If you own a holiday rental property somewhere that enjoys warm weather through the winter months, you’re in the perfect position to look for clients who want to escape the cold, grey, short winter days and laze in some fabulous winter sunshine instead.
Many people in northern Europe hate this time of year, so you have a good opportunity to entice them to your holiday let for a short break or winter holiday.
Focus your marketing
Are your pictures doing justice to your holiday property? They should make it look appealing and absolutely irresistible. If they don’t, your potential guests will head elsewhere.
Consider why people want to escape the winter months. Most likely to have warmth on their skin, the chance to relax outdoors in the sunshine, and lots of other perks besides.
Write content that appeals to the senses of winter sun seekers. For example “Why spend another day looking out your window at grey skies and drizzle? When you could be relaxing on this terrace, the warm sun beating down on you, listening to the sound of the sea lapping on the shore with a cool glass of wine in hand …”
In addition, display those images alongside. Your terrace with endless blue skies, a bottle of chilled wine on the veranda, boats bobbing in the glistening water, alfresco dining in the local village, etc. You’ll start to get the attention you want.
Provide seasonal information
Even though your holiday rental might be in a warmer climate to northern Europe, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be roasting. Let guests know if you have a heated pool and provide information on what they might like to pack too. The days might be warm but evenings could get chilly – suggest they pack a few light jumpers if this is the case.
Providing a few throws for the lounge area and an umbrella in the hallway is also a nice touch to keep guests warm in the evening or if there is the (unlikely) chance of rain.
Prepare your welcome pack
Of course your holiday rental should have a welcome pack all year round. However it’s nice to check its contents before the winter season. Provide a few essentials – tea, coffee, milk and sugar as ever – but include other items as well, such as a bottle of wine, chocolates, seasonal items, and anything that may be needed to light a fire in the evening.
You might list some of the essentials on your website, but keep the wine, chocolates and seasonal items a surprise. It’s a wonderful welcome to have when someone has travelled a long way to reach your property.
Provide useful information
Very often it can be one or two little things that sway the decision in favour of your holiday let over someone else’s. Do everything you can to make your property the most appealing one around.
Think about providing a range of relevant information, such as events and occasions taking place locally, restaurants, bars and activities. Some attractions and local busineses may be closed during winter months, but others will be open all year round, so make sure you give your guests up-to-date information that will make their stay so much easier.
Provide transport information
Not everyone will want to hire a car while on holiday, but it’s good to provide information on all the different options available locally.
And for those without a car but wanting to get out and about to explore the local area, provide all public transportation options, including timetables, pricing, etc, for that time of year.
Finally ensure your booking calendar is fully updated
This should be done at all times. There’s nothing worse than someone wanting to book a couple of weeks, only to find your holiday let isn’t available after all. It will send them elsewhere and they’re unlikely to return. Always maintain it to ensure the correct weeks are booked out and the available ones are apparent.
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