Thinking Ahead… Even When Life Is Chaotic
Every year around this time, we hit the same tricky patch — trying our absolute best to look after our repeat guests before the calendar goes live to the rest of the world. We want our regulars to have first pick. We love giving people the chance to lock in their favourite home, their favourite dates, and keep those yearly traditions going.
But… it’s not always easy.
Life is busy (understatement of the century). Looking into 2026 or 2027 feels ridiculous for most people — I get it! Half the time we don’t even know what we’re doing next month. So when we send out those “just checking in about your dates” emails, it’s not us being pushy — it’s us trying to give you a fair shot before the rest of the world jumps in.
Because once the calendar goes live on all the booking platforms, we lose control. Anyone can book anything at any time. And suddenly we’re caught in the middle trying to protect your regular spot while also being fair to everyone else.
And here’s the question I keep coming back to:
Is it fair to prioritise someone year after year simply because they’ve stayed before?
If you book early one year, should that mean you get first pick forever?
And if we hold too many dates waiting for people to confirm, are we taking away opportunities from new families who might fall in love with the same home?
Honestly… I’m not sure. It’s a tough balance.
What I do know is this:
The earlier you book, the more control you have — over the dates, the home, the price, the whole thing. It’s not about loyalty perks or secret access. It’s simply the reality that planning ahead makes everything easier for everyone.
So maybe the best way we can do this — together — is by being a little more organised, a little more communicative, and a little more realistic about how fast these homes book out.
If you know you’re likely to come back next year or the year after, even if you don’t know the exact details, say the word. Let us pencil something in. Let’s make a plan early rather than scramble late.
We genuinely try our hardest to help, but we can’t hold homes indefinitely. The system doesn’t allow it, and honestly, neither does fairness.
So here’s my promise:
We’ll continue doing everything we can to look after our regulars.
And here’s what we ask in return:
Help us help you — think ahead where you can, communicate with us, and be responsible for securing your own booking before the rush hits.
It’s a team effort.
And together, we can keep making sure everyone gets the holidays they look forward to all year.
Recent Posts
Thinking About Listing Your Home for Holiday Rental? Let’s Talk.
If you’re considering putting your home on the holiday market, first of all — how exciting! We’d absolutely love to chat with you. But before we dive in, I want to be really honest about how short-term holiday letting actually works, because it’s not the same for everyone. Short-term letting works best for owners who want to […]
Father’s Day on the Bellarine – Fun Ways to Spoil Dad in Queenscliff & Point Lonsdale
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a coastal escape to the Bellarine Peninsula? With its stunning beaches, charming villages, and plenty of activities for all ages, Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale offer the perfect setting to make Dad’s day extra special. Whether your dad loves the great […]