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title: Ways to boost off-season bookings for your staycation rental
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## Ways to boost off-season bookings for your staycation rental

When your busiest time of the year comes to an end, it might be tempting to
think there’s nothing left for you to do with your vacation rentals. You may
believe the demand of going on vacation has gone down and assume that
you won’t receive as many reservations. However, you just need to adapt to
receiving off-season bookings.

Every vacation rental has a different off-season due to location and local
seasonal demand. While a ski cabin in the mountains may recognize the
warm summer months as off-peak, a beach vacation rental is likely to be less
popular in the cooler winter months.

Check out these important tips to boost reservations and those all-important
bonus bookings in the off-season.

**Define your low season**

When does the low season start for your accommodation? When does your
high   season   start?   Do   you   have   a   mid-season?   The   answer   to   these
questions will depend on the location of your property and the guests you
host.

For instance, a vacation rental in Aspen, Colorado, will get most of its
bookings during the winter months. In this case, the low season will start the
moment the snow melts. On the other hand, for a tourist home in Florida, the
situation will be the opposite: the arrival of summer will mark the beginning
of the high season.

Your task as an owner is to know and clearly define the low season dates for
your accommodation, because only then will you be able to implement an
effective strategy for those months.

**Adjust off-season prices**

Airline tickets decline in price during the off season, and so do hotels,
therefore your vacation rental ought to do the same. By adapting to the
current circumstances, your vacation rental will be more appealing when
guests are searching for accommodations.

Make sure to get your pricing level right for off-peak bookings. You don’t
want to cut prices for weekends if you already have plenty of interest, but
expensive rates could deter guests from even browsing.

So how do you set off-season rates? Remember that you don’t have to rely
solely on your own judgment when setting prices; start by looking at the
competition. Check out what your similar listings are offering in your area or
perform a quick Google search to find other vacation rentals nearby. You
could also look at online travel agencies to compare the cost per night of
staying in a nearby hotel for that time of year.

**Lower your minimum nights**

Not only will you need to adjust the rates, but you also need to lower the
minimum night stays during off-season travel. For example, if your vacation
rental has a seven minimum night stay, change it to two or even allow
guests to stay for just one night.

Making your booking terms and conditions more flexible can also boost your
inquiries. Perhaps some travelers would like to go on a weekend getaway? Or
a last-minute trip?

**Offer promotions**

By offering your guests added-value deals such as three nights for the price
of two, or a whole week for the price of four nights, you might find you’re
able to fill much more of your calendar than you originally thought. You can
also include a percentage in a discounted deal such as “30% off”. This way it
will be more appealing for travelers as they know they are getting a better
deal. Moreover, it’s a great way to market your vacation rental.

**Identify potential guests**

Look at your past bookings and define the demographics of guests who
prefer an off-season break. You might find it’s a mix of seniors who want to
escape the crowds of high-season tourists, couples looking for a romantic fall
weekend getaway, or groups of active adults wanting to enjoy outdoor
pursuits without the summer heat (or winter snow!).

Once you know who your off-peak target market is, how can you make your
property appeal to those guests? Think about it: if you have a six-bedroom
family vacation home, couples are unlikely to book it, fearing they are paying
too much for all that unused space. So consider closing off most bedrooms,
then re-advertise your vacation rental as a one- or two-bedroom home at a
cheaper rate.

**Give reasons for guests to stay at your property**

Give guests a reason to go on vacation, and more importantly, to stay in
your vacation rental home. Include activities travelers can do nearby, such
as hiking, mountain biking, or fun activities such as pumpkin picking –
suitable for all ages! If you are situated in a city or an area where there
aren’t as many things to do, offer your guests great restaurants, bars,
cinemas, bowling alleys, etc.


**Activate instant bookings**

Bookings for accommodations during the low season tend to happen at short
notice, usually because travelers find flights at an irresistible price and
decide to buy them on the spot. In fact, during this time, many vacation
rentals see a significant increase in last-minute bookings.

If you want to take advantage of this trend, it is essential that you are willing
to accept instant bookings. The tight time frames of these trips make guests
value speed more than usual: if they see that they will have to wait for you
to approve their request to stay in your accommodation, they are more likely
to choose another.


**Start planning for the next season**

Preparation is key when it comes to managing your vacation rental’s peak
season. Any task you can complete in advance will minimize the inevitable
workload you will have to manage when the time arrives. Low season is the
ideal time to prepare for the arrival of the next high season.

If your vacation rental has a high demand in the winter, such as a cabin or
ski chalet in the mountains, it is very likely that you will start receiving
bookings in the fall: take this into account when preparing and promoting
your accommodation.



