3 Reasons Why You Should Book Direct!

1. Keep it old school. 
Do you remember the days when you or your parents would *gasp* DIAL a telephone to make reservations, mail a check weeks in advance, & pick up the key on arrival? Individually-owned lodging was the heart of road trips! Thankfully, booking a mom & pop-owned property directly has gotten easier. Most properties have a secure online payment system, and your credit card most likely provides additional protection. Furthermore, today’s digital entry keypads allow guests private access to the property at your convenience!

​2. Save money! 
Third party Online Travel Agents (OTAs), like Airbnb, have strategically wedged themselves between the owner and guest - while profiting off of each of us! Take a look at the unnecessary fees & commission in a booking transaction - sometimes adding 15% - 20% to the total booking price. It is more cost-efficient for a guest to book direct, while also providing a larger profit margin for a locally-owned business. Furthermore, properties often provide a significant discount to the guest when booking from an owner's website. For example, when direct booking for one night with The Old Riverton Post Guesthouse Loft, guests pay $104. 
That is $84/night + a one-time $20 cleaning fee.
 No other hidden fees. Compare that to booking our property on Airbnb (on the right!) 

3. Communicate effectively about your travel needs!
We all know that open communication builds trusting partnerships. Unfortunately, there are strict rules that an owner must follow when conversing with a potential guest. These conversations are monitored by the third-party apps. By booking direct, the property owner and guest can openly communicate about potential needs and concerns without risking a suspended account. For example, we own an event venue on the same property as our B&B. Due to restrictions from Airbnb on parties, we avoid discussions regarding this extra space with potential guests who may need a larger space for family gatherings or meetings for work. 

Before you plan your next road trip, consider finding a locally-owned vacation property that allows direct booking! As always, The Old Riverton Post Guesthouse Loft can be directly booked here!

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