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Forest Edge - Nature-lovers' Retreat, Knysna
23/1/2011 Issue 8: News and Gifts for You

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Early Birder or Last-minute Looker?

I previously touched on Seven hints for Affordable Travel; which now need to be tweaked in light of the latest travel trend research:

A Nov 2010 research report shows that 1 in 5 travellers try to book at the last minute (defined as within 5 days of arrival), hoping for a better deal. Another trend is that 10-night bookings are on the increase (as opposed to the previous 7-night standard) as travellers want the best average value given the increasing cost of getting to a holiday destination. And even at Forest Edge we have seen a sharp increase in travellers booking long in advance (also about 1 in 5).

Although the benefits of waiting till the Last-minute may be obvious (establishments dropping prices to offload empty beds or try to replace a last-minute cancellation), there may be more sense in Early Bird bookings:

• Establishments increase their rates annually, so by booking in advance, guests "lock in" at pre-increase rates (e.g. the annual Forest Edge rate increase will take effect in a couple of weeks).
• For people with special needs like parents with young children, or a unique occasion like a honeymoon or anniversary where dates are fixed, the issue of CHOICE carries even more weight. The likelihood of getting a specific cottage in a specific establishment for specific dates, diminishes drastically over time.
• Travellers wanting a longer stay are suited to the Early Bird strategy as busy periods often get booked up in chunks that leave only the crumbs (a few days here and there) for the Last-minute Lookers.
• The savvy traveller will be even quicker to grab their spot at small establishments offering good value at reasonable rates - it stands to reason that they are popular yet limited by the number of cottages available.
• The Last-minute strategy is better suited to low season and midweeks; Last-minute luck often runs out with Long Weekends and Peak holiday periods..

Since almost 40 % of travellers now use either strategy to snap up the best offers, it may be wise to consider whether it will serve you better to be an Early Birder or Last-minute Looker.

For most people the work year is in full force, back-to-school has come and gone and there is no better time than right now to plan ahead by taking a look at the 2011 Long Weekend / School Holiday calendar and make your Early Bird move. And if you have not yet had your break, have a look out our Last-minute offer now.

But making a move, dearest traveller, is the only strategy guaranteed to get you the breaks you deserve.


To help you plan your next holiday / honeymoon, some tools to
Check our availability calendar or book now.  Reply to tell me about your name/e-mail changes or to share your thoughts on this topic.

Wishing you a miracle of a day!
Ronel Pieterse - 082 456 1338
Farm 118, Knysna, Garden Route
http://www.forestedge.co.za/ for Virtual Photo Tours and more


PS - Remember your Giftclub Member Reward

For any new booking of a 3-night+ stay with deposit paid before end Jan 2011, state "gl8" in the "special requests" field of the booking process, in order to receive not only your pre-rate-increase discount, but also, worth R150, for nix:
* bottle of good red wine and some fancy chocolates on arrival,
* and 30kg of complimentary fire wood.