Big Bridge | FAQs

The Big Bridge Last Minute program gives vacation home owners and managers a simple way to earn more income by offering discounts to last minute travelers looking to book within the next 45 days.

Last Minute Deals are updated in real time as your rental availability changes, based on discount rules that you control. These rules allow you to increase the amount of the discount as days move closer.

Deals are published on BigBridgeTravel.com and through our Last Minute Network of affiliates. Inquiries are managed through a secure messaging platform powered by Property Studio. You have complete control over your booking process.

How does Big Bridge make money?

We charge a small service fee, which is split equally between the owner and renter. This fee is for connecting the renter to a last minute discount and for helping the owner fill their last minute vacancy. It is variable based on the amount of the reservation.

Reservation Amount Owner Renter

< $1,000 $24 $24

> $1,000 $49 $49

The renter's portion of the service fee is included with the rental amount due to the property owner. The property owner then remits the full service fee to us once payment is collected.

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How do I sign-up for Last Minute?

Owners and managers can sign-up for a Big Bridge account for free. If you are already a Property Studio Premium or Basic member, it's easy to activate Last Minute advertising.

1. Sign-in

2. Go to My Property tab

3. Click Edit Listing and select Rates & Last Minute

4. Scroll down to the Last Minute section and set your rules

How do I improve my ranking on the Last Minute network?

There are several things you can do to improve your ranking on the Last Minute network

1. Have a verified Premium or Business PayPal account for integrated payment processing.

Even if you don't normally process payments through PayPal, accepting online payments for Last Minute reservations through PayPal adds another level of legitimacy to your business and protection for paying renters.

2. Offer better deals.

Vacation rentals that offer the best deals will have a higher score in search results. Don't be afraid to be aggressive with your discounts, especially as un-rented days move closer.

3. Be responsive to inquiries

Responding quickly not only increases the chance you may secure a booking over a competitor, but it also helps build history in your Big Bridge profile that will allow us to promote how responsive you are!

Where is my listing published?

Your listing is published on BigBridgeTravel.com as part the Big Bridge Last Minute network.

What is "Last Minute"?

"Last Minute" can mean travel anytime within the next 45 days.

Email & Messaging

Why is it important to use the Big Bridge messaging system for Last Minute?

For your privacy and protection, all communications between owner and renter must be conducted through our secure messaging system. Personal contact details are released once a reservation is made.

For owners, our secure messaging system also helps guard against dangerous phishing attempts and scam artists.

Managing Reservations

How can I provide directions and house arrival information to my guests?

Property Studio provides you with a fast and efficient way to provide your renters with directions, special arrival information, area activities and links to local interests.

When a reservation is confirmed with payment, the Arrival Info tab on your renter's reservation summary provides this information in a convenient, printable format that can be bookmarked for future reference.

To edit House & Arrival Information for your Listing

1. Click on the My Property tab

2. Select the property from the drop down
3. Click the Edit Listing button, then click Guest Information
4. Enter the information you wish to include and click SAVE at the bottom

You can view your Renter's Reservation Summary from the Reservation Details page in Property Studio:

1. Click on the Reservations tab.

2. Find the Reservation you wish to view and click to open it

3. Click the View Renter Reservation Summary link

Note: If your renter has not yet confirmed the reservation online, this link will take you to the beginning of the reservation confirmation process.

Can I use my own rental and cancellation policy?

Yes. Property Studio allows you to enter your own rental terms and cancellation policy. All renters are required to acknowledge your terms when confirming a reservation online.

Making Payments

How are rental payments processed for Last Minute Reservations?

All payments are processed directly by the owner or manager of the rental.

Payment options may include credit card (online via PayPal), personal check or other method based on the owner's individual rental policy. For security and protection, we encourage owners to provide renters with the the ability to pay online with a credit card.

Getting Paid

How do I get paid?

Renters pay you directly.

Renters confirm reservations through a secure online confirmation process. If you accept payments by credit card via PayPal (strongly recommended), Property Studio processes funds directly to your PayPal account, the reservation is updated automatically for you and payment confirmation email is delivered to both you and your renter.

Do I need a Paypal account to collect funds?

No, you can choose to collect payment by several different methods but we strongly recommend that you offer PayPal as one of your options.

Using a PayPal account allows you to take advantage of Property Studio's integrated payment processing feature, which takes all of the work out of tracking payments. Also, renters are strongly advised that paying by credit card offers more security than paying by check or money order.

You will need a verified Business or Premium PayPal account to use integrated payments, both which are free to setup with PayPal.

How much does it cost to integrate Paypal with my account?

Not a thing.

Paypal payment processing is completely free to use with Property Studio; however, Paypal will still collect their fee for each transaction. This means that when renters pay online through your customized reservation confirmation process, their payments are automatically recorded for you. Our solution offers your renters the convenience and security of paying online.

Cancellations

How are cancellations for Last Minute reservations handled?

As an owner you are in control of your own rental and cancellation policy. However, renters are advised that there are no refunds on cancelled Last Minute reservations that were secured through the Last Minute network unless your cancellation policy explicitly states otherwise.

You may offer full or partial refunds for these reservations at your discretion, but remember that our Finder's fee from helping you secure a reservation is non-refundable. We recommend you include a clause stipulating that any processing fees incurred will be deducted from any refund.

To define your cancellation policy:

1. Go to My Property

2. Click Edit Listing, then select Payments & Policies

3. Both rental and cancellation policies can be entered mid-way down the page.

Renters are required to acknowledge and accept your rental and cancellation policy online before making payment. This acknowledgment is tracked with the reservation in Property Studio for your records and your convenience.

What's an example cancellation policy?

Owners have different cancellation policies, which may also vary based on the rental season or length of time left to secure a replacement booking. Given the discounts and time sensitive nature of Last Minute reservations, they are generally non-refundable. Here is an example of a typical cancellation policy:

"In the event of a cancellation, the owner will make every attempt to re-rent the unit(s) reserved, in which case a refund will be issued minus a $100 (USD) cancellation fee and minus any processing fees or commissions incurred. The amount paid for days that cannot be re-rented will not be refunded. The owner may consider a credit towards a future stay at his/her discretion."

Managing Your Account

How do I cancel my listing?

To cancel a listing:

1. Sign-in

2. Go to the My Property tab

3. Select the property you wish to cancel from the drop down.

4. Un-check the "active" checkbox to make it inactive.

You can re-activate your listing any time by checking the active checkbox again.

If you wish to cancel your account, please send us an email and include your name, property name and account login email address with your message.

Can I access my account when I travel?

Yes. Property Studio is a secure, web-based system that can be accessed from anywhere, on any computer that has an internet connection. Your data is continuously backed up in a world class data center with redundant infrastructure, 24/7 monitoring and 99.9% up-time.

Can I list more than one property on my account?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of properties you can enter under one account.

What internet browsers are supported?

The system is designed to work with the following browsers:

- Mozilla Firefox

- Safari

- Internet Explorer 8.0 and earlier - IE 10 is not currently supported

- Google Chrome

If you experience any issues, try switching to another browser; if the issue continues, we'd appreciate knowing the browser and version you were using when you experienced problems.

What if I forget my password (owner)?

For owners, to get a new password:

1. On the login page, click on Forgot Password link

2. Enter your email address
3. You'll receive a temporary password by email. If you don't receive it, check your spam/junk folder

To log in with your temporary password, it's easiest to copy it from the email and paste it into the password field. After you sign in with the temporary password, you'll be prompted to change it to something you will remember.

Note: Whenever you change your password, the system will ask you for your "old" password, which is the temporary password you received in the mail.

Remember that Passwords are Case Sensitive

If you have 5 consecutive failed sign-in attempts your account will be locked.
If this happens you will need to send us an email (use the Contact link at the bottom of the page) to have it unlocked.

How do I change my password (owner)?

If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it by using the "Forgot Password" link from the login page. You'll be able to create a new password when you sign-in for the first time after receiving your temporary password.

If you are already signed in, you can change your password from the My Account tab.

Troubleshooting & Support

How do I contact Big Bridge?

Please email us if you need assistance.

Owners can also email us via the My Account tab in Property Studio.

I am receiving error messages in my browser.

The system is designed to work with the following browsers:

- Mozilla Firefox

- Safari

- Internet Explorer 8.0 and earlier - IE 10 is not currently supported

- Google Chrome

If you experience any issues, try clearing your browser cache, closing and re-opening it. If that doesn't work try switching to another browser. If that doesn't work, we'd appreciate knowing the browser (and version) and operating system you were using when you experienced problems.