Unable to book an inn on their website

[Anonymous]

I sent a message to a small bed & breakfast saying that I am unable to reserve a room online via their website. On their website, every day for the next 3 years is crossed out which I am 99.9% certain is simply not the case. I get a simple reply back from the inn saying "then we are booked." I wish I could let them know that it is probably a system error on their part, but after that short reply why really bother.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t you call ?

[Anonymous]

Most of the time the typical response would be "what dates are you interested in reserving?"

[Anonymous]

I’d have included the 3 yr information, but whatever. At this point I’d move on to somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they're undergoing a renovation? Maybe the owners are taking time off? Maybe the owners are too covid paranoid? Maybe it truly is rented for 3 yrs (cross listed with vrbo or AirBnB) - especially if it's a popular place near something like a ski resort or the like.

Whatever the reason, move on. Clearly, they're difficult with booking so it doesn't bode well for future transactions

[Anonymous]

Maybe it’s really a shill business.

[Anonymous]

If they are really closed due to renovations, the pandemic, or something else a better reply would have been to let you know that instead of keeping you hanging.

Many small country inns sit vacant for much of the mid-week so I would be truly shocked if they did not have any availability in the coming weeks and months. It could be that they require a 2 night minimum to reserve?

[Anonymous]

If you haven't already, take a look at the online reviews to see if their is a common theme of inadequate customer service. Many innkeepers start off with good intentions but burn out rather fast, especially when money becomes tight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s really a shill business.

Yep.

Is it an inn in the Ozarks by chance?

[Anonymous]

Nope, it's a small b&b in the Shenandoah Valley .