Independent Travellers

Thanks to websites like Direct Villas Florida, it is  becoming increasingly popular for holiday makers to book their own  transport and Florida villa on the web. The savings made by doing this can then be available for spending money theeby reducing the overall cost of you families Florida vacation to a minimum., whilst ensuring that you get exactly what you want, and not what a travel operator gives you.

Paying for your Holiday

There are advantages in paying for your Holiday to Florida by credit card.  For example if there is a breach of contract or misrepresentation of any elements of your purchase and the cost is £100 or more, you may have a claim against the credit card company and the seller.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Section 75) provides you with a valuable legal right when you buy goods or services on a credit card. If you buy something costing between £100 and £30,000 on a credit card (but not a debit card), you can claim against your card issuer if something goes wrong. What’s more, even if you’ve only paid a deposit of, say, £1 on your credit card, you can claim a refund of the entire cost of the goods.

So, if goods are damaged, faulty or don’t turn up, or the supplier goes bust, your card issuer wears the supplier’s shoes and must make good your loss (under what’s known as a debtor-creditor-supplier arrangement or connected lender liability). This explains why I always use my credit card to pay for expensive purchases (plus I get cashback as I spend, too).

Alas, in November 2004, three credit-card issuers — American Express, Lloyds TSB and Tesco Personal Finance (a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland) — went to the High Court to argue that Section 75 does not apply to transactions outside of the UK, contrary to what the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) believed.

The OFT lost its case, so it appealed to the higher Court. Happily, the OFT won in the Court of Appeal, with the Judges overturning the High Court ruling by confirming that Section 75 does indeed cover overseas purchases. This is great news for cardholders, because we Brits spend about £10 billion abroad each year on credit cards, plus we are increasingly using credit cards to purchase goods from foreign websites.

Hence, all credit-card issuers must compensate customers for foreign transactions which go wrong, so if you’ve had a foreign Section 75 claim turned down, ask your card issuer to review your case without delay. However, the game isn’t over yet, as Lloyds TSB is considering an appeal to the House of Lords, so there may be one final chapter to this story!

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There’s no question that booking your own rental accommodation offers you ultimate flexibility, freedom and space on your Florida vacation. Whether you choose an apartment or condo with ocean views of the Gulf, a townhome in Orlando with great resort facilities or a detached villa complete with its’ own private pool – you’re sure to find your ideal holiday home on www.directvillasflorida.com. Read More »

Your annual listing package with Direct Villas Florida includes a link to your personal property website in return for a reciprocal link back to your own listing page with them. A personal website is a great additional tool to help advertise your property that can boost the success of your vacation rental business. Sean Preston of Vabooki has compiled a list of the top five things to include on your Florida villa website . . . . Read More »

Here at Direct Villas Florida we appreciate that time is of the essence for Florida villa owners and managers alike, and in line with this we provide  our customers with a simple and efficient way in which to respond to those all important enquiries. The following is a simple guide on how to use our response system. Read More »

Get the most out of your listing on Direct Villas Florida. Reply quickly and professionally to your enquiries with our easy to use response system. Read More »

To plan or not to plan?  That is the BIG question! Read More »

It never ceases to amaze me how often vacation rental owners under-utilise their own expertise. Would you leave your killer photograph for last in the slideshow? Omit your to-die-for heated pool from your listing site description?

I thought not.

So why would you hide arguably your next biggest asset – your vault of insider knowledge – from your potential guests?

“Okay” you say, “so what? It’s not like knowing the best dish at the local seafood joint is going to generate any more bookings for me.”

Well, allow me to convince you otherwise…

1. Differentiate Yourself from the Masses

I see this all the time.

If you have a few minutes, head over to any major listing site and click on a few properties.  Likely you’ll find decent photos, informative copy, a list of amenities, and a price. I doubt you’ll find any golden insider nuggets that aim to create a richer vacation experience for potential guests.

In other words, one listing often creates little difference from the next listing.

On the other hand, imagine I read this on a listing site description:

“If you want to sample the real Florida, we have an absolute gem for you to try about an hour away. It’s a restaurant way down twisting and turning back roads, through miles of natural Florida countryside, literally in the middle of nowhere.”

I haven’t made this up – check out this insider guide to Central Florida. If I’m a guest in the market for Mickey, but with a little of the “real” Florida thrown in, I’m hooked. You’re differentiated!

2. Build Credibility with Your Guests

Imagine the potential guest is about to drop a 4-figure sum on a weeks stay in your rental. You’re not The Hilton. You’re not The W. You’re a stranger. Beyond reviews, you have limited credibility.

Taking the time to showcase your knowledge, in the form of an insider guide, demonstrates to guests that you’re a real, live, expert owner. Consider what one of our insiders, Irene Hoffman, said about her insider guide:

“The most important aspect of the guide is that, when I share it with my potential guests that are perhaps on the fence about whether to book with me, the guide provides immediate credibility! Having an asset like that to help improve my conversion is priceless!”

Prove that while you don’t have front desk concierges or staff to direct them to the best activities and restaurants, you offer something better: concierge recommendations and the expertise of a local, shared out of love for the place and investment in your guests’ good experience.

3. Convey a Sense of the Real Culture

Culture isn’t exclusive to destinations like Paris or Tuscany.

Granted, being steeped in history helps, but I’d suggest any city or area has its own unique culture. It’s not always obvious; sometimes it’s hidden. It takes a real insider to know the pulse and vibe of a place—something that goes beyond the tourist books.

Have a look at this insider guide to Orlando and Central Florida. How many potential guests out there know that Central Florida has a vibe of its own, beyond Disney?

Disney is great, of course it is, but think how many more potential guests you could appeal to by showcasing the real culture of a destination.

4. Tap the Emotion of a Guest

An insider guide isn’t all about secrets. It’s very often another means to showcasing what a stay with you would be like. It’s a marketing tool.

Visually powerful, high-resolution photos, with a page swirl, glossy magazine style effect, can instantly evoke a strong emotional connection. It feels smooth and effortless.

We all know that holiday feeling. After setting a budget, it’s not the brain that decides which vacation rental to choose, but the heart and soul! For me there’s no better example than this guide to Anna Maria Island.

I’m on that plane tomorrow!

5. Prove That You Want to Help

In addition to establishing your credibility as an expert in your destination (even if you feel like you’re not an expert—trust me, you are!), an insider guide also shows that you care a lot about whether your guests enjoy their experience.

Some owners say anything to get a guest to book, then don’t deliver, or fall off the map entirely when a problem arises. An insider guide shows you are not one of those people.

It will usher a guest into a vacation more authentic, in-depth, and personal than anything a travel agent could provide—and it’s free for them!

This generosity shows guests that you’re not just after their wallets; you want them to leave with wonderful, warm memories of money and time well-spent.

All that remains is for you to find the key to your insider knowledge vault, open it up, dust the gems off, and give them pride of place alongside your wow shots and carefully crafted copy.

Allow them to inspire and seduce your guests into booking with you!

Andy McNulty is the Co-Founder of Guest Hook (www.guesthook.com), the webs first vacation rental copywriting agency. Amongst other copywriting services, Guest Hook also designs and produces the insider guides found at Vacation Insiders (www.vacationinsiders.com).

Ready to commission a new insider guide to your vacation homes? Remember to add the link to your listing on Direct Villas Florida. Call +44 (0)333 2400 797 to find out how.

NOT YET REGISTERED?

Advertise your Florida Vacation Home on www.directvillasflorida.com from only £120 per year.

Contact info@directvillasuk.com or call Sarah or Tracy on +44 (0)333 2400 797 for more information.

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In Top 10 tips for Taking Stunning Photos of Your Vacation Rental (Part 1), Orlando photographer, Trevor Ward, provided some great tips used by professional photographers to capture beautiful images. What’s great about those tips is that they won’t cost you any money – just a little time and effort. Here in Part 2 – Trevor has a few more suggestions where a small investment could really pay off . . . .

Read More »

Would you risk booking your family in a ‘beautiful resort villa’ in another country if you didn’t first see the pictures of the resort? Of course not. Pictures matter. They matter a lot! So if you’re going to use pictures in your own listing, make sure they are good. Read More »

A first time trip to Orlando can be a total mine field for anyone who has no experience. There are many schools of thought on how to tackle your trip, especially if it is likely to be a once in a life time holiday. Whether you plan every minute or chose to take things as they come, here are Ten Top Tips from a Disney veteran, The Disney Mum, Janine that are sure to help. Read More »