Community: Message List

Re: Has anyone received 2 inquiries for the same dates from two different names of people from the same email address in the UK?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:11:27 GMT

I received two inquiries yesterday for my two properties for the same week, same guests name, same email address but not from the UK....I found out this morning that it was from kharkov Ukraine.

Today I received two emails within seconds of each other stating the cost was OK and "Ryan F....." wanted to make a reservation for both vacation rentals for the exact same couple, same address, etc....but that I needed to send my full name, billing address, and mobile phone number so he could arrange payment.

I am pretty sure this is a scam....but I occasionally receive two requests for different properties for the same date because they are not too far apart and people are trying to decide whether to stay in our mountain cabin or the apartment in town. However, no one yet has tried to reserve both for the same dates and same guest names.

I did write back asking for clarification.

I doubt very much that I will hear back from him.

Re: Does anyone use Hotels vs Homes?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 22:25:23 GMT

I have a business listing for TripAdvisor for my bed and breakfast - not for my vacation rentals which are listed with TA's Flipkey (where'd they get that name, I wonder...???). As I understand it, Flipkey is TripAdvisor's venue for vacation rentals as TripAdvisor does not permit vacation rentals to be listed with their regular lodging section because it is limited to conventional hotels, B&B's and inns.

I know Flipkey must work for many but it has not been effective for me in the 11 months since I started listing with them. I don't really want to spend another $600+ dollars to see if it works next year. My two vacation rental properties are about as booked up as I can handle anyway just using my own website, and homeaway.

I was not even aware of TripAdvisor's existance until about two years ago when my B&B received several TA reviews and I started getting calls for reservations based on those reviews. After the first year and more reviews, the traffic from TA inquiries was getting to be significant enough that I decided to pay for the TA business listing to have my website link and contact info included on the TA listing.

Re: Does anyone use Hotels vs Homes?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:18:37 GMT

I have been with hotelsvshomes for almost a year now and have yet to receive one reservation. I cannot remember ever receiving an inquiry - though I don't want to categorically say that as I might have received one.

Why should we do their work for them?

Flipkey ran a special last year and I thought I'd also give them a try. So I listed with Flipkey at about the same time last year for all three of my properties and have barely earned the advertising fees back. I received a a big packet of information from Flipkey - looked very impressive. It seemed they had their act together. But after the big, warm welcome materials, nothing.

I received a letter from Flipkey this week that my listings would automatically renew to the tune of over $600 in July. I had to call them to say, NO!!! I am trying to decide if I want to keep any of the three properties on Flipkey. So far this year, it has just been one more place to keep my calendar up-to-date.

I have had much better results with homeaway.com for my two vacation rentals and TripAdvisor for my bed & breakfast.

Re: Does anyone use Hotels vs Homes?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:01:47 GMT

I was putting entries from my business credit card statements to my accounting software this afternoon...trying to get things together for our accountant. Happened across the charge from last June, 2011 for advertizing with Hotelsvshomes.com and got hopping mad all over again at the money I spent ($315.00) for a listing. I decided to see if I could find some place online to warn other vacation home owners against them and found this thread.

The salesmen talk a good talk, but HotelsvsHome's customer service is NIL; they refused to refund my money after telling me there was a money-back guarantee. I am completely unsatisfied. I got absolutely NO benefit from my listing.

The salesman went on and on about how much marketing HvsH would be doing.....HA HA HA - they have done nothing as far as I can see. My advice to anyone thinking about listing with them is:

DO NOT PURCHASE A LISTING WITH HOTELSVSHOMES

HOTELSVSHOMES is a total ripoff. I have not had even one inquiry since the listing went live in July of 2011. In twenty years of being in this business, I have made some poor advertising decisions but this ranks up there at the top for being the worst.

Re: Cleaning Fees

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:07:27 GMT

I guess I don't really understand the point of listing a "cleaning fee" as a separate item. My rates are all inclusive and the cleaning is just part of the fees charged. My rates depend on the number of guests, number of nights. I set a base rate for 2 adults; additional adults are $10/night; children ages 3 to 17 are $5/night. I have a two night minimum rental and the rate per night declines with the length of stay - for example - 2 nights are $170/night for 2 adults; add a 3rd & 4th night for $140/night; 5 - 6 nights @ $130/night; 7 - 13 nights @ $125/night; etc.....

My cleaning ladies charge me by the hour. Sometimes the cleaning takes just 3 hours; other times it can take 6 to 8 depending on the number of people and length of stay. I pay for cleaning as well as all other costs out of the rental fees received....why should cleaning be separated out? To me it is just as ridiculous as if I had a separate charge for an electricity; water; garbage, clean towels, etc...!

I recently bought 2 tickets for flights from Pittsburgh to Hawaii for a two week trip - believe me - not cheap! And the extra $25 fee to check a bag on each flight irritates the heck out of me. I think my guests would feel the same if I added on separate cleaning fee.