Minimum Stay and Maximum Stay
This page explains how to set minimum stays.
Minimum stays can be set and overriden at different levels:
- Minimum stays set at the room level (SETTINGS->PROPERTIES->ROOMS-> SETUP) set the lowest allowed value of minimum stay at all times.
- Each RATE can have it's own value of minimum stay.
- Minimum stays can be overridden in the CALENDAR. This minimum stay value cannot be lower than that set for the room.
Contents
1 Change Minimum Stay on individual dates
In the CALENDAR go to the date you want to change the minimum stay for. Click in the field "Min Stay". In the pop up enter the number of nights you want to override your rates with. If the change applies to a range of date also set the end date.
If you normally require a minimum stay but allow shorter stays when you have gaps you can create a special Gap Filler Rate
2 Minimum Stay only on Weekends
By creating two rates you can specify a different minimum stay based on the day of the check-in. This example shows how to make a 2 night minimum for Friday arrivals while a 1 night minimum applies to arrivals on every other day.
Rate 1:
- Minimum stay = 1 night
- Rate Allowed = deselected for the Friday.
Make sure the check-in and check-out tick boxes are enabled on all days otherwise this rate will not be allowed for a booking that arrives or departs on a weekend but also includes weekdays.
Rate 2:
- Minimum stay = 2 nights.
- If the price is the same or higher than the first rate you can leave this rate available on all nights. If the 2 night weekend price is lower and not allowed on weekdays you can deselect the "Rate Allowed" tick boxes for the weekdays.
Again make sure the check-in and check-out tick boxes are selected for all nights so the two rates can be combined for bookings which overlap both.
3 Minimum Stay for a Season or Period
Example 1: The normal minimum stay is 1 night. For July you want a minimum stay of 3 nights.
Solution 1 override in the CALENDAR:
Go to the CALENDAR and go to July 1st. Click in the field "Min Stay" on July 1st. In the pop up enter 3 and set the date range to July 30.
Solution 2 multiple rates:
1. Normal Rate:
- First night: today (or when it starts)
- Last night: June 30
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Strategy: Do not allow lower prices
2. Create a high season rate with these settings:
- First night: July 1
- Last night: July 30
- Minimum stay: 5 nights
- Strategy: Do not allow lower prices
- First night: August 1
- Last night: June 30 (next year)
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Strategy: Do not allow lower prices
Example 2: The normal minimum stay is 2 nights. For check-ins between 27th Dec and 5th Jan you want a minimum stay of 5 nights and the price to be higher for the first 5 nights if checkin is at any given date between these dates.
Solution 1: Create a holiday rate with these settings:
- First night: 27th Dec.
- Last night: 5th Jan (following year)
- Minimum stay: 5 nights
- Strategy: Do not allow lower prices
This solution will enforce the holiday price until the 5th of January but from the 6th onwards it will revert to your normal price.
Solution 2: Break your normal rate so it ends on the 26 of December and start a new one on January 8th
Create your holiday rate with these settings:
- First night: 27th Dec.
- Last night: 7th Jan (following year)
- Minimum stay: 5 nights
- Strategy: Allow lower prices
Create a filler rate for your normal price with these settings: (this rate allows people checking in on the 6th or 7th to pay the normal rate but people checking out on the 6th or 7th do not)
- First night: 6th Jan.
- Last night: 8th Jan
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Strategy: Allow lower prices
- Check-out: not allowed on the weekdays the 6th and the 7th fall on
This solution will force people booking up to the 6th (checkout on the 7th) to pay the holiday price but people checking in on the 6th or later will pay the normal price.
4 Minimum Stay for a certain Check-in day
Example: Minimum stay of 3 nights required for check-ins on Monday.
Normal Rate:
- Minimum stay = 1
- Rate allowed = All days
- Check-in Allowed = All days except Monday
- Check-out Allowed = All days
Manday Rate:
- Minimum stay = 3
- Rate allowed = All days
- Check-in Allowed = Only Monday
- Check-out Allowed = All days