when do people start booking their 2010/11 holiday?

[mulranno]

We are just in the process of buying a ski chalet which needs s bit of renovation we had hoped to rent it out for the 2010/11 season. But the building work will not start until Aug and finish in Oct...so we will not have pictures of the finished product until then is this too late to start marketing it? Will everyone have booked up? The idea is that it is luxury self catering, ...but with access to a menu of services (ie breakfast and chef prepared meals delivered as required, shopping done, transfers etc) from a stunning highly regarded Catered Chalet across the road. Where should I advertise? -- will have 4 beds 3 bathrooms - detatched - terraces with stunning views -

For peak weeks many people will have already booked, rebooking after one holiday for the following year or even further ahead is not unknown. Depending where it is the flights for high season may be more tricky to come by by then too. Is it easily accessible by car or snow train ? Interhome is one pan-European agent but you may need to check deadlines for their brochures/online.

We have already booked our holiday for next year (for March - taking DD out of school) but I think you will still be fine to market after th property is ready (or at least 2 or 3 of the main rooms are so that you can have some photos).

Have a look on SnowHeads - there are a number of owners on there who should be able to advise re marketing.

Bookings are coming later that the traditional pattern (far higher % are Nov on than you would have seen 3 yrs ago) so go for it and put up good quality internal pics the second you have them.

Owners Direct is a good place to advertise and if it is genuinely child friendly try Baby Friendly Boltholes - you'll pay a commision on the second one but will get good quality leads.

... and if you ever want whole season rentals it sounds like a spec that Tour Operators could be interested in.

Many places that are not yet complete use CGI (having written this realise it's highly impractical, sorry) or 'style' shots to convey an image of the place. If it were me I'd get the place advertised and out there with the best shots you can and focus on what you can show/explain - the service offering, standards, locale, etc - rather than what you can't (pictures of the interior).

Incidentally - to repeat what others have said here - we just booked for New Year to make sure we got what we wanted, with SkiFamille

i think for the busy weeks you'll get people trying to book right up to the dates, but the other weeks might be a bit slower. i agree with skifallover - start advertising - people will at the least be aware of you, and can come back to you, if you start now. turn it into some webblog thing - that might get people interested, and keep them watching.

They have started already. If your looking at going in the busy weeks you need to get bookings. Should you be looking at going at quieter times then there is less of a hurry!

Sorry miss read the question......Its never to late to start advertising!!!

we booked in March, as soon as we came back from this year's holidays.

Hi

Just wondered how this was going, and if you have managed to take any bookings?

I speak to lots of families looking for ski accommodation through my job so if you'd like me to add your place to our list of accommodation let me know.

Today! Normally book earlier as we have to be specific about weeks and I am fussy about ski-in ski-out, undeground parking etc...

Hi Alpinechildcare...yes all going well just have the keys now - builders starting in early Oct. We plan to be there ourselves over Christmas and keen to get it rented from then on -- what is th best way to get in touch with you..via you website?