Category / Travel

Well, here we are into another year, and we are still left wondering what 2022 will bring!

We know how it has begun for us – extremely busy!

Who? Our guests have all been interstate, appearing after the borders were opened to Qld.

Why? We think people are more than ready to start travelling again – to reunite with family and friends, to participate in sporting events and to explore and enjoy a new destination together.

How long? Guests appear to be wanting to stay longer once they are at their destination. They have waited for some time to come, and are deciding to choose a safe destination and stay there for a longer break.

What type of stay? Guests are choosing a self-contained break, probably because they can work around their own times and costs are kept to a minimum.

Where to go? Guests appear to be seeing Brisbane more as a destination to explore now, and are using this accommodation as a base during a longer stay. They are making the most of local eateries and tourist spots and learning more about what Brisbane and the Redlands have to offer.

What we think has encouraged guests to stay with us is that they have the ability to cancel or reschedule free of charge if the need arises for the trip to be cancelled. We take the view that people are more likely to take a chance and book if there is not the fear that they will lose their money if cancellation becomes a necessity. Also the thought of being “stuck” somewhere in the case of border closure understandably suddenly adds an extra cost to a planned break.

We have heard of guests being required to pay the full amount up to a month before, and if they have needed to cancel closer to the time, they do not get their money back. We feel this is a business model we don’t aspire to – for us, we want guests to book in the knowledge that they can change plans if necessary, and with the ever-evolving Covid situation this is a constant possibility. If we need to live with the situation, then we need to adapt to the situation and make it as fair as possible for everyone.

Here’s to a brighter, more positive 2022!

With Covid a constant threat to any travel plans we may be trying to organise, it’s difficult to gain the confidence to say “Let’s just do it!” Because travel plans can change at a moment’s notice, flexibility certainly becomes a feature of our thinking.

We have had several bookings cancelled and have found people have been relieved when we haven’t charged a cancellation fee. The good thing is people have let us know before the due date for their arrival, so that we have known in advance. This helps us because we are then not rushing around doing last minute checks etc to make sure everything is in order, and it helps us better plan our own time.

We want potential guests to be able to book with confidence, knowing that if the Covid situation rears its head and a stay becomes unlikely, that they have not thrown money away by taking a risk to travel.

Until further notice, we are not charging a cancellation fee and want you to know that you are welcome to give us a call or email us, and chat to us about your concerns. Communication and honesty are central to our thinking.

So…..why don’t you!