Bókun

Vorteile

Prompt information about bookings and amazing supporting team

Nachteile

Not connecting easy my products with Get Your Guide

Vorteile

Customer service is excellent in that they get to the point and solve your problems. They do as you ask and don't argue. So if I ask them to read my screenshot and circle or tell me where to click they do. They don't send me long articles. They can also call you back.

Nachteile

As a small business, I was not able to secure one booking from the PRO PLAN like I do on airbnb and from google ads, in the 3 months I was with them. Within a week on airbnb and google ads I got inquiries, emails and bookings.

Vorteile

Easy integration, covers most tourism categories and meets our demand.

Nachteile

The fact that you cannot create a product in Bokun and export it to other OTAs.

Vorteile

Personalised customer service is impressive

Nachteile

UI/UX of the app could be better. Its a bit overwhelming at first.

Vorteile

It's been good overall. What we use them for is a means to have an attractive booking calendar on our website for our customers to use to book our tours. Their platform allows for integration with some good sites like Expedia and Tripadvisor where we can also sell our tours. Platforms such as Airbnb experiences have to be dealt with manually but the booking desk on bokun.io allows for this pretty easily. It also manages availability of seats on our tours and has some good features such as automated messaging and custom exports for your sales data.

Nachteile

Right at this very moment my biggest gripe is with their Policy towards cancelled bookings through their platform. It's not like we've lost a crippling amount of money but it's that they're not taking a strong supportive stance towards their customers.

How it normally works is if someone books through Bokun, then bokun will charge you 2.9% of the total amount of the sale. They add up all the sales for the month then charge you for it in the next calendar month. If someone books and cancels and your refunds policy allows for them to get their money back Bokun won't charge you. But if they book and then don't cancel till the month following or later then your fee is kept by Bokun. In the whole of 2019 we had this happen a total of 5 times. In March 2020 because of the lockdown on travel we had a total of 30 people cancel who had booked in February or earlier meaning we'd paid bokun fees for their bookings. it amounted to about 2,500 euro of sales refunded and bokun's fee at ~3 percent was something like 75 euro. I've been in contact with their support getting replies like 'Sorry this isn't refundable' to eventually a very vague 'we understand this is a difficult time but we deal with these issues on case by case basis' response. I'm sorry but it's not good enough. We've offered our customers all of their money back, PayPal is waiving their fees, Braintree is waiving their fees, the tax man is waiving their fees. It's about doing the right thing. They're not right now.

Vorteile

The best part of this reservation software is the marketplace that allows you to contract directly with other suppliers and resellers of tours and activities. Live support is also a good feature that most other reservation systems don't have. The help articles are quite extensive as well. Product import from Viator is a great feature.

Nachteile

There are some annoying bugs and features that can leave you clicking around furiously to find a solution for quite some time, eg. the setting up pricing was a mess. The software is being developed constantly and it's possible that these issues have been fixed since, but I got quite frustrated a number of times when setting up the products.
Also, raising the commission from 0.1% to 2.9% without any prior notice was not cool -- I thought the agreement was that we were paying with data to Viator... and now we're paying both ways. The OTA-owned reservation systems are creating data oligopoly situations similar to that of Google which is not the right direction in my opinion.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Checkfront und FareHarbor

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Bókun

The product was free to use for the first 6 months or so, and then it switched to a 0.1% commission, so it was the cheapest product on the market (before they introduced the current 2.9% commission of course).

Vorteile

So many functionalities and features that can cover the demands of tour operators and travel agencies. Pricing is is very fair compared to alternatives. You can even find partnerships within the software. An overall very nice booking software. Ended up using it after a long market research. And can say I'm satisfied.

Nachteile

Since bokun was recently buyed by tripadvisor I believe it hasn't "settled" to what viator wants to provide. Things have been fixed and I believe that there are plenty more that will be included by viator to make this booking software the top one. Many hasitate knowing that this is not a privately heald software but viator being behind it but I personally can't see why this is something that bad? On the contrary this can be something really good making you feel safe being partners with one of the leading companies in the industry.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

PEAK 15 und FareHarbor

Warum Bókun gewählt wurde

Many more features. Bookworms is an overall good appointment booking system but when it comes to travel services bokun rocks!

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Bókun

Features, ease of use, pricing. Overall bokun felt that meets my business needs better than any other alywnr in the market.

Vorteile

When we decided for Bokun it was the mix of an online booking system for accommodation, activities plus the all Bokun Marketplace where you could connect with suppliers and vendors from all over the world and resell their products or have them resell yours.

Nachteile

It was rather complex to get acustomed with the product. Bokun is not a simple "plug & play" solution. You will have to own a good amount of time, dig in, get to know it and then strategically plan what you want to get out of the system and how, before doing it.
A clear con today is that Bokun no longer has a focus on the accommodation section, unfortunately. Because we were on it from the beginning we still have access to the tool, which is sadly our most important tool. But Bokun is no longer putting any effort into developing the accommodaton part.

Vorteile

The customer service! Very quick, very clear, very helpful for all kind of questions and problems.

Nachteile

For example it should be more easy to make bookings for travel agents or clients which are not in the marketplace. It is a bit complicated to first set them all up as affiliates or agents and then make the bookings for them. Imagine, often hotels or booking offices call in to make a booking and I have to be much quicker to put the booking in.
The software is therefore in my opinion too limited to the marketplace.

I usually use the booking desk to put new bookings in but unfortunately it does not safe the commission here. I have to put it in as discount after I finished the booking.

Vorteile

nothing in particular some parts are good others not so good. Nothing on the top of my head I can think of.

Nachteile

The API is often changed without letting us know.
That extras was changed so that each product has its own extra instead of many products can have the same extra. We rent out equipment in about billion tours, imagine if we need to change the picture of lets say the hiking shoes.

Vorteile

Great API connectivity with key partners to ensure that our reservation information is up-to-date and accurate. Easy to add schedules, make modifications and update as necessary.

Nachteile

Still missing important features with incoming bookings that are necessary for our work: notably we receive no information on the language of the activity of the reservation. We also cannot create one-off bookings/reservations of on request services; if we were able to create orders with one-time products/services instead of being restricted to selecting something form the catalogue, Bokun would satisfy all of our reservation needs.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Rezdy

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Bókun

At the time, the size of Bokun corresponded with the size of our company, which was excellent as we were sure they would understand our specific needs and point of view when using the platform.

Vorteile

Simple, streamlined booking widget (for your website) and easy-to-use property management dashboard

Nachteile

Doesn't provide sales spreadsheets with HST information (which I need for tax purposes in Canada)

Vorteile

When Bokun launched, I loved the product. It was affordable, solid and easy to implement into my website. The worst is that they slowly because just another one of the bunch by suddenly increasing their transaction feed. Now they've just become a subscription service and they put you into their PRO plan knowing that few people check all their emails and this way they will charge you when their plans change in November. Now their pricing is no longer affordable and they no longer have any meaningful differentiation from the dozens of similar software out there.

Nachteile

Their sneaky practices, constantly changing their plans and charging you unexpectedly. One cannot trust that this software will not change their plans and policies several times in the span of a couple of years.

Vorteile

Easy to manage bookings, good feature set around it.
Many sales and suppliers in the system, good sales canal.

Nachteile

Management of the products can be complicated and often not working correctly.
Would like to see better management around staff, able to assign bookings on guide or driver guides.
The calendar on our web can be slow some times.

Vorteile

You can do wonderful things with is if you know where to clic and what you are looking for.

Nachteile

When it is updated, sometimes the Help section is not updated. There are some features that sometimes do not work properly or we would like seeing modified e.i. adding the day (Monday...) into the Activity Calendar rather than just the date itself.

Vorteile

It is mostly user friendly. One can set up multiple types of tours with the new setup very easily and post on one's own website either a booking page or a widget.

Also the marketplace. Very accessible to sell and buy products from all that use bókun. We were really happy when the cost model changed into pay per sold item instead of fixed cost. That makes it easier for new buyers to join bókun and shop online.

Nachteile

That transportation products were left out of the development

Vorteile

Does not work with GroupOn. Works almost seamlessly with Viator, almost.

Nachteile

Software USER support is thin. Too many items are referred to 'specialists' who don't reply until days or weeks after the inquiry. Re-explaining the same issue to different front line support folks for 3-4 months with no complete resolution (and no demonstrated interest or sense of urgency on the part of the software supplier) can be frustrating.

Vorteile

Best is the ability tobsell others products on your website.

Nachteile

The learning curve is still a bit steap - once you get the logics its ok, but in the beginning you care very dependent on on-line and chatt support. There sould be an interface with a natural "road" to follow for basic producs, tjat keep the special features of the system in backstage.
Aöso the payment function from payment provider could be more detailed with booking number on the payment receits. Now I have to digg deap to find out from which customers the payment is comming from.

Vorteile

Its very nice to have all my booking sites linked to one site and have additional benefits like getting sponsored placements at Tripadvisor. Support team is great.

Nachteile

Its a bit hard to get around. I am never sure if its in sync with other sites like Tripadvisor. I dont know what affects what, so very often i need the help from the support.

Vorteile

We operate different destinations within the country, and the system have the availability to have one master account and the sub-markets, all in one single account, this help a lot because with other systems we need to have different account for each market.

Nachteile

The contract area, Im still learning but I find it a little confusing at times, and having a tool to chat with client once a contract has been finalized will be excellent, because the only choices I find is to amend contract, but not just a message option, without making an amendment .

Vorteile

Intuitive and easy to use, A simple and integrated way to load products,

Nachteile

The classification of activities, I consider that it is more efficient to separate the activities according to the sector or product that is offered.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Affinity Designer

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Bókun

recommendation

Vorteile

For an operator that sales on viator , bokun is a good partner and engine

Nachteile

Lot of non developed features! Specially for resources management

Vorteile

It is easily compatible with our homepage. It's very easy to implement products from Bokun to any platform.

Nachteile

It has limited payment providers. I would love to have also Izettle as a payment provider.

Vorteile

Set up products, price & availability. Get See reporting in real time is the best feature of this application.

Nachteile

Complex reporting and handling Market place is somewhat difficult at times

Vorteile

Best thing is that it offers a streamlined booking platform that Compares to other platforms that cost hundreds of dollars a month.

Nachteile

Some of the some of the applications are not extremely user-friendly. Customerservice is also a couple days for a response.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Rezdy

Warum Bókun gewählt wurde

Weather was too expensive and didn’t offer a streamlined look like Bokun does

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Bókun

For the price spoken offers the same platform with a fraction of the cost.

Vorteile

I like it because it prevents multiple phone calls from sellers.

Nachteile

It should have auto correct. It could be a little confusing when first getting started. I think its a great program.

Vorteile

it's very easy to use and manageable. Easy to install, quite easy to understand all the functions

Nachteile

marketplace: I don't think it's well done. Difficult to keep in touch with the TO which asked to cooperate. So far we signed 3 contracts without any result. I'd be nice if we could talk with them through tha platform.

Vorteile

-modern and clear interface
-rather easy to understand
-many functions

Nachteile

-some annoying bugs which aren’t fixed
-big changes are made without warning so that for example the API does not work correctly anymore
-the usage for operational tasks are limited

Vorteile

The support is very amazing, but you support in Apple software. You should connect to different software tourist. I love to your marketing, connect to a lot new company and client.

Nachteile

The software is very easy. The support is very good and friendly.

Vorteile

How easy it is to connect with other service providers and OTA's.

Nachteile

Not being able to price each departure separately and not being able to give out allotments to resellers.

Vorteile

The bokun system is easy and fast to implement on website

Nachteile

Some bokun functions are not working as should be, and the support is not great

Vorteile

The Marketplace get you the chance to Cooperate with other global travel agencies

Nachteile

nothing maybe a lot of software work but everything other is perfect

Vorteile

Bokun is an excellent software for managing my products and services
It’s easy to interact with clients directly and offer client services
The fact that it links with my TripAdvisor account is perfect so from here all my job is done for me.
Really cute on doing reports manually.

Nachteile

I’d like more on the interface side just to make the dashboard more appealing.

Vorteile

I’s possible to adjust the setting pf almost everyting in the booking process.

Bokun support is very openminded to request from the user. Several of my cases have been handeled by the developers to create an even better solution.

Nachteile

The user interface has to have a make over. There are so many options of settings sometimes I can not find where to fond it. How ever the support is always helpful and openmimded.

Vorteile

The Quickness of the implementing the software and the lunching of my services worldwide

Nachteile

ots of things to learn, but the more you use it. the easier it will get and understanding what you need to do. plus there is help a phone call away.

Vorteile

I like that it is a quick and easy way to connect with different providers and reserve different products. Also I like how easy it is to adjust a reservation or consult something that has already been booked.

Nachteile

I simply have not used it enough personally to know all of the different functions and possibilities. That is my own fault though.

Vorteile

Instant Booking, Invoice, Billing, connecting with OTA's

Nachteile

Product listing, Product importing from Viator, product/tour availability, updating price which is manually do for both Viator and Bokun, and not very easy to use.

Vorteile

It is a clean system where accounts can be personalised to suit the needs of each user.

Business to Client Rapport is good, following up on issues to try and see if they are resolved with their recent fix, or if it needs more tweaking.

Nachteile

Does have some network issues, locking out all users from the system from time to time.

Vorteile

Export booking engine
Easy to do partnerships
Availability management

Nachteile

Not getting the right support on a acceptable time, lack of training for the new staff, no phone support contact, no way to verify if sellers or suppliers are real, certified/ legal providers, no vídeo training tools.

Vorteile

Simple layout, very easy to create new products

Nachteile

Would like to see all products on one calendar, instead of tour per tour

Vorteile

Ease of reaching OTA through the marketplace
Managing multiple products on one platform
Managing resources

Nachteile

Mobile version of the software is not very friendly

Vorteile

Can do the most things I need for set up my products.

Nachteile

That even if a bug get confirmed its been so many times when i did not get any status report back if and when the bug is going to be fixed.

Vorteile

The connection between companies is made easier with Bokun.

Nachteile

There are a few extra bugs that should be fixed, but usually there is a way around it.

Vorteile

value for money
customer help and support
very flexible
broad range of applications

Nachteile

difficulty to connect to international payment processing suppliers
the booking widget (to embed on websites) is a tiny old fashioned, design wise. More customisability or different design styles would be a plus

Vorteile

It is indeed user friendly , whuch is a big plus.

Nachteile

To be onest we thought that is going to increase oir sellings but it didn't really happened, not very much anyways.

Vorteile

Bokun is easy to learn and easy for customers to use as well. The booking widget is great! Customer service issues are also fairly easy to look up and manage.

Nachteile

There has been some down time and issues with the API that have been a problem at times. Other than that we have had no complaints.

Vorteile

Easy to make a reservation from lots of suppliers in one system.And clear to know the net price.

Nachteile

Payment way.It would be much better to have online option to fill in different credit card in each booking.

Vorteile

Great software which market plac is available for buyers and sellers. This is first experience for us.

Nachteile

We are looking for chance of received payment through Bokun

Vorteile

The integration with Viator was quite easy. The support team did it for us

Nachteile

It was imposible to define rates according with our prices policy. That´s why we are not using it yet. We are waiting that this feature is developed and integrate in this software.
For me is something that I was not expecting. I´m sure that our business is not the only one that has this kind of prices policy.

Vorteile

FRIENDLY SOFTWARE, EASY TO USE, NICE LAYOUT

Nachteile

MARKETPLACE RESPONSE - ALIANCES, SOMETIMES CUSTOMER SERVICE CANNOT SOLVE ISSUES FIRST HAND, BUT NEED ASSISTANCE IN-OFFICE.