since we last went a couple of years ago.

koalakoala

Many people without pets wouldn’t book a place that accepts dogs in my experience

GDB2222

koalakoala said:

Many people without pets wouldn’t book a place that accepts dogs in my experience

Yes, good point. 

lookstraightahead

BobT36 said:

MobileSaver said:
has resulted in my monthly bill more than halving to £500 a month.

The heck, mate. TO £500? Mine is only £170 on a bad month, and that's with two beasty gaming PCs, monitors, dishwasher and all the usual household appliances... 

Do you have the heating on full blast all day everyday in a mansion, or what? 
How were you paying 1.1k a month before? O_O

I think mobilesaver has a lot of fridges if I remember correctly 

lookstraightahead

RelievedSheff said:

jonnydeppiwish! said:

RelievedSheff said:

We have just returned home from a 9 night trip to Norfolk and Suffolk with our motorhome and there was certainly no signs of staying at home and not spending. 

Everywhere we visited was busy and thriving. Sites were busy, pubs and restaurants were busy.

If people are cutting back we certainly didn't see any evidence of it!

Some people definitely still have money to spend. It would interesting to see what the percentage of 🇬🇧 was struggling with bills v those who have cash to spend.

From what we have seen I really do think that the media is over hyping (not like them at all) the percentage of people who are struggling. 

They are trying to talk down the economy.

People are likely getting into more debt. Gone are the days of everyone cutting their cloth to fit.