im trying to set up this affiliate programm at my site, but there own "customize your site" system drives me insane! they use totaly different styles and classes at each page, so this makes it quite hard for me to let this sites look like my own. at some points they even use fixed styles so that i cant change them (<a href="whatever.php" style="color:#0000FF;"> ARGL!!!). sent 2 (friendly!) messages to support in the last 5 days, but got no reply so far. can anyone recommend another programm for hostels? i dont just want a link "book hostel xyz here", im looking for something that displays room rates and if there are beds free at a spezified date at my page (via ifame) - something like the hostelworld thing i set up here: http://www.shareyourride.net/backpacker_hostel.php?hostel_id=72 (you must click on the blue "book" button to see what i mean - dont panic, it will not take you to a insert-your-cardnumber page) post or pm your ref-link if you can help.
The 'Customize your site' should be easy to use. You just need to add full HTML code of your website header in the header section of 'Edit your site' and full HTML code for your Footer in the footer section after logging in to your HostelWorld Affiliate panel. You should see something like this (ignore the right colums) if you simply add header and footer for your website) http://reservations.bookhostels.com/dublinevents.com/ The booking engine will be available on the page.
You can also try the options available through 'Marketing Extras' in your HostelWorld.com Affiliate Inbox. The 'Express Search Panels' are nice and clean and can be added to any web page easily.
thanks for your reply, but i already tried this before. i cant use this "add header/footer htmlcode" thing because my site is "very php" and the header changes with every visitor, i use temp session that get lost if someone visits hostelworld and comes back to my page again and so on. searchbox is not exactly what im looking for - already have a own search function - i really just need this "rooms available from-to" and "book here" feature. this iframe solution would be fine for me, but im really pissed of because of the crappy/fixed stylesheets and because i dont even get any reply from support!
I came across this bulletin when I was trying to find how to file a complaint about hostelworld.com. JUST STAY AWAY FROM HOSTELWORLD.COM. They charge people amounts not announced on their website once they enter their credit card information. I used their site to book hostels in my trip to California earlier this year. They charged my credit card 5 fees totaling $29.45 in addition to the service fees they charge. They were incredibly irresponsive with their late and unsatisfactory responses, and I am literaly ripped off by this company of pirates! If you don't want to be the next victim, just use another online hostel booking service, preferably an American one with a customer service department to contact.