CarryYerBags
CarryYerBags is a new business venture, aimed at serving walkers and cyclists, using the UK’s network of pathways and cycle routes. The intention is to provide an integrated service, allowing customers to book accommodation stops along their route, and guaranteeing that their luggage will be transported between stops – being collected after they leave one night’s stay, and delivered to their next stop before 6pm. CarryYerBags will coordinate existing accommodation and transport providers, and not provide either service directly.
Holiday makers should be allowed to browse routes, before beginning to book a holiday. See http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ for information on the types of walk to be catered for, and http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/themed-routes for some great cycle routes.
Flexibility is the key requirement for holiday makers. Many people will be constrained by a time period first (typically one or two weeks), and may wish to undertake one of the longer routes over several vacations. There are no fixed routes rates of travel – each customer should be able to choose a daily distance, and select from a variety of properties within certain distances. Some customers may choose a town or landmark that they wish to stop at, or may select a specific start or end point. CarryYerBags sees the ability to respond to as many different constraints as possible, to be a key selling point for their service.
Depending on the amount of time between the booking and the planned trip, some of the more popular accommodation may be fully booked. Again, flexibility is the key requirement. Nearby alternatives will usually be a good option, but some customers who may be planning a ‘5-star’ holiday (or the cheapest possible holiday!), may prefer a more radical change of current bookings.
Final confirmation must be made at some stage, but some mechanism for ‘provisional’ bookings could be provided, in order to allow an entire trip to