The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 57 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Backpacker Panda Holidays shines .
Counter shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Payment processing and Housekeeping module.
Side-by-side ratings based on 57 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 57 |
After analyzing 57 verified reviews, Backpacker Panda Holidays users most value its , while Counter users highlight user interface and usability, customer support, automated features. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User interface and usability
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Customer support
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Automated features
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Platform integration
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Bug issues
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Reporting and revenue management
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Pricing
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How each product ranks among Property Management Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment | Backpacker Panda Holidays |
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|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #26 28 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) | — | #46 4 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #32 2 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #31 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment | Backpacker Panda Holidays |
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #31 16 reviews |
| Luxury | — | #44 4 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | — | #43 4 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #32 5 reviews |
By Region
| Segment | Backpacker Panda Holidays |
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| North America ▾ | — | #25 8 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #20 25 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #16 4 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #11 2 reviews |
Choosing between Backpacker Panda Holidays and Counter hinges on your hotel’s specific needs, scale, and operational complexity. Both products aim to streamline property management but approach the challenge differently. Backpacker Panda Holidays attempts to incorporate AI-driven insights and automation, while Counter offers a broad suite of features tailored for hostels with a focus on ease of use. Which aligns best with your goals?
The core difference is that Backpacker Panda Holidays has a minimal review footprint, with no recent reviews or high ratings, whereas Counter boasts over 54 recent reviews with a strong overall rating of 4.73 out of 5. This makes Counter the more tested and trusted option for today’s hoteliers. Are you ready to explore which product suits your hotel best?
Both Backpacker Panda Holidays and Counter are designed to improve operational efficiency, but their scope and maturity differ significantly. Backpacker Panda Holidays aims to automate reservations, guest tracking, and AI-based guest feedback analysis, but it lacks a review count or recent feedback, signaling limited current user validation. Conversely, Counter has a proven track record with over 54 recent reviews, high ratings, and a comprehensive feature set.
Counter’s reviews highlight its ease of use, support, and extensive integrations. Meanwhile, Backpacker Panda Holidays’ reviews are nonexistent or outdated, making it hard to gauge real-world performance. Do you want a platform with proven reliability and current user satisfaction or one still emerging?
If your hotel operates primarily as a hostel, with a focus on simplicity, ease of onboarding, and automated operations, Counter is the clear choice. Its user interface is rated 4.6/5, and support nearly perfect at 4.96/5, with over 54 recent reviews confirming its reliability. Your team will likely appreciate its broad feature set, including channel management, online payments, and automation.
On the other hand, if your hotel is seeking an AI-driven platform that offers review insights and guest feedback analytics, Backpacker Panda Holidays might seem appealing. However, given its zero reviews and no recent validation, it's safer to prioritize Counter, which is currently backed by a substantial user base and recent positive feedback. Would you prefer a product with proven operational support or one still seeking validation?
Counter’s intuitive interface scores 4.6/5, with many reviewers praising its simplicity, mobile friendliness, and quick onboarding experience. Support staff are highly responsive, with specific praise for team members like Evelyn and Max, reducing training time for new staff.
Backpacker Panda Holidays, however, has no recent reviews or usability ratings, making it impossible to assess its user experience. The absence of recent feedback suggests it may lack the polish or current support infrastructure that Counter offers. Edge: Counter.
Counter offers a robust suite of 19 features including channel management, booking engine, payment processing, housekeeper modules, guest CRM, and multi-currency support. Backpacker Panda Holidays provides no listed features or integrations, signaling a very limited or unverified feature set.
The lack of feature transparency and recent validation makes Backpacker Panda Holidays unlikely to match Counter’s comprehensive capabilities. For your hotel, especially if operational automation and revenue management are priorities, Counter’s extensive feature set gives it a decisive advantage. Edge: Counter.
Counter’s support rating is nearly perfect at 4.96/5, with reviews emphasizing quick, helpful, and responsive assistance. Specific praise for team members like Evelyn and Max underscores its commitment to customer success.
Backpacker Panda Holidays, however, has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to gauge support quality. Given the importance of reliable support in hotel management, Counter’s proven, high-rated support system clearly stands out. Edge: Counter.
Counter has 7 verified integrations, including popular platforms like Stripe, Cloudbeds, SiteMinder, and Goki, facilitating seamless connectivity. Backpacker Panda Holidays offers no verified integrations or partnership data, limiting its ability to connect with essential third-party services.
This integration advantage allows Counter to fit into diverse tech stacks, while Backpacker Panda Holidays’ lack of integrations could hinder operational connectivity. For a hotel prioritizing connectivity, Counter’s ecosystem is the clear winner. Edge: Counter.
Counter’s recent reviews reflect a strong user base, with a 4.73/5 rating from 54 reviews, mostly from hostels and small hotels. Its reviews mention ease of use, support, and feature completeness, especially in operational automation.
In contrast, Backpacker Panda Holidays has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess user satisfaction. Trusting a platform with current positive feedback is vital; thus, Counter’s higher rating and active reviews provide a clear advantage. Edge: Counter.
Both products do not publicly disclose specific pricing, suggesting a customized quote approach. Backpacker Panda Holidays' no-trial, no-flat, and no-implementation fees imply a possible bespoke pricing model, while Counter’s free-to-start model with no visible fees indicates a flexible approach.
Given the lack of transparent pricing, your decision should consider the value delivered—Counter’s extensive features and support justify its potential costs, whereas Backpacker Panda Holidays’ unverified value makes cost comparison difficult. Are you prepared for a tailored pricing quote or seeking transparency?
Given the lack of recent validation, Backpacker Panda Holidays may suit small or experimental properties but isn't recommended for hotels needing proven, scalable solutions.
Counter’s broad capabilities make it suitable for a wide range of property types, especially those prioritizing automation and connectivity.
Counter emerges as the more validated, feature-rich, and widely-reviewed product, with a proven track record across multiple regions and property types. Its current ratings, nearly perfect support, and active user feedback make it a trustworthy choice for hoteliers seeking operational automation.
Backpacker Panda Holidays, lacking recent reviews and a detailed feature set, remains an unproven option better suited for very small properties or those willing to experiment with emerging tech. For reliable, scalable property management, Counter is the recommended choice.
If your hotel needs a robust, well-supported system with proven results, go with Counter. Its extensive features and positive recent reviews make it a safer investment.
If your property is small, experimental, or highly budget-conscious and you’re willing to accept the risks of limited validation, Backpacker Panda Holidays could be considered, but caution is advised given the current lack of validation.
Property Management Systems pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
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According to HTR's product database, Backpacker Panda Holidays and Counter share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature | Backpacker Panda Holidays |
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| Booking Engine | ||
| Calendar view | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Custom rates | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| RevPaR & ADR Reports |
Showing top differences. 7 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Hoteliers find Counter's interface clean, intuitive, and user-friendly, making it easy to train new staff quickly. The mobile and desktop interfaces w... Hoteliers find Counter's interface clean, intuitive, and user-friendly, making it easy to train new staff quickly. The mobile and desktop interfaces work well, allowing managers to handle tasks remotely. It is particularly noted for its simplicity in calendar and calendar management.
The support team at Counter is frequently praised for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Staff like Evelyn and Max receive specific mentions for thei... The support team at Counter is frequently praised for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Staff like Evelyn and Max receive specific mentions for their professionalism. However, there are concerns about slower support in certain time zones.
Users appreciate Counter's automated features that include tasks like contactless check-in, automating credit card charges, and managing bookings acro... Users appreciate Counter's automated features that include tasks like contactless check-in, automating credit card charges, and managing bookings across platforms. This automation reduces staff workload and improves operational efficiency.
Where hoteliers push back
Several hoteliers mention persistent bugs in the system, particularly issues with overbookings, bed availability display, and system errors during boo... Several hoteliers mention persistent bugs in the system, particularly issues with overbookings, bed availability display, and system errors during booking cancellations. These bugs have a negative impact on daily operations and guest experience.
Hoteliers appreciate Counter's reporting capabilities but note that the reports can be improved for better insights. Revenue management features are s... Hoteliers appreciate Counter's reporting capabilities but note that the reports can be improved for better insights. Revenue management features are seen as lacking, particularly for businesses operating on multiple rate plans or using dynamic pricing.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Backpacker Panda Holidays and Counter share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Backpacker Panda Holidays offers 0 verified integration partners, while Counter offers 7. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Counter leads in ease of use at 4.6/5 vs 0.0/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Backpacker Panda Holidays: No. Counter: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Property Management Systems vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Backpacker Panda Holidays has an HT Score of 0 and Counter has 17. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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