Understanding Places and Experiences
Hidden Places separates the physical location from the way that location can be booked.
The physical location is called a Place. The individual ways you can use it are called Experiences.
Experience = what you are booking the Place for.
What is a Place?
A Place is the land, space or location offered by a host.
Examples may include:
- A private woodland.
- A meadow or field.
- A garden or orchard.
- A lakeside area.
- A secluded viewpoint.
- A rural space suitable for activities or overnight stays.
The Place page contains the general information that applies to the location as a whole.
What information belongs to the Place?
Information shown at Place level may include:
- The name and general location.
- A short and full description.
- Photographs of the land and surroundings.
- Facilities and amenities.
- Access and parking information.
- General rules or restrictions.
- Accessibility considerations.
- The Experiences available to book.
These details normally apply regardless of which Experience you choose.
What is an Experience?
An Experience is a particular way the host allows guests to use the Place.
Each Experience can have its own:
- Name.
- Description.
- Purpose or activity.
- Booking duration.
- Price.
- Guest limit.
- Conditions or restrictions.
One Place can have several Experiences
A host may offer different booking options at the same location.
A private woodland could offer an hourly photography session, a half-day yoga or wellbeing booking, a full-day private hire option and a nightly camping Experience.
Although the physical Place is the same, the purpose, duration, price and rules may differ between those Experiences.
Choose the correct Experience
Select the Experience that most closely matches how you intend to use the Place.
Do not book one type of Experience and then use the Place for a different activity without the host's agreement.
You want to use a meadow for a two-hour family photography session, so you select the hourly photography Experience.
You book a short photography Experience but then arrive with a large group intending to hold an event.
Booking duration
Experiences may be offered using different duration types.
- Hourly — booked for a defined number of hours.
- Half-day — usually a morning or afternoon period.
- Day — use of the Place for a daytime period.
- Nightly — an overnight stay where offered and permitted.
Check the arrival time, departure time and total duration before submitting your request.
Pricing is linked to the Experience
Prices are set for the individual Experience rather than for the Place generally.
Two Experiences at the same Place may therefore have different prices because they involve different durations, activities, facilities or preparation by the host.
Review the price shown for the Experience you have selected and check what is included before continuing.
Availability is shared across the Place
Availability is managed for the Place as a whole.
This helps prevent different Experiences from being booked at the same location for conflicting times.
An existing booking, personal use, maintenance or another commitment may make the Place unavailable for your chosen date.
Read both descriptions
Before booking, read both the general Place description and the specific Experience description.
The Place description explains the location, surroundings and facilities. The Experience description explains the particular booking you are making.
Reading both helps you understand the complete offer.
Check the rules and restrictions
Some rules may apply to the entire Place, while others may apply only to a particular Experience.
Check for information about:
- Maximum guest numbers.
- Children and supervision.
- Dogs and other animals.
- Noise.
- Fires, barbecues or cooking equipment.
- Vehicles and parking.
- Commercial photography or filming.
- Events, parties or organised activities.
- Equipment you may bring.
- Arrival and departure times.
Ask the host if your plans are unusual
Contact the host before booking if your intended use is not clearly covered by the Experience description.
Explain what you plan to do, how many people will attend, what equipment you will bring and any special requirements.
The host can then confirm whether the Experience is suitable or suggest a more appropriate option.