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Shikwari Game Reserve
We are suppose to be retired but I couldn't face that so we bought a lodge about 91/2years ago. It was a total lifestyle change after my husband running a factory with his partner and me in the corporate world. Getting away from the traffic and fast pace of the city was great. Little did we know about how busy we would be with a lodge although the quiet time are for ourselves and no one really make a mint in this industry it is just a lifestyle. Waking up and seeing Zebra and Ostrich is a plus!
I can't imagine doing all that myself and then also being sick. I have staff to help. Don't you have housekeepier to do this?? I never clean or wash anything so if I am sick all goes smoothly
White Towel, the saga goes on for all owner in establishment all over the world. Our supplier says that thousands are spent on them almost monthly. I also use vinegar, it is amazing and green. I can't believe what guest will use our towels for. Some of the worst are vomit, hairdye (who dyes their hair on holiday) instant tan, and make up. Most comes out with vinegar or I use borax.
Make sure you have the best photos possible and you must show the bathroom, the bed and bedroom, any special features and the exterior. Also show the amenities that you complete on the list.If you can add some of the amenities from the list that you don't have it would improve you listing. I find that guest appreciate slippers and gowns, fresh ground coffee and French Press and I make homemade cookies and do turndowns with homemade nougat. You can also offer a better commission to B.com they then put you further up on the list for your area.
It has also happened to us but as Booking.com has a NO SHOW option you do this as soon as you know they are not going to arrive. Note it is best to see you have the payment for a no show and that the credit card is not fake. Then if you do get this sort of review you can request that it be taken down. It is often that someone is in the same industry and is jealous of your sucess. A horrible thought but true!
My Ideal Guest is one pays on time with a credit card that doesn't go boing! Arrives with in my checkin time, is not too demanding. Who raves about everything at the lodge and their room, loves my staff our food and my guide for activities and books a load of them. Drinks plenty from our bar and doesn't sneak in their own tipple and cries when they leave. Yes we have had some that have been so sad to leave they have cried!!
Our most difficult guest are many of our fellow South Africans. Nothing seems enough for them. If they in our rustic Rondavel that is not but they don't want to pay for the upgrade. If they are in our 4 star graded suites then they moan about the shower being outside, that we only offer a 3 course set menu dinner, that the road is bad and that there is not electricity as we have just had a storm. I sometimes get the feeling they are looking for a refund or a freebie for their next stay. All is communicated in my email to them in point form and it is also on my website so there is no excuse for complaints. Thankfully it doesn't happen often as we usually only have overseas guest who are a pleasure to host. We quake when we realise we have SA's as do many other establishment here.
We completed a new suite last August. I did all the soft furnishing myself as this is quite an expensive outlay if others do the work; I have time and enjoy it. We went with a Black and White pallet with mustard yellow accents. All our guests have love the room. Each of our rooms are a different colour. Some have more antique furniture which was done by the previous owners but all the colour was us. I can live without coulour. The room must also work so there is place for luggage and hook for clothes in the bathroom. I have been to many place where I had to place my clothes on the toilet or on the floor. Can't understand why establishments do this.
Here in SA we have also been affected by the drought and Cape Town not having water. We had bookings the the FIT's were starting or ending their journey in Cape Town so they were cancelled. Thankfully we receive great rain and all is back to normal. There is also the worry about not having electricity, it's not really a problem especially as we are in the bush anyway and do get power cut from storms We are set up with a small generator and have battery LED lights. Card machines are connected to our cell providers so that is also not a problem but we are still not getting any bookings. Visitors hear about a problem in north Africa and think is effects us.like the Ebola in West Africa. Also the Listeria scare, it was contained immediately and things are back to normal still no guests. Our winter months are known for the best game viewing as the bush is thinner and the weather a bit cooler so having no bookings for the June/July/August period is worrying. I just don't know what to do about this.