Joomla Travel Site - our-hotels

[ohsuria]

Hi Everyone,

I am very new with joomla world.
few hours quick lessons from my friend Sam, thanks Sam 
few days learning and exploring then launch the site. 

my site URL: http://www.our-hotels.com/

Joomla version: Joomla! 1.0.13
Component Installed: JoomlaPack, LinX, Xmap
Module installed: adsense, equotes, analytics
Plugin: Socialbookmarkerbot

well.. the site is still very simple. but joomla.. .. wow.. *speechless.
it really helps a lot.

Any feedback are welcome.

Thanks! 


[mod note by tydust: removed URL from subject, it's against the forum rules sorry]

[Red Shift]

Im not feelin moss as a great header for a travel site

Also I clicked on Destination guides and it opened in a pop up...

[ohsuria]

Yes right 'Red Shift', some of my friends also questioning this.
They said the images is not related to the site 
Ok, I will fix it, still couldn't find the right banner for it .

I am thinking of moving the google's ad to the header so I can put other banner on the right.
but I am still considering is it good or not if the header is google's ad.

I have fixed the 'destination guide' it won't pop up a new window again.
Thank you so much 'Red Shift', really appreciate your feed back.

[Red Shift]

Hi
Im glad you found my comments helpful
I think the google ads work good on the banner
I would consider buying GSearch Pro: http://store.joomlaspan.com/more_inform ... oduct_id=3, to monitize your search

For the pages Hotels, Flights, Cars, I see the URL change in the address bar, are you using a wrapper? Is there a way to change that so it only displays our-hotels.com, you might lose user trust otherwise. Also the side menu disappears on these pages but remains for the rest of your site.

btw what template are you using?

[ohsuria]

Hi,

I have changed the header of my site, it doesn't use moss image again. 
Thank you for the GSearch recommendation . is there any free version for monitoring search?  :P.
Maybe I will use it when my site has more contents to search.

Well I haven't explored how to use wrapper but.
Wrapper is good idea, why I didn't think of it. 

oh I forgot to write down the template, I found the template from estimetemplates.com.

Thank you so much 'Red Shift' .

[sw1sschez]

template kinda looks like versatility with the reflective name.

[ohsuria]

template kinda looks like versatility with the reflective name.

Hi sw1sschez ,

do you mean it would be better if I change my reflective logo?
Well.. it was the first time I design a logo and it was the first time I use gimp  .

can you please explain more details i am guideless .

Thank you .

[Namsul]

site is centre aligned then click on "Hotels" and other topics and it's left aligned. Problem with the template?
Nice enuff template but not a real standout and in marketing, brand awareness or brand recognition is important particularly in the travel industry as there are so many in it
Navigation is easy too.
Not sure i'de look to spend my hard earned money on a site with so little info about it tho. contact us only being an online form.
People are more unlikely to spend with a company that doesn't appear to be contactable

Good luck

[ohsuria]

No problem with the template Namsui.
it is the thing that I haven't succeeded in manipulating the affiliation css site so it can be centered aligned.
I am still trying to make the affiliation site looked like my site.

do you think I should change the template? what do you think about the logo?
if it is not good too, then I should start to think to pay people to design a logo for me .
I will really think about changing the template. If you have a recommended template please do recommend me

about navigation is easy, it is a good thing or a thing that I should start to think to change the navigation of my site?
sorry I am guideless

Great input for the 'contact us' info, let see what I can do with it.

Thank you so much for the feedback Namsui. they are great inputs.

I hope to get more opinions from others about changing my template.

[ohsuria]

Just installed SEF component: sh404SEF.
Got errors when first installed, but after edit .htaccess it works great.
I hope it is a right decision installing this component  .

[ohsuria]

site is centre aligned then click on "Hotels" and other topics and it's left aligned. Problem with the template?
Nice enuff template but not a real standout and in marketing, brand awareness or brand recognition is important particularly in the travel industry as there are so many in it
Navigation is easy too.
Not sure i'de look to spend my hard earned money on a site with so little info about it tho. contact us only being an online form.
People are more unlikely to spend with a company that doesn't appear to be contactable

Good luck

Hi Namsui, as your suggestion I eplored my affiliation site and I have put the contact number.
Thank you for the suggestion .

[Red Shift]

I do agree about the template, it doesnt seem quite right for travel, maybe you can swap the black for another color?
Im not sure what exactly the best way to go is but right now it reminds me of a parked page, a bright logo would be good too

can you share your fix for .htaccess for shs404sef i cannot get it to work on one of my sites

[ohsuria]

I do agree about the template, it doesnt seem quite right for travel, maybe you can swap the black for another color?
Im not sure what exactly the best way to go is but right now it reminds me of a parked page, a bright logo would be good too

can you share your fix for .htaccess for shs404sef i cannot get it to work on one of my sites

mmm.. .I think I should start to explore for other template. Thank you 'Red Shift'

about .htaccess for shs404sef I use below statements, and remark the old one :

########## Begin - 3rd Party SEF Section
############# Use this section if you are using a 3rd party (Non Joomla! core) SEF extension - e.g. OpenSEF, 404_SEF, 404SEFx, SEF Advance, etc
#
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(/component/option,com) [NC,OR] ##optional - see notes##
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (/|\.htm|\.php|\.html|/[^.]*)$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule (.*) index.php
#
########## End - 3rd Party SEF Section

Hope this can help .

[Red Shift]

you know i never really read the htaccess file, now i get it lol
Thanks

[punaboy]

I have to agree on the template/layout.  A blog style doesn't really fit with a travel site.  Your header (and other areas) should pop out and grab my attention.  You know, imagery that makes me want to go on vacation, get me excited and want to travel!

[ohsuria]

Thank you so much for the feedback 'punaboy'

Kinda desperate trying to find a nice and free joomla template ha3x.. 
Have tried to customize my own site by myself, and the result is worst.. 
I should realize that I don't have a sense of design.. ha3x. 

Maybe I should pay some cash to get a nice joomla template.
What do you think of this template?
http://www.joomlart.com/templates_demo. ... a_justicia

is it nice enough to fit my travel site?

Thank you all for your feedback about my template.
I really appreciate it. Thank you. 

[punaboy]

If you see a template you really like than why not buy it, I did.  Although buying a template won't hide the fact that you have "no sense of design".  You still have to change imagery/graphics and make it blend. Give it a shot or two, believe in yourself. 

The template you have is fine in my opinion.  You just need to spruce it up a bit.  Visit some travel related sites or visit a template site and see what they offer for travel.  Just to get ideas, then apply it to your current template/site.

As far as the "blog" thing goes I see it more of a feature to personal websites.  If you look at my website (in my sig) I tried to lay it out to mimic news or entertainment sites and not be so "bloggy".  Good luck with it!

If you do decide on purchasing a template I think rocket themes, joomlart & gavicpro have great looking templates and are quality built.

[ohsuria]

Thank you 'punaboy', can you give me the url for gavicpro?
I cannot find the site

Thank you all for your valued feedback and suggestions.
I will be working on the site to update the template and make improvements.
I hope I can make it done by this week
Look forward to your next visit to my site. Feel free to give any comments or input.

[brnr]

Thats a good looking site. 

[ohsuria]

Thank you for the nice words 'brnr'
you have a great site too, the header image is really an eye catching 

[brnr]

Thank you for the nice words 'brnr'
you have a great site too, the header image is really an eye catching 

Oh, you saw that did you!? :-) I can't take too much responsibility for it. I'm just learning the Joomla way after working with other CMS packages. I would like to work on what our little group of DaDs has already made and take it to the next level in the future. Thats why I am here. But thanks for visiting. ;-)

[punaboy]

http://www.gavick.com

[ohsuria]

Hello everyone,

After taking nice feedback and suggestion about my old site *Thank you all
now I have changed the look of my site.

Please feel free to give any comments or input.

Thanks.

[Red Shift]

nice! looks great

you are using Rocket Themes November template?

[ohsuria]

nice! looks great

you are using Rocket Themes November template?

Thank you for the nice words 'Red Shift'
Yes it use Rocket Themes November template .

[ohsuria]

After used several bookmark plugins. I end with AddThis Bookmark.
It is a great plugin. you can even see the report in addthis.com site.
I don't know why this plugin is less popular than the others. 

[sstark]

I like the design, the reflective nature and the clean look.

I like sites that like widescreen monitors

[ohsuria]

Thank you for the nice words 'sstark' 

[ohsuria]

Hello all,

I just added fireboard component to my site.
and upgraded my sh404SEF to version 1.3.

Suria OH.

[heto]

hello
site looks great. great business model.
But I wouldn't buy at your site because you see that the data is loaded through http://www.ian.com which is your affiliate partner.
I would try to hide as much as possible the affiliate thing. I once had the experience booking a holiday through such sites and lost everything. no holiday and no refund..
but that doesn't need to be discussed here.

On the destination guides you see NULL at the top of the page. need to be removed.

Search on menubar : I'd expect that the search bot also looks in all available hotels.

Search in header : no reaction when you type a text and hit enter

Romantic place to web : I'd remove the table things. You are talking about a honeymoon so no need to display End >>

I love the mod_rokcontentslider. I have this template too, but you managed to put two articles in one slider; PM me on how you did this.

I wish you a lot of success with this site ! and I hope you understand my comments and don't take them too critical

Have a nice trip