Backpacker Panda Holidays vs. ThinkReservations PMS: Which Is Right for You?

Updated May 16, 2026  ·  395 verified reviews analyzed

TLDR

We analyzed 395 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 .

ThinkReservations shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Payment processing and Housekeeping module.

See the full breakdown below ↓

How Does Backpacker Panda Holidays Compare to ThinkReservations PMS?

Side-by-side ratings based on 395 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.

HTScore
0
89
Likelihood to Recommend
0%
97%
Ease of Use
0.0/5
4.8/5
Customer Support
0.0/5
4.8/5
Value for Money
0.0/5
4.7/5
Starting Price Contact sales From $500/mo
Verified Reviews 0 395

What Are the Pros and Cons of Backpacker Panda Holidays vs ThinkReservations PMS?

After analyzing 395 verified reviews, Backpacker Panda Holidays users most value its , while ThinkReservations users highlight customer support, operational efficiency, data and reporting. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.

Backpacker Panda Holidays ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
Pros
+ Customer Support
+ Operational Efficiency
+ Data and Reporting
+ Integration with OTAs
Cons
Pricing and Fees
Security Features

Backpacker Panda Holidays vs ThinkReservations: Rankings by Hotel Segment

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 ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
Small (10-24 rooms) #4 145 reviews
Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) #9 25 reviews
Large (75-199 rooms) #6 3 reviews
X-Large (200+ rooms) #5 1 reviews

By Property Type

Segment Backpacker Panda Holidays ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
Boutique #7 100 reviews
Luxury #7 70 reviews
Branded / Chain #7 24 reviews
Extended Stay #11 8 reviews

By Region

Segment Backpacker Panda Holidays ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
North America #1 386 reviews
Europe #57 0 reviews
Asia Pacific #32 0 reviews
Middle East #32 0 reviews

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) can significantly impact your hotel's operational efficiency, guest satisfaction, and revenue. Both Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations aim to streamline your workflows, but they target different hotel segments and offer varying levels of sophistication. Your decision hinges on your property type, budget, and the features most critical to your team. Are you ready to identify the best fit for your hotel’s specific needs?

Is Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations Better for Hotels?

Backpacker Panda Holidays is designed for small, budget-focused accommodations, yet it offers little to no reviews or recent customer feedback, making its reliability uncertain. Conversely, ThinkReservations boasts over 350 reviews, with the latest four reviews in the past six months, indicating a strong, current user base with high satisfaction. ThinkReservations's high NPS score of 9.68/10 and 4.88/5 overall rating reflect consistent, positive experiences. Given the scarcity of feedback for Backpacker Panda, it’s clear that ThinkReservations is the more established and trusted option for hotels seeking proven performance.

Do you prioritize stability and a large user community? If so, ThinkReservations clearly leads, but if your property is very small or budget-limited, Backpacker Panda’s minimal data makes it difficult to evaluate its suitability. Would you prefer a platform with extensive recent reviews and a solid reputation? The answer points toward ThinkReservations.

ThinkReservations vs Backpacker Panda Holidays: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a mature, feature-rich PMS with proven integrations, wide support, and excellent support, go with ThinkReservations. Its extensive feature set—including channel management, booking engine, guest communication, and robust reporting—caters to hotels looking to upscale operations and revenue. ThinkReservations is ideal for small to medium-sized properties like B&Bs, boutique hotels, and resorts aiming for efficiency and growth.

On the other hand, Backpacker Panda Holidays, with no available reviews, is unlikely to meet your needs unless you are operating a very basic, budget accommodation with minimal tech requirements. Its lack of features and market presence suggests it’s not suitable for hotels seeking reliability or growth potential. For your team, choosing a platform backed by recent, high ratings and a strong user base is essential, making ThinkReservations the clear choice.

Is Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations Easier to Use?

ThinkReservations enjoys a high ease-of-use rating of 4.82/5, supported by detailed onboarding and a user-friendly interface, as reflected in positive reviews praising its simplicity. Reviewers highlight that the platform's intuitive design allows staff to adopt it quickly, with seamless onboarding and ongoing support. Conversely, Backpacker Panda Holidays has a zero ease-of-use rating, as no reviews or user feedback are available to suggest it has an interface or onboarding process.

Based on available data, ThinkReservations is far easier to implement and operate for your team. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has Better Features: Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations offers 39 features, including channel management, booking engine, automated night audit, guest profiles, real-time reporting, integrated payment processing, and more. It supports multi-currency, digital registration, guest messaging, task management, and multi-lingual options, giving your team comprehensive control over operations.

In contrast, Backpacker Panda Holidays provides no documented features or integrations, limiting its functionality severely. Its lack of capabilities means it’s unlikely to support your operational or revenue growth effectively. The substantial feature gap favors ThinkReservations. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations boasts a high support rating of 4.82/5, with numerous reviews praising its responsive, knowledgeable customer service and seamless onboarding. Many users mention that support staff are accessible 24/7, quick to respond, and instrumental in platform adoption.

Backpacker Panda Holidays, with no reviews or support ratings available, offers no evidence of support quality. Given the importance of reliable support in hotel operations, ThinkReservations’s proven excellence provides a clear advantage. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has More Integrations: Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations connects with 16 verified partners, including major OTAs like Expedia, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor, along with payment processors and other industry tools. These integrations streamline distribution and operations, reducing manual work and errors.

Backpacker Panda Holidays has no documented integrations, which limits its usefulness in a dynamic online distribution environment. Without integrations, your hotel risks operational inefficiencies and missed revenue opportunities. Clearly, ThinkReservations leads here. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations’s current reviews, totaling over 350 with the most recent four in the past six months, reflect a 4.88/5 rating and a 97% likelihood to recommend. Users, especially small to medium hotels, praise its ease of use, customer support, and feature set, notably in guest management and reporting.

Backpacker Panda Holidays has no reviews or recent feedback, making it impossible to assess user satisfaction. The absence of data suggests it’s not widely adopted or trusted in the industry. For property types like B&Bs and boutique hotels, ThinkReservations’s high rating and recent reviews reinforce its superior reputation. Edge: ThinkReservations.

How Much Do Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations Cost?

Backpacker Panda Holidays does not publicly disclose pricing, and with no trial or demo info available, cost transparency remains unclear. Conversely, ThinkReservations charges a $500 monthly fee, with no mention of additional setup costs or hidden fees.

Given the clear pricing structure of ThinkReservations, your team can budget accordingly. The lack of transparent pricing for Backpacker Panda Holidays makes it difficult to evaluate ROI or compare value adequately.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Backpacker Panda Holidays?

  • Hotels that operate with minimal staff and require simple reservation tracking.
  • Small hostels and budget accommodations seeking a basic, no-frills booking system.
  • Properties with very limited operational complexity, where automation is not a priority.
  • Teams that do not need extensive integrations or advanced features.
  • Not ideal if your hotel aims for growth, revenue management, or sophisticated guest engagement.

Due to the absence of proven features, Backpacker Panda Holidays is best suited for very small, straightforward accommodations with low technological needs. It’s unlikely to support operational expansion or improve guest experiences significantly.

What Type of Hotel Should Use ThinkReservations?

  • Small to medium hotels, B&Bs, boutique properties, and resorts seeking comprehensive management.
  • Hotels aiming to increase revenue through advanced features like upselling, online check-in, and targeted guest communication.
  • Properties that value seamless OTA integrations and real-time reporting.
  • Teams wanting a platform with proven reliability, high user satisfaction, and excellent support.
  • Not ideal if your property is extremely large or requires highly specialized industry-specific solutions outside PMS.

ThinkReservations caters well to properties looking for operational simplicity coupled with sophisticated features to grow and improve profitability.

ThinkReservations vs Backpacker Panda Holidays: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference is that ThinkReservations is a well-established, feature-rich PMS trusted by hundreds of hoteliers, while Backpacker Panda Holidays remains unproven with no available reviews or documented functionality. If your hotel needs a reliable, comprehensive, and support-backed platform, ThinkReservations is the clear choice.

Choose ThinkReservations if your priority is automation, integrations, guest engagement, and data-driven decisions. Its recent reviews and high satisfaction ratings make it the safer, more strategic investment for your operations.

Opt for Backpacker Panda Holidays only if your property is extremely basic, budget-driven, and you do not require advanced features or support. Its lack of reviews and functionality suggest it’s not suitable for hotels looking to grow or improve efficiency.

In conclusion, for most hoteliers aiming to modernize, increase revenue, and ensure guest satisfaction, ThinkReservations stands out as the proven, dependable choice. Its extensive features, recent positive feedback, and support infrastructure make it the smart investment for your property’s future.

How Much Do Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations PMS Cost?

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.

Backpacker Panda Holidays ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
Starting Price From $500/mo

Which Features Does Backpacker Panda Holidays Have That ThinkReservations PMS Doesn't (and Vice Versa)?

According to HTR's product database, Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations PMS share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.

Feature Backpacker Panda Holidays ThinkReservations ThinkReservations
Booking Engine
Calendar view
Channel Manager
Custom rates
EPoS
Payment processing

Showing top differences. 27 more features differ between these products.

Real-World Results: Backpacker Panda Holidays vs ThinkReservations by Business Goal

We analyzed 8 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.

Increase Revenue & Reduce Costs
Backpacker Panda Holidays

No published case study for this goal yet.

ThinkReservations Blue Tang Inn Mid-Size
+ Blue Tang Inn was able to significantly increase its bottom line after implementing ThinkReservations, with 52% year on year increase during Q1.
+ The property capitalized on upsell opportunities, offering a wide variety of activities (snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, fishing) as well as F&B packages. Upsell revenue increased 80% in Q1 2023 vs the previous year
+ Blue Tang Inn management was pleased to see the property booked more nights in Q1 2023, at a significant higher rate while the market maintained the previous year's numbers.

"I became aware of ThinkReservations at a trade show in the US, and I could see right away that it would help Blue Tang Inn streamline our operations, increase our booking and upsel..."

Kristin Fisher
Kristin Fisher
Sales and Marketing Director
Increase Operational Efficiency
Backpacker Panda Holidays

No published case study for this goal yet.

ThinkReservations Yara Palm Springs Small
+ 17.3% of revenue in 2024 came from items and packages, growing their revenue without additional capital investments.
+ Yara Palm Springs consistently has 62% of their bookings through their direct channels, saving thousands of dollars that would otherwise go to OTA commisions.
+ Yara Palm Springs has automated their guest journey and made it easy for guests to enjoy a personalized stay through technology, making it easier for the owners to operate their propertyremotely. "Living in another city from my hotel, working remotely on my hotel, being a mother, trying to have a social life...ThinkReservations makes it so I can still do all those things and be a hotel operator from wherever I am" said Kate.

"ThinkReservations Digital Registration has streamlined our check in process, making my job so much easier. Being able to ask guests for their ID and credit card ahead of time, agre..."

Improve Guest Experience
Backpacker Panda Holidays

No published case study for this goal yet.

ThinkReservations Inn on Main Small
+ Increased Repeat Guests - The inn has seen a notable rise in repeat bookings, including guests who have stayed over 20 times since implementing ThinkReservations.
+ Boosted Upsell Revenue - Upselling opportunities through the booking engine have resulted in a 15% increase in additional revenue from services like late check-ins and special packages.
+ Improved Efficiency - Administrative tasks have been reduced by 30%, allowing staff to dedicate more time to creating memorable guest experiences.

"We try to take care of all the needs of our guests so that they have an experience rather than just a stay"

Chris Kennedy
Chris Kennedy
Co-Owner

Backpacker Panda Holidays vs ThinkReservations: The Bottom Line

Backpacker Panda Holidays
0.0/5 from 0 reviews
0.0/5 ease of use 0.0/5 support 0 integrations
Visit Profile
ThinkReservations
ThinkReservations
4.9/5 from 395 reviews

What hoteliers love

Customer Support 89% positive

Though already noted as excellent by many, a few reviews express the desire for additional support on weekends to better handle urgent inquiries.

Operational Efficiency 86% positive

ThinkReservations aids in streamlining operations through digital registration, night audits, and easy management of booking and check-in processes, a... ThinkReservations aids in streamlining operations through digital registration, night audits, and easy management of booking and check-in processes, allowing staff to focus more on guest interactions.

Data and Reporting 75% positive

The system offers comprehensive data and reporting features, enabling hoteliers to make informed decisions on pricing, guest satisfaction, and strateg... The system offers comprehensive data and reporting features, enabling hoteliers to make informed decisions on pricing, guest satisfaction, and strategy planning.

Where hoteliers push back

Pricing and Fees 100% negative

Some reviews highlight issues with the pricing structure, including dissatisfaction with channel manager fees and the high price of features like Thin... Some reviews highlight issues with the pricing structure, including dissatisfaction with channel manager fees and the high price of features like ThinkMessenger.

Security Features 67% negative

Mandatory two-step authentication is a point of frustration for some users, who find it burdensome and wish for lower security settings.

Unique capabilities

Channel Manager EPoS Payment processing Booking Engine Calendar view
4.8/5 ease of use 4.8/5 support 16 integrations
Visit Profile

Where the ratings diverge most

Overall Rating ThinkReservations 4.9 vs 0.0 (+4.9)
Ease of Use ThinkReservations 4.8 vs 0.0 (+4.8)
Customer Support ThinkReservations 4.8 vs 0.0 (+4.8)
Value for Money ThinkReservations 4.7 vs 0.0 (+4.7)
Onboarding ThinkReservations 4.7 vs 0.0 (+4.7)

Frequently Asked Questions About Backpacker Panda Holidays vs ThinkReservations PMS

Can Backpacker Panda Holidays replace ThinkReservations PMS?

It depends on your requirements. Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations PMS share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Backpacker Panda Holidays offers 0 verified integration partners, while ThinkReservations PMS offers 16. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.

Which is better for small or independent hotels?

Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. ThinkReservations PMS leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 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.

Do Backpacker Panda Holidays or ThinkReservations PMS offer a free plan?

Backpacker Panda Holidays: No. ThinkReservations PMS: 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.

How Does HTR Evaluate and Rank Backpacker Panda Holidays and ThinkReservations PMS?

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 ThinkReservations has 89. Here is how the score is calculated.

Criteria Group Weight What It Measures
Customer Ratings & Reviews

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

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

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

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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