Online Booking
Online Booking via Padstowlive
Online Booking is now available on our website. Below is the details of how it will work (this is when the indicative box becomes much more important!). If you would like to sign up for it please email Sian and she will change your booking calendar over to an online booking calendar.
N.B. As it is very easy to switch over you may "dip in and out" of online booking as it suits you e.g. you could set online booking for when you are away or just during the winter months etc.
There are two types of online bookings available to you. As you can see from the information below, you chose if you want to sell online, and if you want to sell them instantly, or require an email booking request which you either accept or decline.
NOTE: Most online bookings take place between 9pm and 7am - a prospective visitor would not telephone you to make a booking during these hours and so offering online bookings can be of huge financial value.
GUARANTEED AVAILABILITY - Visitor makes a confirmed booking
This is when you keep the Extranet updated with your availability and prices, and want some or all of your rooms to be available to book instantly online.
Note: You can sell some units as guaranteed availability, others as indicative availability. Simply select “Indicative” for the room/unit for each day you want to sell online but receive an email booking request which you either accept or decline, or deselect "Indicative" for the units want to sell with guaranteed online booking.
When a website visitor selects a room/unit that is bookable online for the day/s they require, they will pay a 10% deposit (TIC commission) via credit or debit card on the secure Padstowlive website, and you will receive an email giving all the necessary information about the guest and their stay. If your own terms and conditions require an additional deposit, you can contact them for additional payment or card details.
The availability of the room/unit that has been booked will automatically change to unavailable to prevent double bookings from our website and from the TIC booking service.
CHECK AVAILABILITY - Visitor makes a booking request
This is when you keep the Extranet updated with your availability and prices, but do not want a confirmed booking to be made without prior notice.
- To do this you must ensure that the rooms/units you want to sell online are marked as “Indicative”.
When a website visitor selects a room/unit, they will complete a booking request form on the Padstowlive website, and you will receive an email notification giving you all the necessary information about the stay. You then decide if you want to accept or decline the booking. If you accept (within 24 hours - but the sooner the better), the visitor has 24 hours to complete the booking form and pay a 10% deposit (TIC commission) - approx. 80% of people making these bookings continue to pay and make the booking.
You will then receive all the necessary information about the guest and their stay.
If you decline the booking, the visitor will be told via email and asked to select alternative accommodation.
Are you a member of Visit Cornwall or another Tourist Information Centre?
If so, your record on these other websites will contain a "Click here to book" link, thus allowing you receive online bookings via these other websites. The link will take people to your personal booking page on the Padstowlive website.
“NO” TO ONLINE BOOKINGS
If you do not want to offer any kind of online booking, the website will continue to work as it always has done for you. If you update the Extranet with your prices and availability, visitors will be prompted to contact you direct to make a booking. However, those offering online bookings will be higher than you on the website listings.
EVIIVO USERS
Some properties already sell rooms on the Padstowlive website via a programme called Eviivo. If you have chosen to use Eviivo on the Padstow TIC website, nothing will change.
If you are an Eviivo user, and have selected Padstow TIC as one of your marketing partners, we will automatically add your eviivo account to our site. This means that you no longer need to update your availability on the extranet.
CANCELLATIONS/T&Cs
Guests are informed that if they cancel they may be charged a cancellation fee in accordance with the individual providers terms and conditions.
Should you require a deposit or credit card details please contact the guest directly.
Please note, you can also create a “Book Online” link from your own website that takes a visitor to your page on the Padstowlive website where they can make a booking. Contact your own webmaster, who if necessary can contact Sian directly.
What do you need to do?
Simply let Sian know if you want to offer online bookings or not. She will then answer any questions you may have!
