Overview

Set in the heart of Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, Deeside Snugs offers a perfect hideaway for both international and domestic visitors seeking a unique escape. The business comprises two cosy cabins, two one-bedroom apartments, and a self-contained 2-bedroom apartment. Owners Billy and Pauline have been busy since launching four years ago, and according to Billy, freetobook has been crucial in keeping their operations running smoothly.

The Challenge: A Costly Double Booking 

When Deeside Snugs first opened, they quickly encountered an issue that made clear the need for a better booking system. “We had a terrible experience when we were not long open. We got a double booking.” Billy explained. Initially, they relied solely on Airbnb and Booking.com without a channel manager to synchronise bookings, which made double bookings almost inevitable. 

Billy realised the risk of continuing without a proper system. “Because we had five properties on the go, I didn’t want to chance another double booking, I could have been liable to get the guest other accommodation and perhaps compensation as well.”  

After a neighbour strongly recommended freetobook, they decided to get started.  

But the need for a booking system wasn’t just about avoiding errors. Billy noticed they were missing out on direct bookings from returning guests.  “I thought, oh goodness, I’m losing maybe 20% here”.  

Since implementing freetobook, Deeside Snugs has seen a shift in guest booking habits. “All these bookings I was getting through Airbnb and Booking.com, I’m getting them direct now. So that more than pays for any fees I have for the system.”

“We’re saving 20%. One booking I had was £500 in fees to Booking.com. If they book directly, it doesn’t cost me anything. So, it’s not long before it’s a saving.” 

A More Efficient Way to Operate

Managing multiple properties comes with its fair share of administrative work, but freetobook has changed how Billy and Pauline handle their bookings. Communicating changing key codes, for example, used to be a tedious task, requiring manual message changes across different platforms. Now, with the Messaging feature, everything is streamlined and automated. “I just do it all in one place, and that saves me so much time and stress.” 

Payments have also become effortless with Stripe integration. “Oh, it’s just it’s wonderful,” Billy enthuses. “I can see when guests have paid and send bills with a click. Most of the time, it’s repeat business, so I just find their details, press a button, and it’s done.” 

Even annual administrative tasks have become hassle-free. Providing booking details for council assessments used to be a painstaking job, but now it’s simple.  “It used to take me ages, and I dreaded it. Now? Two or three minutes and I’ve got the report out of the system and emailed it off. Piece of cake!”

Insights for Smarter Decisions

With freetobook, Billy has gained valuable insights into where his bookings are coming from. 

“I can analyse what’s coming from Airbnb, Booking.com, our website, and even phone calls. I can see exactly how each property is performing and adjust accordingly, like closing off the channels when necessary.” 

Outstanding Customer Support

Beyond the software itself, the support from freetobook has been the icing on the cake. “That’s one thing about you guys – you always pick up… You get through to someone knowledgeable and you’ve got an amazing product that is very affordable.”  

Billy particularly remembers his early conversations with Heather. “She was very knowledgeable about the product, but she also understood it from my perspective because she had run her own B&B. That made all the difference.” 

Every January, he calls the team to see if there are any new features he should be using. “You’re always adding more, and I want to hear if there’s anything else I should be doing.”

Conclusion

For Deeside Snugs, freetobook has been nothing short of transformative. “The software has just made it so simple – it can’t go wrong.” 

When asked if he’d recommend it to others, Billy didn’t hesitate. “I wouldn’t even think twice. I’m so glad we set it up. It’s wonderful.”