Venues4Africa

FAQs 

Guests FAQs

As a Venues4Africa partner, you have access to an Owners’ Dashboard where you can update your lodge information and images at any time.  We’re always here to help if you get stuck or need us to add additional location or category options to our various menus.

 

Email

1. Why am I not receiving email notifications? / What do I do if I do not receive email notifications?

- If you are not receiving emails from us, your email software is most likely blocking our emails. Please check your junk/spam folder. If they are, all you need to do is “whitelist” our email address (this means that you accept our email address that it is safe and is not classified as junk or spam).

- Just right click on our email and select the appropriate option. Eg. Right click>junk>never block sender.

 

2. Who do I contact for assistance?

- Please contact [email protected].

 

Enquiries

1. What does “subject to availability” mean?

- This means that an establishment that has availability at the time of your enquiry is not obliged to hold the room for you unless you have confirmed your booking. Therefore, the establishment may quote others for the same room at the same time as quoting you. If another person has confirmed their booking before you, your quote is no longer valid and you will have to quote again for another room. Should there be conditions related to your quote, these will be clearly indicated to you. 

 

2. Where do I request a quote?

- You can request a quote via the listing page of the property that you wish to book with. Once you are viewing the page of the property, scroll to the middle of the page, below the property description, fill in the necessary fields and select “send enquiry”. 

- OR You can enter your dates and select “check availability”. This can only be done if a property has live availability via Nightsbridge. 

 

3. How long is a quote valid for?

- This will depend on the property with whom you are on enquiring, as this is will vary at each property's own discretion. Please see clause 2 in Terms and Conditions.  

 

4. How do quotes work?  

- This will depend on the property with whom you are on enquiring, as this is will vary at each property's own discretion. Please see clause 2 in Terms and Conditions. 

 

Cancellations

1. What is the cancellation procedure?

- This depends on the property with whom you are on enquiring. Each booking is subject to the specific property’s cancellation policy. You’ll see this cancellation policy at the bottom of the online booking page on Nightsbridge.  Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

 

2. What is the time bracket for cancellations?

- This depends on the property with whom you are on enquiring. Each booking is subject to the specific property’s cancellation policy. You’ll see this cancellation policy at the bottom of the online booking page on Nightsbridge.  Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

 

3. Are there any cancellation fees?

- This depends on the property with whom you are on enquiring. Each booking is subject to the specific property’s cancellation policy. You’ll see this cancellation policy at the bottom of the online booking page on Nightsbridge.   Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

 

4. Is it possible to reschedule a booking?

- Yes, just contact the property and check whether there is availability for another date.

- Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

 

Site Features

1. What does the feature “explore our routes” mean?

- This is a feature that makes our site unique. We have mapped out some of the popular routes to travel throughout South Africa with various accommodations that are located in the many cities along the routes. Soon we will have itineraries that can be searched and booked that have routes, destinations, accommodation and activities all planned out for your convenience.

- Currently we have three of the major routes mapped out; The Cape Winelands Route, The Garden Route and Route 62.

 

2. What does “check availability” mean?

- “Check availability” allows you to book directly online, via live availability, instead of inquiring.  This option is available only for establishments that have live availability via Nightsbridge. 

- By selecting “check availability” you will be redirected to the Nightsbridge website. This is where you can check and book rooms online, quickly and easily with no hassles.

 

3. How does the instant booking feature work?

- The instant booking feature as explained above (question 2) allows you to book a room online, immediately.

 

Payments

1. Do I receive an invoice or receipt for my booking?

- Yes, you will receive an invoice from the establishment with which you have booked.

 

2. Do I receive an invoice or receipt for my deposit?

- Yes, you will receive an invoice from the establishment with which you have booked.

 

3. How do the deposit systems work?

- This depends on the property with whom you are on enquiring, as this is will vary at each property's own discretion. Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

- If you book via Nightsbridge, the deposit specified in the property’s deposit policy (usually 50%) is charged automatically to your card when you make your booking. 

 

4. How do I pay?

- This will depend on the property with whom you are on enquiring, as this is will vary at each property's own discretion. Please see clause 2 in Terms and Conditions.

 

5. Do I need a credit card?

- This will depend on the property with whom you are on enquiring, as this is will vary at each property's own discretion. Please see clause 2 and 3 in Terms and Conditions.

- If you book via Nightsbridge, yes, you do need a credit card.

 

6. What is PayBridge?

- PayBridge is an in-house credit card processing system that manages payments. 

- It is linked to Nightsbridge’s booking form so that the 50% deposit and payment is processed immediately.

 

Owners FAQ

 

Registering with Venues4Africa

1. How do I register with Venues4Africa?

- You can register by following the “List with Us” link on the right hand corner at the top of our website. 

- OR, you can scroll to the bottom of our website and find a “list with us” link.

- www.venues4africa.com 

- Please see Listing Options for further information.

 

2. What do I do if my registration is not successful and leads to an error?

- If you receive an error message once you have registered, please contact our support team at [email protected] or [email protected].

 

3. Do I need to be linked with Nightsbridge to register? / Do I need live availability to register? / Can I register if I do not have live availability?

- No, you do not need to be linked with Nightsbridge to register and list with Venues4Africa. We accommodate all types of venues, big and small. We are an Online Listing Directory for live availability and enquiry based establishments. 

- Please see Listing Option for further information.

 

4. Are there any costs involved with registering my venue?

- No, there are no costs involved with registering your property. 

 

Pricing for listing with Venues4Africa?

1. What are the costs involved with listing with Venues4Africa?

- To be listed with Venues4Africa you have two options: if you have live availability, there is a 15% commission fee that is payable to us through Nightsbridge when a booking is made through our website. 

- OR, you can pay an annual listing fee.  

- Please see Listing Options for further information.

 

2. Do I pay a listing fee if I have live availability?

- No, you do not pay a listing fee if you have live availability. The listing fee option is intended for establishments that do not have live availability. 

 

3. Are there fees involved with unsubscribing with Venues4Africa?

- No, there are no fees or penalties payable with unsubscribing from Venues4Africa.

 

4. How do I unsubscribe from Venues4Africa?

- In order to unsubscribe from Venues4Africa, all you need to do is send us an email at [email protected] indicating that you wish to unsubscribe with all the necessary details of your establishment. 

 

Account/Dashboard Admin 

1. How do I login to my dashboard and access my account?

- In order to login to your dashboard you can scroll to the bottom of our website and find the “owner login” link in the footer. Once you have been redirected to the login page, you need to enter your username and password with which you registered. 

- If you cannot remember your login details or if you cannot access your dashboard, try to reset your password. If this is unsuccessful, please contact [email protected].

 

2. How do I change my password?

- In order to change and reset your password you need to navigate to the login page. Once you are here, select the “reset password” link and then enter your username. You will then be asked to enter your username and to select the “request new password” button. You will then receive an email with a new password with which you may login to your dashboard. 

- If you have forgotten all of your login details, please contact [email protected]

 

3. How I change my account details?

- If you wish to change your account details, please contact [email protected].

 

4. What do I do if I cannot access my dashboard?

- There are a few steps to take if you cannot access your dashboard. 

- First, please check whether you have typed in your login details correctly. 

- If you still cannot login, you can reset your password by selecting the “reset password” button. 

- If this is still not successful, please send a detailed email to [email protected].

 

5. If I have more than one property do I need more than one account?

- No, if you have more than one property you wish to list with Venues4Africa, you can manage them all from a single account and a single dashboard. 

- Once you have registered with one property, you have created an account with login details. In your dashboard you merely select “Add Venue” in your left-hand navigation bar to create a new listing for a separate property. 

 

Managing the content of my listing

1. How do I add another venue to my account?

- In order to add another venue to your account just select the “Add Venue” button on your left-hand navigation bar once you have logged into your dashboard.

 

2. Where do I go to edit my content?

- To edit and update your content for your listing you need to login to your dashboard. Once you have done this, you will see your establishments name with five icons next to it. Each icon represents the five categories that your content is divided into. By selecting the first icon, you will be directed to the first category, by selecting the second icon, you will be directed to the second category, so on and so forth. No matter which icon you select, you will be able to see all five categories by scrolling up and down. It is best to select the first icon and check your content every time you wish to add, remove or update your content. 

- Once you have finished with your content updates, do not forget to save and to logout of your dashboard.

 

3. Is my contact email address in my listing for reservations or for correspondence with Venues4Africa?

- The email address with which you register and will use as your username to login to your dashboard is the email address used for correspondence with Venues4Africa. 

- There is a field in your listing that you will be required to fill in titled “contact email” which is the email address that guests will use to contact you. 

 

4. What do I do if there isn’t an item available to select that is relevant to my venue?

- If there is an item missing from a drop down menu that is applicable to your establishment, please contact and inform us at [email protected] / [email protected] so that we may add the missing item.

 

5. Do I need to enter X and Y GPS co-ordinates? / Which form of GPS co-ordinates do I need to enter?

- Venues4Africa uses Google Maps which requires X and Y GPS co-ordinates in order to function properly.

 

6. Do I need to complete every field on my dashboard for my listing?

- There are compulsory fields that you are required to fill-in in order for your listing to be published, however, the more complete your listing is, the higher up in the ranking system it will be and the higher your conversion rates will be. 

- It is in every properties best interests to fill in every field properly and accurately and to upload at least 5 high-resolution images for your establishment, of which one of them is a cover image.

- Please see Maximise My Listing for further information.

 

7. How do I amend my rates?

- If you wish to elaborate on your rates and are not linked with Nightsbridge, you are required to do so in the description section of your listing. 

- At Venues4Africa, we ask you to include a single “from rate” per room/ per person / per person sharing / per unit. 

- In order to keep this rate up to date, you need to login to your dashboard and edit the rate if and when it is necessary.

 

8. Where do I add promotions or special deals?

- Due to Venues4Africa having gone through a re-launching process, this feature has not yet been built into your dashboards. You will be notified once this has been completed.

 

9. How do I upload images?

- In order to upload images, you need to be logged into your dashboard. Select the camera icon next to your establishment’s name. Once this is done, you will see that there is a button called “upload your images here”. Select that and choose your high-resolution images. You can only select one picture at a time, but they can be uploaded simultaneously. 

- Once you have finished uploading all of your images, you are required to choose a cover image and a listing image. Next to each image there will be a box where you can label your images and a dropdown box where you can choose whether the image in question is a gallery, listing or cover image. 

- Your cover image must be no less than 1400 pixels wide. 

- Please see Maximise My Listing for further information.

 

10. What are the image requirements?

- Your gallery images must be no smaller than 800 pixels wide and your cover image should be no less than 1400 pixels wide. 

- Please see Maximise My Listing for further information.

 

11. What does “Gallery”, “Listing” and “Cover” mean in the images field?

- These are the labels you give your images. If your property does not have an image selected as a cover image, a default cover image of the town in which your establishment is located will be used. Your listing image refers to the image that appear as a tile on the search page of our website and lastly, your gallery images are the images that a browser will view in order to get an idea of what your establishment looks like.

- Please see Maximise My Listing for further information.

 

12. What do I do if my images won’t upload?

- If you’re images will not upload, first, check the pixel size by right clicking on the image and selecting “properties” and then “details” and look for the image dimensions. Your gallery images should be no less than 800 pixels wide and your cover image should be no less than 1400 pixels wide. 

- Secondly, you should check the image extensions. All images should be either .jpeg/.jpg/.png format.

- If your pixel sizes are correct, but you still cannot upload images, please contact [email protected] with a detailed email on what the problem is.

 

13. When will my updates and changes to my content become visible?

- Once you have updated your content and saved it, it enters a workflow that the administrative staff of Venues4Africa must work through. Only once they have check and approved your content updates will your changes become visible. 

 

14. Can I review my updates and changes?

- Yes, you can review any changes and updates made by selecting “My Venue Changes” on your left-hand navigation bar.

 

Boosting your Conversions

1. How do I boost my ranking in Venues4Africa?

- The more complete and detailed your listing is and the more images of high-resolution quality you have uploaded, the better your listings ranking will be. 

- Please see Maximise My Listing for further information.

 

Technical Issues

1. Why am I not receiving any notification emails from Venues4Africa?

- If you are not receiving notification emails, our emails may be landing in your spam or junk folders. Simply whitelist our email address by establishing that our email address is safe and secure. 

- If you do not have any notification emails in your spam/junk folders, then please contact us on [email protected] so that we may be of assistance.

 

2. Why are my images not uploading?

- If your images are not uploading they be the incorrect pixel size or the format of the images are incorrect. Images should be no smaller than 800 pixels wide (1400 pixels wide for cover image) and must be in either .png/.jpg/.jpeg format. 

- If your images are still not uploading, please check the title of the image; the file name of the image you are uploading should not have punctuation in it with the exception of a full stop, a hyphen or an underscore. 

- If you still cannot upload images, please contact [email protected] 

 

3. Who do I contact regarding any technical issues?

- Should you experience any technical issue, please contact [email protected]

 

Enquiry Based Bookings

1. How does the “request a quote” enquiry/booking process work?

- The “request a quote” feature is used for enquiry based listings only. 

- On the enquiry form, the guest enters the dates that they wish to stay at the establishment as well as their contact details and nationality. The will then type a brief email/enquiry with any specific requests and for any information they wish to receive. Once this has been sent, the establishment should get back to them as soon as possible.

 

2. How do I quote on an enquiry?

- In order to quote on an enquiry, you need merely respond to the enquiry that you have received from a guest with the details of your establishment and what you have to offer them. 

 

3. Do I have to quote the rates displayed on my listing?

- No, the “from rate” that is displayed is your lowest rate available, not the only rate available. 

 

 

 

 

 

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