In SafariOffice , you can include alternative accommodations in your itineraries. This means that, in addition to the main accommodation, you can also add other options. When adding alternatives, you have two options to choose from. We recommend selecting one and don’t mix them when creating a quote or tour template.
Single Alternatives:
These are standalone alternatives. When added, you can optionally include a price for the stay. Each accommodation can have its own separate price level and options. This provides clients with various choices, offering flexibility to include alternative accommodations on specific days. You can choose to add alternatives on some days and not others, catering to client preferences or questions they might have.
Packages:
Accommodations can also be added as part of a package. These packages have a total price for all accommodations within the tour. This is convenient if you wish to offer clients options such as budget, mid-range, or luxury packages in a single tour. It is also an effective way to upsell the entire tour, increasing booking value. Clients can easily choose from predefined packages. You can add custom package names for a personalized touch (the Gold upgrade or the Ultimate Africa package for example).
Summary and quick links:
Adding Alternative Accommodations:
- In the Day by Day Program (step 1 in the builder), click the 'More Options', link with to the current accommodation for that day.
- A window will open.
- Below the settings for the main accommodation, you will also see the tabs at the bottom Single Alternatives (first tab) or Packages (second tab).
Choose either the Single Alternative or Packages tab to start adding alternative accommodations accordingly.
For Single Alternatives:
- Click + Add alternative accommodation.
- Search for a new option using the accommodation search field.
- By default, this accommodation mirrors the room settings and meal plan of the existing one. Optionally adjust these settings as needed, including luxury class.
- Add as many alternatives as desired, keeping in mind that too many choices might overwhelm clients.
For Packages:
- Click + Add alternative accommodation.
- First select the package the new accommodation will be part of, either by using default classes or by just typing in a custom package name.
- Choose an accommodation, and optionally modify room settings and meal plans if necessary
- Add as many packages as you like, keeping in mind that most tours with package options have two or three extra choices to keep it clear for clients.
SafariOffice will remember if you used Single or Package Alternative last, on opening 'more options' again for another day in the same quote it will go to the last visited tab automatically.
Pricing
Added Alternatives appear in the Pricing section (Step 2). These costs are shown on top of the main tour price. Setting a price is optional, you can leave this empty as well.
- For Single Alternatives, set an additional price per accommodation.
- Choose what the unit type is (per night / per person or per room).
- Choose to display prices 'from' . This can be of use when you are not sure about the exact price for an accommodation yet because you have no exact dates or travel group size.
- For Packages, provide one total additional price for the entire package.
- You can choose to hide certain accommodation alternatives in the quote by checking 'hide in quote' if for any reason you don't want to offer a specific client a certain option. It simply will not show in the quote.
A summary of accommodation alternative options for different days appears on the PDF pricing page straight after the main price and before activity and other options.
Clients can specify preferred options in the Booking Confirmation Form and this will show in the email sent to you up on confirmation.
Previewing & Editing
Alternative Accommodations have a dedicated chapter in the quote and you can change where they appear in the 'Document Settings'. Packages each have their own section within that chapter too. When available, clients can view the number of alternatives on the day pages and will be referred to the PDF section or digital version for more information about the alternative accommodations offered (images, video, prices, rooms etc.).
Edit content:
- Go to the 'Alternative Accommodations' chapter in the Preview & Edit (Step 3.)
- Click 'Edit Alternative Accommodations,' or ' Edit Package Name' and the Edit Pane will open.
- Title (Default 'Accommodation Alternatives' or the selected 'Package Name')
- Intro (Give the client some information about either the selection of single alternatives or tell more about the package)
- If you have a package you can also select the main image for the package, selected from one of the accommodations in your package. You can choose a different one or upload your own.
- Per accommodation, you have the option to select (or upload) one image for the PDF and multiple for the digital version.
> Select which one you want to show in the PDF with the radio button as shown below. - Per accommodation, you have the option to select or add videos as well for the digital version.
💡 TIPS:
- You can also use this to show a different room setting for the same accommodation.
If, for example, travelers don't know if they want to share a room yet or if you want to upsell to a more luxury room at the same lodge or camp. Simply select the same accommodation and only change the room setting.
- You can also use alternatives without adding a price. This might be useful if you just want to show more options in case at the time of booking the primary accommodation has no availability.
- You can hover the text in the accommodations column [x]alternatives to see which ones you have already added in the day-by-day builder.
- While you could mix Single and Package Alternatives, we recommend choosing one for clarity. Too many choices might confuse travelers.
- It is even possible to add more than one accommodation to a package on the same day.
Still giving your clients options to choose from within a package as well.
- On https://app.safarioffice.com/accommodations, you can configure how luxury classes appear in quotes and tour templates by default. Set preferences for showing or hiding luxury classes based on your needs.