Tips for collecting reviews on bauernhofurlaub.info:

How to get more reviews!

Experience shows that the following points are most important for receiving more reviews from customers. We provide a link that leads directly to the review option for your Farm holidays listing:

To create the review link:

  1. Go to your listing page (e.g. via the search page)
  2. Copy the url in the address bar
  3. Add the following part to the end of the url: #Submit-Rating

The link should look like this at the end:

https://bauernhofurlaub.info/ferien-bauernhof/Name-Ihres-Eintrags-hier#Bewertung-abgeben

More reviews for your holiday farm: tips, templates and tools

Honest guest reviews are the strongest selling point for your farm. They build trust, boost your ranking on Google and in AI searches, and turn prospects into guests. Best of all: with a few simple steps, you can get significantly more reviews without bothering your guests.

Here you'll find everything that works: first the levers with the greatest effect, then templates, tools and tips for dealing with criticism.

Top-Hof Award 2027: Every rating counts

All farms automatically participate. All reviews submitted by December 7, 2026 , will be counted, regardless of when they were submitted. Reviews submitted directly on bauernhofurlaub.info carry the most weight because we check and verify them ourselves. The 50 best farms will receive a certificate, press coverage throughout the German-speaking world, and social media support.

The 6 most effective levers for more reviews

Most guests are happy to leave reviews; they just need the right nudge at the right time. Experience has shown that these measures are the most effective:

Personal email after departure

Two to three days after checkout: "Did it arrive safely?" plus a review link. The number one lever, automated or done manually once a month.

To the email templates

Card with QR code at check-out

When saying goodbye, please include a card with a QR code, perhaps along with a small gift from the farm. If you'd rather not ask directly, simply include it.

Use Magic Moments

After the farm tour, the barbecue, or when a guest praises you: "Thank you! Please write that in your review, it helps other families."

Answer each review

Even the positive ones. People who see that you read every review are more likely to give feedback themselves.

Wi-Fi homepage and rooms

Place your review link on the welcome page of your guest Wi-Fi and include a QR code in the guest information folder.

Rating widget on your website

Automatically displays your current star rating and directs visitors to the rating form with one click.

Here's how to install it

The right time: How often can you ask?

It often takes several touchpoints before a guest books. The same applies to reviews: a friendly suggestion in several places is much more effective than a single request.

When How What you pay attention to
During the holiday QR code in the guest folder, Wi-Fi start page, personally after a wonderful experience Only when the opportunity arises, never immediately upon arrival.
Upon departure A card with a QR code, perhaps a small farewell gift The gift is for all guests, not as a reward for a review.
2 to 3 days later Personal email with rating link Direct criticism to you, please share praise publicly
10 to 14 days later Optionally, a second, creative memory No spam: new approach instead of "We remind you again"
Anytime Newsletter, birthday greetings, regular guests in the off-season Tip: Many people plan their next vacation between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

The wording is crucial.

Asking for "5 stars" often achieves the opposite. Instead, ask openly for honest opinions and show who benefits from the rating.

Rather not

  • "We are delighted with a 5-star rating."
  • "Help us get more reviews."
  • "For a good review, you'll receive a 10% discount on your next visit."

Here's how it works

  • "Your honest opinion helps other families find the right farm."
  • "What did you like best about your stay with us? Tell us, or even better: share it with other guests."
  • "How did you like it as a family? Help other families with their choice."

Tip for guests who struggle with writing: Tell them what other guests are particularly interested in, for example, the animals, the breakfast, or the surroundings. Use this information selectively and personally, never as a template for everyone.

Why the effort is worthwhile

A detailed, honest review can be worth several hundred euros to you. Sounds like a lot? Do the math yourself: In our experience, a convincing review in the right place increases the likelihood of a booking by 10 to 15%. For an average booking of €1,000 to €1,500, that's €100 to €300.

That makes a rating valuable

  • In detail: Most guests specifically look for longer customer reviews.
  • Honestly: 4 stars with one minor criticism often seem more credible than a straight 5.
  • Specifically: terms like pony riding, breakfast with farm products or mountain view help with Google and AI searches.
  • With word-of-mouth recommendations: A "We'll be back!" is one of the strongest booking triggers.

By the way: Google and AI search engines like ChatGPT or Gemini are increasingly relying on reviews, rankings, and awards when recommending accommodations. Real guest reviews are therefore your ticket to the search of tomorrow.

Here's how to share your review link

Email and newsletter

After each stay and regularly in the newsletter to your regular guests.

Your website

Link or widget on the homepage, in the guest testimonials, and in the footer. You may use our logo for this.

Download logo

Social Media

Include a link in your profile information or post a message with a nice guest quote.

The rating widget for your website

With this widget, you can display your star ratings directly on your website. Visitors can access the rating form with a single click. The widget updates automatically; you don't need to do anything else.

  1. Select your farm on the widget page.
  2. Copy the displayed HTML code.
  3. Add it to your website, for example in the guest testimonials section. Your webmaster will be happy to help you with this.

Create widget now

This is what the widget looks like:

'Hauserhof' reviews on bauernhofurlaub.info

Rating charts for website and print

Use our ready-made graphics for your website, guest information folder, or posters. Click on the graphic to download. We can also send you a flyer with a QR code for your farm as a PDF upon request.

Green graphic with a request for a review on bauernhofurlaub.info White graphic with a request for a review on bauernhofurlaub.info

Email templates that actually work

Ready-made texts for satisfied guests, regular guests, and guests with minor criticisms. Includes tips on timing and wording.

To the templates

Which portals are important for your farm?

Distribute your reviews deliberately across multiple platforms. As a rule of thumb: Google gets roughly half, and you divide the rest among the platforms that are relevant to your guests.

portal reach credibility Ideal for
Google ★★★★★ ★★★☆☆ All courtyards, absolute obligation
HolidayCheck ★★★★☆ ★★★★★ Family holidays in German-speaking countries
farmholiday.info ★★☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Guests who are specifically looking for a farm, and the Top Farm Award
Booking.com ★★★★★ ★★★☆☆ International guests, review request comes automatically
Tripadvisor ★★★☆☆ ★★★☆☆ International guests

Don't underestimate niche portals: Anyone reading bauernhofurlaub.info is looking for exactly a holiday like yours and is close to booking.

Review tools automatically send out your review emails after departure and distribute guests to the portals of your choice. Costs range from a few euros to several hundred euros per month.

  • Review management: TrustYou, Customer Alliance, ReviewPro, iiQ-Check
  • CRM or PMS with rating function: ReGuest, Mews, HotelCube
  • Portals with additional features: HolidayCheck Business, Google Business Profile

Do you only have a few rooms? Then it's even more worthwhile to schedule a regular appointment in your calendar: once a month, read and respond to reviews and personally contact new guests. A personal sentence or two ("Your children were practically glued to their toy tractor!") is more effective than any automated process.

  • Audience awards such as the Top-Hof Award or the HolidayCheck Award: very high credibility because they are based on real guest reviews.
  • Jury awards like the Relax Guide: high credibility through editorial evaluation.
  • Certifications like flowers or stars: good for classification, but less of a trust bonus.

Actively research which awards are recognized in your region and for holiday farms, and check the requirements. Then showcase your awards on your website, in social media, and in printed materials.

Rewards and fake reviews: That's fair.

Small tokens of appreciation

  • On bauernhofurlaub.info you can thank someone for a review, but never just for a good review.
  • The reward will be something small, for example a jar of jam on the next visit.
  • Warning: Google and many other portals prohibit any form of compensation for reviews. The rule there is: only ask politely.

Stay away from fakes

  • Purchased or self-written reviews are unfair, short-sighted, and often cause irreparable damage.
  • We review ratings using multiple factors, increasingly with the help of AI. Fake ratings may result in your listing being deactivated.
  • Have you discovered a false review? Report it via the "Report abuse" button or directly to us.

Responding correctly, even to criticism

A negative review isn't a catastrophe, but rather a free kick you can convert. No farm is perfect for all guests, and a few critical voices actually make your profile more credible. The greatest damage occurs when you take criticism personally.

When replying, always think about the 1,000 readers, not the one critic.

Roland Bamberger , bauernhofurlaub.info

The 3-step formula for every answer

1. Thank you

Thank the guest for their stay and for taking the time to provide feedback.

2. Show understanding

Show that you understand the issue, even if you see it differently.

3. Show the solution

What's changing? Or why is it the way it is for you? Sometimes the honest answer is: We're not a good match.

What kind of criticism demands what kind of response?

Type of criticism Example This is how you react
Objective criticism "The anteroom was rarely cleaned." Accept, respond objectively, and consider what you can improve.
Unfair criticism "The farmyard smells of animals." Stay calm and politely explain your point of view.
Insult or untruth Personal attacks, false facts Check the portal's guidelines, report the review, and in extreme cases, seek legal advice.

  • The "let it go" rule: Allow yourself to feel angry and write it down in a Word document (never directly in the reply box), let it sink in, and leave out all emotional content.
  • The one-night rule: Sleep on it. An answer after one or two days is perfectly fine.
  • The zero-alcohol rule: Never read and respond to reviews late at night after a glass of wine.

Criticism is always welcome. But anyone who demands discounts or freebies and threatens a bad review is blackmailing you. Never give in to that.

  1. Document everything: date, time, exact statement.
  2. Get a second person to be there so there are witnesses.
  3. Make it clear that this behavior is a crime.
  4. Inform the police, not just as a threat.

If a review is still submitted afterwards, you have everything you need to report it to the portal.

Zieglinde's tip

"Ugh! Everyone reads a response like 'Delete this immediately, or there will be legal action.' And everyone draws their own conclusions. A calm, friendly response, on the other hand, convinces exactly the guests who are a good fit for you."

Your next steps

  • Create a review link and integrate it into email templates, websites, and social media.
  • Set a goal, for example, 30 new reviews by the Top Farm deadline of December 7, 2026.
  • Define the channel mix, for example 50% Google, 25% HolidayCheck, 25% bauernhofurlaub.info
  • Customize and automate email templates or enter a fixed monthly appointment in the calendar.
  • Prepare QR cards, guest information folder and Wi-Fi start page
  • Add a rating widget to your website
  • Answer all open reviews, including the positive ones.
  • Research suitable awards and check the requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Guest Reviews

Copy the address of your farm's detail page and add #review-submit to the end. This will take guests directly to the review form.

The most effective approach is a personal email 2 to 3 days after departure. Additionally, a QR code card at check-out and a friendly reminder after a particularly enjoyable experience at the farm are helpful.

On bauernhofurlaub.info, a small token of appreciation for a review is acceptable, as long as it's not tied to a positive rating. Google and many other portals, however, prohibit any form of compensation completely.

Yes, it's best to leave a review for all of them, including the positive ones. This shows that you take feedback seriously and motivates other guests to leave reviews. The only exception is for offensive reviews: you should report those to the portal.

Only if it violates the portal's guidelines, for example, through insults or demonstrably false claims. Constructive criticism will remain. A calm, solution-oriented response will help you more than any deletion request.

Reviews on bauernhofurlaub.info, Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor that are submitted by the deadline will be considered. Reviews directly on bauernhofurlaub.info carry the most weight because we verify them ourselves.

Questions about a review?

Are you unsure how to respond to a review, or do you need a flyer with a QR code for your farm? Write to us, we're happy to help.

Contact form

Genuine farm moments. Deliberate. Special. Intimate.
We wish you many satisfied guests!
Your team at bauernhofurlaub.info