SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 7, 2012 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 7, 2012 Bob (the tech dude) is hoping for a bit of help and feedback. (Hopefully in time for) next season, there will be some big changes made to the main site. One of the areas getting a change will be the Places to Stay section: http://www.snowjapan...otel/index.html We are already working on some ideas and plans, but thought it would be good to get a bit of feedback from people who are interested in these accommodation listings. What we would particularly like to have feedback on is --- is there any more information for an accommodation that you think would improve the pages? What do you think would be a good addition in terms of info for a listing? Thanks for any feedback. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 A bit more information on charges would be good, perhaps the ability to search or view the listings on charges which you can't really do at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 If the place offers internet access or not, I think is important. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Agree with both of those. I know they are shown on a map, but perhaps some more definitive info on how close they are to slopes would be a good nugget of into to have on each page. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 it may be a lot of work. but reviews of the places by members who have stayed there would be a great help. Some advertiserrs may not like this though. Having internet wifi is now essential. That would be a must have. Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 It may not affect a big percentage of people, but........ pets allowed? We do exist! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 What Muika said... Price ranges.. budget to grandiose. And Pets allowed....so I know not to stay there. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 please please please think of the poor single dudes who are just looking for a place to kip and dont care about it being a pokey hole. Dorms are fine. But no matter what im looking at, outside of the main two international resorts, its always 7k plus with at leats two people staying. Dorm accommodation is pretty much my bread and butter, i know you can only work with what youve got, but the more of these listings the happier i (and arguably a million bogans) am. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 7, 2012 Author SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 7, 2012 Thanks everyone, all helps, even if only to backup ideas we have thought through already. Got it, ippy. Will do what we can in that respect. What we are looking for re: feedback specifically, really, is stuff that we can control ourselves - that is, the information that is presented on each of the listing pages that are on the site. And what information for each listing would improve it. If that makes sense. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 youll have to excuse me, im slightly cut at the moment Okay, um, you already kinda have the basics. You cover the main types, what you might want though is something for your users to throw in their recommendations and add to the database so to speak. Would that help? Keep it off your main listings, but keep it important enough that people are also going to see it when theyre looking at the accommodations page. Basically take the forum chatter and lead it gently that a way (like you do with the reviews and the pictures) to build up a more extensive database of super secret user researched information. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 keh? Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 ah sorry, i mean instead of just having the listings as they are, also have a listings section for users to submit details on accommodation options they found outside the site. Dont obligate them to write a review of it, but obviously some details of the particular site where they found it might be nice. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 7, 2012 Author SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 7, 2012 I don't think that kind of thing will be happening, ippy. Like I said, we are really most interested in what other info people think would be useful additions for listings on the site at the moment. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 How about a "distance from <choose resort>" option in the search tool? And yes, pets. I'm sure Bob would agree that is very important! Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 No smoking rooms? Totally no smoking? I would be inclined to choose a place that was a smoking ban zone. I just hate checking into a room that has very clearly had smokers in doing their stuff before me. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Haha that reminds me of Maiko the other day. Up in the top Dome restaurant they have a Smoking Room. Tiny little room it is. When we went there were about 25 people stuggling to fit in this tiny little space there, all puffing away. It looked pretty pathetic. Should have taken a photo. I agree with that though, I'd choose a no smoking place. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 What I look at when trying to find a place to stay: Prices, location, smoking/non-smoking, nearest ski-fields, availability, what is included in the price. Link to post Share on other sites
yamayamayama 2 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Agree with lots of the points in here already. Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Perhaps if more of us express a desire for non-smoking places, it will show the hoteliers that it's an important thing. I personally have to give a big thank you/well done to Jalen ski bar, and Kamoshka nepalese restaurant in Ichinose for going totally non-smoking. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Looking at some of the existing listings, although things like non-smoking, wi-fi, distance to ski resort, etc are sometimes mentioned in various sections (Room Information, Other Facilities, Travel Details, for example), I guess it's currently up to the accommodation owners what they say , so having specific categories (ie Smoking or Non-smoking? Wi-fi available? Pets allowed?, etc) would give SJ more control and the reader more info. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Well for me when I search for a place, I consider the following information : Price Proximity to the ski-jo that I want to go to. Access by car distance from nearest IC For others coming by train access / distance from the station as well as train time tables would be handy information Parking availability and space (I stayed at Myoko a couple of years ago and all they had is a shitty little car park next to the hotel, If I had of had the car I got now there is no way I could have parked there) If can bring pets Whether they offer accommodation and ticket set discounts, etc (Not a problem for us living here as we can easily call and check, but for those over seas, calling is not so easy) Smoking or non smoking rooms / establishment For some if the accommodation has WI/FI! I'm not bothered as I got a smart phone and can easily access my email and the internet, but for many they would like to know. What food does the accommodation provide Bathing facilities Type of room (If people are like me and very fussy about there bed, pillows etc they may like to know the type of room that they can expect) Link to post Share on other sites
BillTheBinMan 0 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Parking availability and space < good one I hadn't thought of Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 8, 2012 Author SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 8, 2012 Thank you for the feedback. Here is a question to consider on the subject of 'price ranges' - what do you think would be a good kind of scale to use for price ranges? A cost number? ie. 5000-7000 yen, etc Or a descriptions? ie. budget etc And how would you like to see that working when some places are room-only while others by default include evening meal and breakfast? And some places charge less if there are more in a room? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Perhaps some boundaries say <5000, <10,000, <15,000 etc... Descriptions could be based on a series of symbols that are coloured in, or dulled out, or boxes that are ticked in, not ticked depending on what is available. Getting the hotel to choose their basic option ie with meal / without meal would be best. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 A number range is probably better than a tag/name as there's less ambiguity. (Hopefully in time for) next season... Might not make it? Link to post Share on other sites
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