There is nothing quite as stressful for a guest as getting lost on the way to their holiday getaway. Because your driving directions are automatically included in the booking confirmation your guests receive, providing clear and accurate instructions is a wonderful way to ensure they have a smooth journey, even if they are arriving late at night or in difficult weather conditions.
Tips for writing great directions:
Whether you are writing your directions from scratch or simply adapting a route you've downloaded from Google Maps, here are a few handy guidelines to make sure your guests never miss a turn:
Start with a familiar landmark:
- Begin your route from a place most travellers will easily recognise, like the closest airport (e.g., "On exiting the CT International airport turn left...").
Cover the different angles:
- Guests might be travelling from different cities, so it always helps to describe the approach from the main alternative directions.
Give them an idea of time:
- Mentioning the approximate distance and time for key legs of the journey helps guests know they are still on the right track.
Mention any quirks on the road:
- If there are unusual conditions, like a 10 km stretch of gravel road or ongoing roadworks, let them know so they know exactly what to expect.
Make your entrance obvious:
- Explain exactly how to identify your property when they arrive, like looking for the last entrance on the left or a specific B&B sign on the gate.
Here is a great example of clear directions:
Directions to Robertson Guest House coming from George on the N2:
- Take the N2 south out of George, towards Mossel Bay.
- After 20 km, take Exit 45 to Stormsvlei on the right.
- Follow the R62 for 100km to the Bonnievale Cellar on your right. (Allow about 90 minutes for this leg as there are ongoing roadworks along the way).
- At the Bonnievale Cellar turn left into Winery Drive and follow the road to a T-junction, about 5 km.
- At the T-junction turn left onto the R317 heading towards Robertson.
- Pass Van Loveren wine estate and continue for 30 km until you cross the Berg River Bridge.
- After the bridge, turn left at the river stone wall, with a sign saying Robertson Guest House.