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B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners
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 29/03/2008, 10:49
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Russethouse
 
Joined on 23/08/2004
Forum Moderator
Posts 10,081
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My sister uses them a lot - twice a year she books for 6 people - long weekend. Last venue was the Waterside at Bray so they don't go exactly go downmarket.
www.quimperclub.org
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29/03/2008, 11:20
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jon
Joined on 29/12/2007
Gironde
Posts 328
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A few things.
Yes flights in summer ...peak time exspensive...but a lot of people will make a real thing about their holiday.Start maybe in Calais and then drive down...stopping a few times.....If they come my way they can make their way to Spain. If they go via Burgandy and then down towards Cote d azur they can visit Italy.
However does not always have to be visitors with children in school term time...therefore flying can be achieved fairly cheaply.Most ppeople take several small holidays each year.
There are very few guide books where entry is free....that is for hotels etc...they all seem to charge...to survive.
However Alistar Sawday inspects before they take you...and they refuse many people....they are fussy...so it seems.
From a website how can you be sure anyway......you look and see.....get a price and a promise of something special.How often is the picture spot on?
You reminded about the Good Hotel Guide[not attached to the GFG] and they charge nothing for entry as far as I know.
Any of you aware of Mr and Mrs Smith?Hip Hotels?
May I add that we never paid or were asked to pay for entry to The Good Food Guide, Egon Ronay Guide, Micheline, Square Meal, AA restaurant guide ,Hardens or any others...we never paid for a journalistic visit....newspaper or magazine review or accompanying photographer whilst we had our restaurants.With a B and B you need to get on the map.
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29/03/2008, 11:54
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Cerise
Joined on 23/08/2004
Laguepie Tarn & Garonne
Posts 780
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Alistair Sawday inspects and you pay to be in it - and those I know who are in it don't know of anyone refused. It really depends on your market as I said before. We are in a village - in a village house. We are not a chateau or a grand place where people stay for weeks at a time. Most of of our non-european guests are Australian (don't know why) and a few Americans. We are not targeting families staying for one or two weeks, but all year round trade of those touring, those on their way to Spain, Italy etc. plus lots of French people who are visiting families, here for weddings, funerals, meetings and clubs etc.
Some people only want to be full during the summer season, others want all year round trade. Some are doing this for a living, others for a bit of extra pin money. It is no good asking others to recommend advertising unless they have the same kind of place and aspirations as you. If I had a beachside B & B I'd advertise in completely different places than the ones I do now. I'd also charge different prices. We get quite a few bookings from a small ad in a specialist classic car magazine - but those people only come here because they know they are coming to spend a few days with another loony interested in engine bays (sorry darling![Smile [:)]](/cs/images/emotions/smile.gif) ) - a bit pointless a person whose hobby is painting watercolours advertising there.
Type into google what you think your hoped for customers will type. See what sites come up, most of the books have websites too. Do your sums and work out how many bookings you need to cover the ad and make a profit. Try it and if it doesn't work change it next year.
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29/03/2008, 11:57
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Quillan
Joined on 23/08/2004
Forum Moderator
Posts 3,866
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Sorry my point about flights is that this year they are cheap during the peak period which is unusual. This seems to indicate that there is a lot of 'spare capacity' i.e. people are not booking so many flights this year compared to other years.
We too are on the non auto route down to Spain (we are about half way between the northern ports and the more popular places in Spain) and get a lot of stopovers. There is a website that specialises in such bookings and produces good results for us.
In the UK it is increasingly difficult to remove children form school during term time from what I have read in newspapers and seen on TV.
Are you trying to say you are in AS's guide and it's very good? We were invited to join after a few guests recommended us but we declined because we thought it was very expensive and did not like the attitude of the person arranging the inspection particularly when they TOLD us what the inspector was going going to pay for a nights stay including an evening meal. I replied by telling them how much I would pay to be in their guide which they didn't like. That was a couple of years ago so things may have changed. If you search through the forum you will find some have had great success with AS and others have not, why I don't know.
For the guides you mentioned was this for your B&B or when you had a restaurant?
I ask this (not in a glib way) because, like others, I am always interested in improving the number of 'bums' in my beds and I love the sound my till makes ![Wink [;-)]](/cs/images/emotions/wink.gif) .
http://www.chambresdhote.com
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29/03/2008, 12:46
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Cat
Joined on 21/01/2005
------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot
Posts 3,435
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I have to say I'm a real fan of Trip Advisor as well. I always use it now when researching holiday accommodation, and so far have been very happy with the results. I like small, family run hotels, and those that I found in Collioure, Paris and Biarritz by using their site were fantastic, and so much cheaper and lovelier (to me) than any of the grander 4 or 5 star places in the same areas, and with the best locations.
I like the fact that I don't have to rely on the opinion of just one reviewer (who may not share the same tastes as me, and may just perhaps have a vested interest in painting a rosy picture).
Cathy
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
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29/03/2008, 14:07
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Quillan
Joined on 23/08/2004
Forum Moderator
Posts 3,866
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I love the little gems of information like one hotel we looked at said something like "Absolutely charming but beware of the lovely wooden floors, they add so much character but they squeak which is not so good when people get back late at night and pass your door."
http://www.chambresdhote.com
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France Forum » Owning/Running ... » B&B/Chambres d'... » Re: The guide books
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