Bookings Over The Holidays

[Laura2327]

Hi Everyone,

I’d love some input about booking over Christmas and New Years. I had someone request to stay the days between (26-31) and am worried that will inhibit other possible bookings for the actual holidays themselves. Would it be best to take that booking or wait and see if I get booked over Christmas and New Years and possibly have more days occupied. 

FYI - we have a 5 bedroom house on 22 acres with views and a fireplace and we live in Vermont. 

Thank  you for your advice!!

Laura

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Laura2327 

You can decline this request, go to your calendar, select the days you would like to get booking for and ad a rule set on the right side of your pc window.

You can set on which days check-ins or outs are not possible, the min. stay, you can block some dates etc.

Just be careful, if you set min. stay is, for example, 5 nights in the period between Dec. 20- January 6. , someone can still book 3 nights starting with Dec. 18th, or 19th.

[Laura2327]

Thank you!! I think I’ll risk it and accept the request and pray others will book over Christmas and again over New Years. 
happy holidays to you!

[Sarah977]

@Laura2327  Declining will lower your acceptance rate, and you have no assurance that a longer period would get booked, so it's a matter of whether you want to take that chance or not.

[Laura2327]

Yes, you’ve put your finger on my exact concern. I’ll accept the request and pray for the best. Thank you for your help!

[Linda108]

What is your experience with guests on the actual holidays of Christmas and New Years?  If none yet, perhaps it would be good to require a minimum/maximum of 4 days for each of the holidays. Then you would have two periods like December 23-26 and December 30 to January 2 with that restriction and higher nightly rate.  You may have unbooked dates however.

[Laura2327]

That would be ideal! Last year we had one family book over the entire holiday season so I have never had this happen before. Thank you for your help!

[Susan151]

When we owned a house in Vermont, it was generally rented starting on the day after Christmas, but would then go through the New Year's holiday. Obviously we didn't use AirBNB; a more traditional realtor arranged the rentals.

This worked for us. We skied up to and on Christmas Day, packing the car that morning and heading home after a full day of skiing, just as the crowds descended. 

[Laura2327]

Sounds heavenly!! Last year we had one family arrive on Xmas eve and they left on Jan 2. It was perfect!