Craigmoniecottage

Hi Michael - can't quibble with that - excellent rates (do you make the wine yourselves ha ha) -good for you. Prices in U.K. for the standard you are working to are generally higher - would be interesting to compare costings etc. I think in uk. our o'head costs might be higher but I am not sure about food - I think some parts of Oz are dearer for food i.e. bacon prices seems to be very high out with you guys when we watch some of these comparison shows in U.K.

Be interested to know.

Have a good day and definately worth a few glasses of fizz/wine if we get out your way. Getting quite a few folks now from Oz. as it is coming into winter there. Had folks the other day from Adelaide (had just arrived and left behind 40 degrees to come to 11 / 12 degrees in the Scottihs Highlands) They were feeling the cold allright!! but they got a warm welcome

C

Hi Michael Sounds fantastic where abouts in Oz are you and what are your charges per night for this unadulterated luxury. Making a trip in the next 12 months to Oz maybe we can treat ourselves.

I think we should always remember the old saying 'familiarity breeds contempt' and realise that the people staying are not your friends they are paying guests and as such should be treated in that manner with a very firm line inbetween. Guests are mostly overnight stays and therefore no time to forge 'friendship' Longer term guests can forge relationships especially if they are repeat visitors -that speaks for itself.

To keep a respectful distance allows the control needed when unsavoury situations arise i.e. breakages, unruly guests returning from a night out, incosideration of other guests etc.

I was brought up in this industry and have worked init for over 40 years and the changes I have seen during that time are amazing and sadly we live in a society controlled by the very platform we are communicating in and with that gives anonymity to be abusive, nasty writing hutful and untruthful things but that is what we have signed up for and until major changes are instigated by the governing bodies all over the world to how social media and the OTA's run their operations we just have to get by as best we can but you know 'nothing lasts forever' in the mean time keep a distance and keep a record of events Just don't rely on the OTA's for support

Catriona

It is a bitter pill but you will learn from it - ensure your house rules etc. just like Ian detailed earlier are clear and have to be accepted prior to booking. Get your neighbours on side and give them your contact number so that if there is a problem at the property you might get advance warning and then you can deal with it immediately. It will also maybe give you a good relationship with the neighbours.

It is always good to state how many the property accommodate and that this cannot be exceeded also maybe you should consider not taking party bookings. When the word Party is used then perhaps you should investigate what the occasion is and the type of party. I don't take hen/stag parties and do not allow anybody on the premises that is not accounted for in the Booking. If they want a place to gather they can do that in a pub or restaurant.

Hi Katerinka

Trip Advisor allow restaurant reviews whether you haved dined or not so probably they allow reviews of accommodation that way as well

Hi Michael thanks for that and I should say that the Airbnb guest apparently (as well as the host) has the right to make a review when the cancellation is on the day which is absolutely crazy and their allowing it just promotes antagonisim. I have issues with all of the OTA's about their practices but I have to say that Airbnb is the best (worst) yet. A global company of that size saying they have no control over their websites never heard such rubbish.

Katerinka I could'nt agree with you more about the display of house rules/policies on all OTA's including the very loose ended Airbnb. For years I have displayed all information about our house rules and even though on Booking.Com they have also to agree to the terms and conditions prior to booking they still all have a dose of selective amnesia when it suits them However, the protection is that the information is there in Black and White. However, with Airbnb a very recent case of the guest arriving and admitting on arrival he had broke the rules by' turning up with more people than they had booked' for because 'no one ever bothered' He did not get access to the property and went away and cancelled. Next minute he writes a review and now I have to write one back I contacted Airbnb and they say they can do nothing about this in fact whenever there is a problem with Airbnb they do very little about it because of the very reason you state they get more commission from the guest. I have never had many problems with Airbnb until this guest and my how it has opened my eyes to Airbnb as being totally irresponsible otherwise why let a guest write a reivew about a property they have not stayed at. I will be responding to the review ofcourse and it will also reflect on Airbnb.

The best quality guest is the guest who books direct as you strike up a valuable relationship with them knowing what they like and what they don't like an what their expectations are. I tell all guests who book to book direct in the future and I am pleased to say a lot do.

Absolutely, put everything in writing. Whether it is texts or e-mails always have the back up.

Have to disagree -In the 8 years I have been affiliated with BDC their policy on reviews have changed little. However, they can and do alter their website pages at the drop of a hat when it suits them i.e. implementing guest request boxes (whether your property wants the facility added to their page or not), terms and conditions (protecting them against their affiliate partners) etc. This together with the fact that they are probably the largest in the world will have at their disposal the latest IT softwear that will enable them to alter whatever they like whenever they like. BDC have had at least 8 years that I know of to address the situation - they choose not to as they favour the guest instead of us - their actual customer