[pugliese]

We only started last year because we moved into the flat in Gallipoli centre so our seaside holiday home in Mancaversa became vacant. We didn't have any experience in letting and just put a "affittasi" sign up and put it on subito.it. All in all we let for 7 weeks over the period July to September which we were quite pleased about. This year we did exactly the same thing, but so far have only let for the 2 weeks 4-18th August. Must admit, we have had hundreds of requests for those dates, but absolutely nothing else!

Is anybody else having the same experience? Is it all down to the crisis?

[Petra R]

I have been looking into this quite a bit and it seems the place to advertise is tripadvisor. (via whatever rental thingie they bought, it's holidayrentals or something like that, but part of tripadvisor and accessible via tripadvisor)

Yes, It costs 280 Euro a year, but having spoken to several owners of rental properties they told me they have given up all other venues because they get so many bookings via tripadvisors.

Another thing I'd consider would be to look at the English and German and French markets, as the cheap airlines come in from there. Holiday lets with their listings in those three languages are booked considerably more solidly than those that are only in English or Italian and English.

If you need any help with translating into German I'd happily help out!

[modicasa]

Bookings for seaside here in SIcily are down this year - Italians are only taking the ferragosto weeks, its a short season! Foreigners are up - but in general they don't book seaside in August - knowing it will be full of Italians!

[Capo Boi]

More or less the same here. Sardinia. Italian bookings in June and the first two weeks of July seem to be quite a bit down on previous years. Those by foreigners, however, holding up well but the net market is overall down. August bookings so far looking much the same as previous years. One thing, I'm hearing more and more, is the importance of providing free wifi internet access. Its becoming standard in b&b's here and a significant factor in the private rental market.

[linseed oil]

we do verry well with owners direct , bookings are up this year 18 weeks so far

[ononno]

I think the crisis also has something to do with it, especially the heavy handed anti tax evasion measures. My sons run what was the family business around the Bays of Naples and Salerno; amongst other things renting properties on behalf of proprietors via t'internet. They have had to almost run down to zero that part of the business, because of the reluctance of proprietors to issue official receipts. Many of these flats/villas/agriturismo are empty as a result. I understand that even the internal market for August is down - no doubt due to the ridiculously exorbitant rents being asked; and 4000 eurines in cash becoming an embarrasment.
On the other hand, a brother in inland Andalucia has a casita he rents out via holidayrentals international website, and has only one empty week from June to October. Mixed clientele from Russia, Scandinavia, francophone countries, and GB.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

[Margaret M]

We are having our best year so far, but with more shoulder season bookings, and not all of July and August fully booked, which is a first for us. We do have good bookings in July and August, but with a few days between each. This is nice though, as it enables us to carry out any maintenance that becomes necessary. Also same day changeovers in this heat are unbearable.

We are on Holiday Rentals and Owners Direct by the way. Wouldn't touch Trip Adviser with a bargepole.

[modicasa]

owners direct advertise on trip advisor

[Margaret M]

But do they actually show peoples listing?

[modicasa]

yes. Search for properties in your area on trip advisor and you will probably find yours

[Margaret M]

Nope, already searched, mine isn't there. Holiday Lettings is part of Trip Advisor, which is why we don't advertise with them. If I ever find my property on Trip Advisor I will dump that listing site.

[Marocco]

Originally Posted by Margaret M Nope, already searched, mine isn't there. Holiday Lettings is part of Trip Advisor, which is why we don't advertise with them. If I ever find my property on Trip Advisor I will dump that listing site.

What's the problem with Tripadvisor?

[Margaret M]

Too many rental owners complaining of malicious reviews that they cannot get removed, in some cases from people who have never stayed at their property. I even know of one owner who anonymously posted a ridiculous review, with fictitious places names, which was never challenged.

[modicasa]

The fact that you don't advertise on TA won't stop you from being reviewed. I have only ever had positive experience with TA so can't comment on your opinions.

[Petra R]

Originally Posted by Margaret M Too many rental owners complaining of malicious reviews that they cannot get removed, in some cases from people who have never stayed at their property. I even know of one owner who anonymously posted a ridiculous review, with fictitious places names, which was never challenged.

That has been stopped. You can now ONLY leave a tripadvisor review for a holiday rental property if the owner of the rental property confirms that you have actually stayed there first.

Basically the guest writes the review, then it goes "on hold" until the owner of the holiday property has confirmed that the guest indeed stayed there. The owner of the property can not see what the guest has actualy written as a review, only that one was written by guest XYZ.

Once the owner has confirmed that the guest was indeed a guest the review goes live.

To be honest I have exclusively used Tripadvosor to plan trips and details (restaurants etc) for the trips I have taken for years now. Having spoken to many property owners the ones who are on trip advisor actually said they have dumped all other sites because they are getting the vast majority of their booking through tripadvisor,