This article explains VoucherCart Reservations compatible gift voucher's functionality. VoucherCart Reservations must be enabled on your account and a compatible Property Management System must be connected, to take advantage of this functionality.
Vouchers compatible with the VoucherCart Reservations Module contain additional functionality that allows you to customise their behaviour and keep them in line with your PMS rate plans and room types.
Book and Stay
Use the Book/Stay options to customise when the voucher holder is permitted to make a booking with the property and when they can stay at the property.
The settings below apply to the entire voucher and remain unaffected by the pricing options chosen by the buyer at the time of purchase as configured in the pricing section of your voucher.
Anytime (does not expire)
This option allows the voucher holder to book and stay at the property at any time in the future, with no expiration date.
Set period (from sales date)
This option allows you to set a specific period from the date of sale during which the voucher holder can book and stay at the property, such as 6, 12, or 24 months.
So, when the voucher holder uses the VoucherCart Reservations Module to make a booking, the end date of their reservation ('Stay To' date) must fall within the set validity period specified above.
Set a Specific Book and Stay Window
This option allows you to define:
Stay window: The period during which the voucher holder can stay at your property.
Booking window: The period during which the voucher holder can make a reservation.
Stay Window
The stay window specifies a date range during which the voucher holder can stay at your property. You can define this period to suit your needs, such as during quieter times at your property.
Booking Window
The booking window specifies when the voucher holder can make their reservation through the VoucherCart Reservations Module. It works in relation to the stay window, as you need to define a timeframe for both booking and staying.
For example, A voucher that is for sale on Black Friday might be an overnight stay for January to March the following year, but the voucher holder must make the booking before 31st December. Here the Booking Window is Black Friday - 31st December and the Stay window is 1st January - 31st March.
Booking Window Options
Automatic Booking Window
Set the booking window by specifying the number of days before the stay window's end date (e.g., the "Stay To" date). This allows the buyer time to make their booking with you.Example: If the stay window ends on March 31st and you set the automatic booking window to 14 days prior, the voucher holder must make their booking by March 17th.
Custom Booking Window
Specify exact dates for when the voucher holder can book ("Bookable From" and "Bookable To" dates).Example: If the stay window runs from January 6th to March 31st, you could set the booking window from July 1st to December 31st of the prior year. This gives voucher holders six months to make their booking.
Important Considerations
System Validation
The system prevents invalid configurations. For example, if the booking window ends too close to the stay window for minimum stay requirements to be met (e.g., a 7-night stay cannot fit within a 5-day booking window), the setup will be flagged as invalid.Avoid Overly Restrictive Settings
While the system ensures technical validity, it’s essential to avoid configurations that might unnecessarily restrict voucher usage. For instance, very narrow booking and stay windows may frustrate voucher holders.
Need Help?
If you're unsure about setting up the book and stay windows, our support team is available to assist you.
Length of Stay
You can specify:
Minimum nights: The fewest number of nights required for a reservation.
Maximum nights: The most number of nights allowed for a reservation.
The minimum number of nights is always 1 and the maximum number of nights is optional and can be used if you wish to create an open-ended option.
For Example:
Flexible Stay:
Set a minimum of 2 nights and leave the maximum blank.
This allows the voucher holder to book any stay of 2 or more nights.
Fixed Stay:
Set both minimum and maximum to the same value (e.g., 2 nights).
This restricts bookings to exactly 2 nights, ideal for a fixed-duration offer like a weekend getaway.
By configuring these options, you can tailor the voucher to meet your property's specific requirements while maintaining flexibility for your guests.
Pricing Specific Options
The settings below apply individually to each pricing option, allowing you to customise the voucher for each option independently.
These reservation restrictions are property restrictions, occupancy restrictions and closed-to-stay restrictions. All restrictions are optional.
Property Restriction
Apply restrictions specific to a property for each pricing option.
NB: If the voucher is redeemable across multiple locations (as defined in the voucher details - redeem condition) and no restrictions are set for certain properties, those properties will remain unrestricted, even if others have restrictions.
Property Selection
Specify the property to which the restrictions you are about to set, apply.
Rate
Assign a specific rate to the pricing option. This rate will be preselected during the booking process and cannot be changed by the booker. Rates are pulled from your connected PMS.
Use case: If the pricing option includes breakfast, select the rate for an overnight stay with breakfast included. If it is a Two Night Romantic Break, select your Two Night Romantic Break rate and so on.
If you leave the rate empty it allows the booker to select any rate at the time of booking.
Use case: This would be most useful for Monetary Vouchers that can be redeemed against any Rate plan.
Room Types
Restrict the room types available to the booker during the booking process by selecting one or more specific options - these will be pulled from your PMS.
All other room types, even if your property has availability will be shown as unavailable to the booker.
If you leave room types empty this will allow the booker to select any room type with availability at the time of booking
Use case: If this pricing option applies only to an overnight stay in a double or twin room, select the corresponding double and twin room types.
Occupancy
Limit the number of guests allowed on the reservation:
Specify the maximum number of adults.
Specify the maximum total number of guests (adults and children).
Closed to Stay
Block specific days of the week when the voucher cannot be used to stay at the property.
Leave all days unchecked to allow the booker to select any day of the week if there is availability when booking.
Use case: If the voucher is valid for weekday stays only, block out Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the Closed to Stay section.
Need more help?
Speak to our support team via chat or call at +44 (0) 131 608 0111. You can also contact us by email at help@vouchercart.com
For more video tutorials, FAQs, and self-help guides go back to the Help Center