Two people are choosing a site for a week in August. One has a dog and wants to know whether it can be left in the caravan while they walk to the pub. One has a four year old and wants to know whether there is anywhere safe for her to run around.
Neither of them has looked at the price yet, and neither will if the answer is not on the page.
The checklist
These are the policies that decide bookings.
1. The dog policy, in detail
Whether dogs are allowed, on which pitch types, how many, whether any breeds are excluded, whether they must be on a lead, whether they can be left unattended and whether there is a charge. Dog owners read all of this before anything else.
2. Where dogs can and cannot go
Shower blocks, play areas, the bar, the shop and any dog-free field. Being specific prevents the awkward conversation and the bad review that follows it.
3. Dog facilities
Waste bins, a washing point, a dog walk and whether there are footpaths straight from the site. These turn a site from acceptable to chosen.
4. Whether children are welcome
Some sites are adults only and should say so prominently, because a family arriving to discover it is a serious problem. Sites that welcome families should say that just as clearly.
5. What exists for children
Play area, games room, field space, whether cycling is allowed on site and any age restrictions on facilities. Parents are choosing on this.
6. Quiet hours and noise rules
When they start, how they are enforced and whether groups are accepted. This is what separates the guests who love your site from the ones who booked the wrong one.
7. Fire and barbecue rules
Open fires, fire pits, raised barbecues, disposable barbecues and where they are permitted. Rules differ enormously and campers assume the most permissive version, which is covered in dog, fire and facilities rules campers ask about.
8. Group bookings and single-sex groups
Many sites restrict them, and saying so up front avoids a difficult refusal later.
9. Arrival and departure times
When pitches are available, whether late arrivals are possible and where to wait. Families travelling with children need to plan the day around it.
10. Facilities in plain terms
Showers, whether they are free, washing up, laundry, electric hook up, water points and their distance from pitches. Campers judge sites on this more than on scenery.
11. What is nearby
Shop, pub, beach, footpaths and how far each is. Families without a car at the site, or with tired children, care a great deal.
12. Glamping needs more explanation
Units vary enormously and guests do not know what is included, as covered in glamping enquiries that need more than a price.
13. Answer at booking time
People plan trips in the evening and book in minutes, so the policy question that goes unanswered until Monday is a booking somewhere else. The same immediacy matters for families in hearing test booking questions from worried families and in an AI receptionist for beauty salons.
Getting started
Publish your dog, family, noise and fire policies alongside facilities, then answer them at any hour. SpideyChat for travel and leisure businesses answers from your published pages. Try SpideyChat on your own site, or read about answers on the features page.