Mixed dorms/rooms configuration

Setting up a mixed configuration of room types, private and shared (dormitory) rooms, requires some additional steps to get a correct configuration of all your rooms types.

Those who run a hostel or a lodge for backpackers with just shared/dormitory rooms, will probably have to go through an easier configuration. Read how to set the general hostel configuration here

Some particular attention to the various configuration settings is necessary when the property also offers private rooms. The same attentions are required if you decided to list your property on channels like Hostelworld or Booking.com, for example, because technically, a shared room needs to be set up for guests to be able to book individual "beds" rather than "rooms" how it would happen in the case of a private room.

The main difference is that those willing to stay in a shared or dorm room will need to choose how many "beds" they want to book, while for private rooms, guests will need to choose how many rooms they want to reserve, of course only if you have multiple units of the same private room-type (for example 3 equal "Private Double Rooms").

Due to this technical difference with the booking configuration between private and dormitory accommodations, such room types require a different setup in Vik Booking in order to allow the guests to book either rooms or beds.

Private Rooms:

From the new/edit page of each room-type defined in Vik Booking, the minimum and maximum number of adults, children and total guests (adults + children) should be properly set up with the correct values, depending on the capacity of the room. For example, if a private room can accommodate more than one adult, but it also allows a single occupation, then the minimum number of adults should be set to 1, while the maximum number of adults can be set to 2 or 3 in case of a "double" or "triple" room. The minimum number of children should always be 0, or if set to a greater value than 0, this room won't be available for booking to those who choose like 2 adults and 0 children. Then you can adjust the total number of guests allowed, which is the sum of adults and children.

The number of units defined for such room-types will indicate how many times the same room can be booked on the same dates. In case you have multiple equal rooms, like 10 "Double Rooms", then you should use this value (10) for the number of total units to sell.

Shared/Dormitory Rooms:

Such room-types will offer "beds" rather than "rooms", and so their set up from the new/edit page in the rooms management section of Vik Booking is slightly different from a private room. In fact, because guests will be booking "beds", the minimum and maximum number of adults allowed should be set to 1. This is because only one adult can occupy one bed. The same thing goes for the children in case they are allowed, the minimum number of children should be always 0 here again, while the maximum number of children should be at most 1 for the same reason that one bed is for one person. Then you can adjust the total number of guests, by making sure the minimum and maximum value is always 1 here as well.

The number of units for such room-types should be equal to the number of beds available in the shared/dorm room. This will also determine how many times this shared/dorm room can be booked on the same dates, meaning how many "beds" can be booked simultaneously at most.

With this simple configuration you have just properly set up the booking rules for your mixed types of accommodation.

Now it's time to take care of the UI (User Interface) to make sure the booking process/forms will be clear enough for the guests that will have to understand that they will be booking "rooms" in case of private rooms, and "beds" in case of shared/dormitory rooms. Read our article on how to display in a separate way dorms and rooms