Don’t dial a phone number to book your upcoming on-water adventure. With the functionality and security of booking software, utilize the resource to your advantage. Booking online is made simple and can be done from a phone, computer, or tablet. Take it from me. I have booked plenty of offshore adventures from my phone and not only found it to be simple but also safe. Here is why you should use booking software for your next trip.
What Types Of Boat Trips Can I Book With Booking Software
The opportunities are endless regarding the type of trips that can be reserved with booking software, particularly within the marine industry.
Here is a breakdown of companies who use booking software to simplify the process of securing a reservation online. First are fishing charters. Fishing captains are busy finding fish; therefore, they use booking software to avoid the need to answer phones. Secondly, tour operators. Tour operators include airboat rides, dolphin excursions, whale watching, island hopping, and more. Lastly, dive boat operations. Book your next diving excursion online rather than making a phone call.
What Are The Benefits Of Booking Online With Booking Software
It can be challenging to understand the benefits of booking online versus making a phone call. Here are the advantages of booking your next marine adventures online with booking software.
Understand Exactly What Is Included In The Trip
Let’s face it the person answering the phone call is most often the operator. As a result, trip details will likely be left out when attempting to describe what’s included, the duration, cancelation policies, and more.
Online booking eliminates missing vital information. The trip details are clear; therefore, you are unlikely to make a mistake when selecting the trip. Believe me, tour and charter operators offer more than one trip option to select from.
Here are the details included within an online trip listing. A few paragraphs on what you will do on the trip such as how far from shore you will travel, what you may catch if fishing, or what you might see.
Determining the departures times is critical. Often two to three departure times are available per day for four hour trips. Determine what departure time is best for you and your party.
Additionally, it is essential to know what is included. Does the dive boat provide gear? Does the fishing charter include a fishing license? Should you bring your own food and drinks?
Lastly, how does payment and cancelation work? The details will clearly define the payment schedule and cancelation policy.
Secure Payment Processing
I have had my personal credit card information stolen. The hassle of being issued a new card and updating routine payments is time consuming and troublesome.
With today’s fraud monitoring and encryption payments are more secure when made online versus over the phone or in person.
Rather than providing personal credit card information by phone or in person, book securely online. Additionally, no need to reenter payment details in the situation where a deposit and final payment are made separately. Instead, the tour or charter operation simply hits a button within the software to run the credit card on file. Importantly, the business is incapable of seeing the complete credit card number, code, and expiration date.
Take it from me I have never had an issue making an online payment when booking a fishing charter or other type of boat tour. In comparison, I have had plenty of issues when paying in person and no its not specific to the marine industry but rather in general.
Review the Calendar Of Availability
Avoid wasting time while the business or operator pages through the hand written calendar. Online calendars within booking software allows you to pick open dates and the departure times you prefer.
Double bookings happen all to often when business fail to use booking software. Don’t worry, when a trip has been booked on a specific date, the software blocks additional trips from being booked on the same date at the same time. It would be a dipressing situation to show up at the dock only to be turned away. This is especially true when on vacation and time is limited. You will be unklikely to squeeze another day in as substitue before heading back home.
We as customers often forget that marine based businesses also have lives outside of work. Additionally, boats do require routine maintenance to avoid breaking down while you’re out on the water. Fortunately softwares have a date blocking feature. Don’t worry the calendar will display as unavailable so you won’t be capable of booking when the boat is not in service. However, unexpected maintenance or health issues do arrise so there is always a possisibility that your trip can be canceled at a moments notice.
What Booking Softwares Are You Most Likely To See
Charters and tour operates rely heavily on word of mouth when it comes to utilizing resources to help streamline a business. Therefore, businesses flock primarily to the following softwares to simplify the booking process for you as the customer.
Fareharbor is by far the leader. The company was built on the marine industry therefore it is widely used by both fishing charter captains and tour operators. In fact, Fareharbor offers the lowest credit card processing fees because of the volume of bookings processed.
Secondly, Peek is not far behind. While Peek is not marine industry specific it is highly functional when it comes to booking boat trips. I know many captains who utilize Peek and they all attest to the fact that their customers are satisfied with the online booking process.
Lastly, a more recent marine industry specific booking software is HookM. HookM offers a highly secure payment processing platform and streamlines the checkout process. In combination with the simplicity you will receive automated trip reminders to keep you up to speed.
Don’t be surprised if your trip is processed through any of these booking software.
Avoid Dialing Book Online With Booking Software
Utilize the most secure online payment gateways by booking online rather than verbally or physically providing your credit card information verbally. Trust me, I have been online plenty of times and never faced an issue. Use your phone, computer, or tablet to get you on the water for your next adventure.
