A recent radio programme on self-catering accommodation received hundreds of calls from people who have been misled and whose holidays have been ruined by so-called online service providers.
According to Glenn van Heerden, CEO of Holiday Homes Africa, the self-catering field abounds with people all trying to make a quick buck by climbing aboard the fastest growing vacation trend world-wide.
“Self-catering holidays are not to be confused with time share,” says van Heerden. “Most of our properties – be they apartments, cottages, houses, or game lodges – are almost all privately owned. We have a network of preferred agents around the country for local properties who manage each property personally. They are responsible to the maintenance of the home, cleaning it, changing the linen after every occupancy, and are on hand to help the customer throughout their stay.”
All Holiday Homes Africa properties have been personally validated so that what you see online is what you get when you arrive. Each property is checked from the toilet rolls, to the crockery, to the structure and fittings and is fully prepared for the next family checking in.
“Also, our agents meet the customer either at the property or the agent’s offices, let them into the home and show them where everything is,” says van Heerden. “In fact, should the customer want the home to have a supply of essentials such as bread, milk, tea, etc., for their arrival, the agent will do this as well. And should anything be needed during the family’s stay, the agent is on hand at all times. With their local knowledge of restaurants, shopping, things to do, even baby sitters, our agents are an invaluable part of our team that ensures the customers get the best possible home from home holiday experience. We find out customers return to us time and again and indeed, especially with international destinations, want the same property year after year.”
Holiday Homes prides itself on the service levels it gives both it’s customers and the property owners. “Owners who let out their properties have peace of mind that the agent is on hand to manage things on site, and that we would take immediate action should there be any complaints from any aspect. We want everyone to benefit from our service.”
Van Heerden sees self-catering holidays being the fastest-growing form of holiday making both internationally and in the Southern African region.
“Travel agents are being asked to deliver better value for money that business hotels to the family looking for a memorable holiday,” he says. “Very often hotels and resorts are booked out long before any significant event or holiday period, but we can offer more cost effective, self-catering accommodation that will suit most types of families, be it for two to 12 people. The cost per person per night is often a surprise at its affordability, especially when one is looking at up market destinations such as Plettenberg Bay, Mauritius, the Cape or KZN. In-country options include game lodges and cottages, from rustic to luxury, from low to high season. Obviously, the earlier the booking the better the choice to avoid disappointment.”
The Holiday Homes Africa portal – www.holidayhomesafrica.com – offers a selection of their 1500 local properties, and is the window to thousands of international self-catering options. The call centre will assist with any queries and requirements and is available at +27 11 573 4455.
The last word is Van Heerden’s; “Make sure you know who you are booking through. Many of the websites that offer booking services have no infrastructure or staff. The properties they carry are merely listings submitted by anyone that pays the listing fee. There’s no checking or vetting of any the properties and these website operators are not leisure market specialists – they are instead, web developers. Your holiday is too precious to you to leave anything to risky, unknown operators who don’t provide you with any guarantees or services. ”