Government 40% rebate for Thai's booking a hotel this long weekend will cost them 85% more for the privilege

[4MyEgo]

My wife just went onto a well known hotel website to book 2 rooms for the upcoming long weekend with the kids thinking she would get a 40% discount from the government, well.........that is correct, she typed in the check-in and check-out dates as follows:

 

Check-in on Friday the 24th, check-out Tuesday the 28th (4 nights) x 2 rooms.

 

She looked at the cost and asked me to confirm as it didn't sound right as we recently stayed at the same brand hotel in BKK over the past weekend Sat-Tue and the price was nowhere near the quoted amount of this location, which is nothing special as the one in BKK was on the riverside.

 

I looked at the cost and deducted the 40% government rebate and said hang on a second, that is still a hell of a lot for this hotel that we usually stay at, so I put in the same days a week later for 4 nights, Fri-Tue, get this, yes she would get a 40% rebate from the government, but she would be paying 45% on top of that to secure the rooms over the upcoming long weekend, that's a whopping 85% markup for the the long weekend, or 85% cheaper for the same days and nights a week later, even at 45% more after the government rebate, it's still a lot and unheard of to us before, or maybe we just haven't gone away on a long weekend before.

 

I even went back to the hotel we recently booked in BKK and put in those dated and it was slightly cheaper than what we paid when we were there a weekend ago, and breakfast was included.

 

When I brought this to her attention, she said no way we are going, and I have to agree, it's kind of strange, on one hand the government is saying support the hotel/tourist industry during this pandemic, but on the other this hotel marks up the price 85% for the privilege to stay there over the long weekend, I mean what are we supposed to do, take the kids out of school a week later to support the industry when prices come back to normality, yeh right, hope they fill up their rooms because they are going to need it ????

 

Edited July 19, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[DaLa]

We have been planning a week away in Chiang Rai for the last 2 months and I've been up-dating the prices as time passed awaiting the go ahead from our business.

 

A week ago the price per night was 3,400 baht.  Looked 2 days ago and the price for the next few weeks has risen to 5,300 baht per night.

 

We are still trying to register for the Government incentive, however the rules are unclear and appear to be delayed in appearing. But it looks like the hotels are just pre-empting a surge and loading their prices accordingly. 

 

Our original plan was to go to Hanoi, although that plan isn't working out either.  Now I know what it's like to be caged. 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

9 minutes ago, DaLa said:

A week ago the price per night was 3,400 baht.  Looked 2 days ago and the price for the next few weeks has risen to 5,300 baht per night.

 

We are still trying to register for the Government incentive, however the rules are unclear and appear to be delayed in appearing. But it looks like the hotels are just pre-empting a surge and loading their prices accordingly. 

Be careful about the Thai government website, they say it's 40% and up to 3,000 baht per night per room, however other sites and the hotel said no it's 40% or 3,000 baht in total, so don't know who to believe.

 

The hotel said book it and put your code in and once the government gets back to you, you will know, yeh right, the left not knowing what the right is doing.

 

Like I said before, I don't think we have ever booked a long weekend away before, although I do know prices do go up slightly for weekends, but 85% no way, and like I said, the place in BKK on the riverside was slightly cheaper for the same days and nights we stayed a weekend ago, now that is probably because of the competition, but the hotel we were looking at in Hua Hin has gone bonkers trying to charge 85% more, go figure.

 

Caged up, can't relate as our hotel (house) has 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and lots of room to move around in, all up 320m2, but good to get the kids to a pool, mum can have a break from cooking, but I guess we will have to live with having a spare 25,000 baht in our pockets Vs the hotels if they want to play that game ????

 

[LivinLOS]

You appear to be conflating the possible discount, with the room price rise, as though the latter is the result of the former. 

 

Seems to me the hotel can charge what it likes.. And you can apply the discount to that charge, or to a different hotel if you like the different hotels pricing better. 

[terminatorchiangmai]

Forget about the government cashback , just book with booking.com.

Plenty of good dealt to be found there.

[phetphet]

Maybe the room rate has gone up because it is a long weekend and therefore others are also trying to book. Supply and demand.

[ChipButty]

Try booking direct with the Hilton if you have a member card they are offering big discounts 

[khunjeff]

Hotel prices in desirable areas have always been substantially higher over long holiday weekends than on weekdays or normal weekends - that isn't anything new. And yes, 85% would not be unheard of.

[ChipButty]

We keep getting emails from Agoda they have a promotion they call "Go Local" they are offering some huge discounts worth a look 

[Henryford]

I recently booked a hotel in Chiang Mai for early August. Many of the hotels on Agoda were quoting massive discounts upto 80-90%. But i doubt the original prices ever existed. Some good deals even without the Government rebate. In the end i got a big room in a nice 4 star by the river with breakfast for 1000 baht a night. Can't expect to get any better than that.

[steven100]

12 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Try booking direct with the Hilton if you have a member card they are offering big discounts 

we just booked 2 rooms at an expensive hotel ....  obviously no government discount there.

It's only on certain hotels ....  so not really any advantage to most.

[steven100]

1 minute ago, Henryford said:

In the end i got a big room in a nice 4 star by the river with breakfast for 1000 baht a night. Can't expect to get any better than that.

yeah, prices are lower now. We recently booked similar in CM for Sept' ... big room on the river 4 start ... we got it 850 baht. 

[phetphet]

Another thing...Phone the hotel directly and ask them if they can do any special rates. I booked a hotel in Bangkok recently, and was told by the receptionist that I should call te hotel directly for a better rate next time.

Can't hurt to ask. Especially as you are booking two rooms.

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, DaLa said:

A week ago the price per night was 3,400 baht.  Looked 2 days ago and the price for the next few weeks has risen to 5,300 baht per night.

You guys are seriously wealthy, I get sticker shock if a place wants more than 500bht/night.

[DFPhuket]

Occupancy rates are some 5 star hotels are around 20% Monday to Thursday and up to 90% for the weekends as people go for staycations. I was at the Le Meridien in Chiang Rai before and during the July 4 three day weekend and experienced it the massive chance in occupancy. For this upcoming 3 day weekend it would be normal to see a significant change in rates - supply and demand. 

 

While you may want to look at Agoda or hotels.com for hotels, before booking, compare the final cost (on the last screen after fees are added) to the hotel's website. For 4 and 5 star hotels I've always found the hotel website to be cheaper. The hotel site may offer some other additional staycation or discounted rates. 

[ChipButty]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You guys are seriously wealthy, I get sticker shock if a place wants more than 500bht/night.

Is that with Free Breakfast?

[BoganInParasite]

My wife owns and runs a homestay in northern Thailand. She decided to give this scheme a miss. Is in no mood to open another bank account nor be in a position waiting on money from the government. Her business is only in it's second year and it is shaping up to be a blockbuster season. Forward bookings through to January are high. Of course could all be undone by another wave of the virus. She increased her prices for this coming long weekend by a modest 15%, but still less than the standard prices for the Oct-Jan period. We are fully booked this coming weekend including doing lunch one day and breakfast another day for big bike groups not staying with us.

[DaLa]

49 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Is that with Free Breakfast?

Soap, conditioner, running water, maid service !!! , European toilet bowl, butler, free mini bar, pillow menu, free movies ( to accompany the maid service ), workout gear and free international calls.

 

I'm not telling you where it is because it will be flooded with guests and the price will rise.

 

Shocking noise from the waves lapping the beach in front of the room though.

[bodga]

17 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

so don't know who to believe.

I dont believe anything or  anyone in Thailand, they all seem to be looking for a way to rip people  off.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Maybe the room rate has gone up because it is a long weekend and therefore others are also trying to book. Supply and demand.

I don't believe in this current climate and especially without foreign tourism in the country that there is this mass culture of everyone wanting to go on holidays, I might be wrong, but I think those with money will be even more cautious and the hotel in particular trying a money grab as some other hotels in the area might still be closed because of the Covid-19 situation, i.e. it may not be feasible for them to start up again yet.

 

Supply and demand very of aware of how it works, also very aware of how money grab works, you see the way I see it, they have nothing to lose, except me as a customer.

[tomazbodner]

It's always been the same over long weekends and holidays. And not in Thailand only. Have you ever tried to book a hotel or flight over Christmas/New Year holidays?

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

You appear to be conflating the possible discount, with the room price rise, as though the latter is the result of the former. 

 

Seems to me the hotel can charge what it likes.. And you can apply the discount to that charge, or to a different hotel if you like the different hotels pricing better. 

Yes the hotel can charge what it likes, however an 85% increase you have to agree is extortion when the rate reverts back to normal the following week for the same days. Other hotels are an option, however the best option so far we have agreed to is to hang onto our money and stay in our own hotel (home) as we had just returned from a long weekend away at the same brand hotel, which in fact when you look it up on the web is a little cheaper for the long weekend as it was two weekends back when we stayed there, go figure.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, terminatorchiangmai said:

Forget about the government cashback , just book with booking.com.

Plenty of good dealt to be found there.

The only reason we thought about going away again so soon after being away for a long weekend recently is because of the cash back, however the 85% increase, or call it the 45% increase after the cash back is a spoiler as we have always paid the same amount for two rooms, e.g. family room 2,000 baht per night and the twin around 1,000 baht per night, now having to pay 85% more for a 3 star hotel a joke.

 

I always book through Booking.com, however it was the same price as the hotel, i.e. 85% more expensive and I went to the hotel website to see if it was cheaper as I know Booking.com charge between 5%-10% commission for hotels to be on their platform, so you would think the hotels would be at least the commission cheaper, but nope, looks like Booking.com has told them they can't go below their figure.

[Henryford]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

You guys are seriously wealthy, I get sticker shock if a place wants more than 500bht/night.

Yes easy to get a room for 500 but i think you get a much better hotel, breakfast and experience by spending a few hundred more. Usually when i go for these types of rooms i regret it.

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Yes easy to get a room for 500 but i think you get a much better hotel, breakfast and experience by spending a few hundred more. Usually when i go for these types of rooms i regret it.

I'm normally falling down drunk by the time I'm in the room.

So I probably don't notice.

 

Last place I stayed, $12/night, nice pool, scantily clad backpacker girls, decent double aircon room right by the pool.

Beer 50c a glass served 24/7, breakfast $2.

This was the view sitting at a table just outside my room.

 

 

Before that I splashed out on a penthouse for $15/night ..... no pool but I had the entire top floor.

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by BritManToo

[DaLa]

Just to clarify my original post a while back.  The increase in rates was not for the coming holiday and/or weekend.  The increase was from a rate I looked at for this week (Tuesday and Wednesday night) compared to the same 2 days 11th and 12th August.  

 

Now I appreciate that is the Queen Mothers birthday and may be influencing this, but I'm struggling to believe that a large number of Thai's will be packing their swim suits for that week as well.

 

And then last night I looked at a couple of hotels in Hua HIn; prices were showing up to 70% discount . There's another thread somewhere that includes a pic of a bar showing beer at 44 baht a small bottle, that I presume is an incentive to draw people in. One of my restaurants has increased the prices of its drinks. So I'll conclude it's a marketing / economic decision by the establishment.

 

As an old friend of mine use to say, 'It's good to be able to have the problem of having a choice'. 

[Max69xl]

3 hours ago, terminatorchiangmai said:

Forget about the government cashback , just book with booking.com.

Plenty of good dealt to be found there.

Try Agoda, it's better than Booking.com imo. 

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I always book through Booking.com, however it was the same price as the hotel, i.e. 85% more expensive and I went to the hotel website to see if it was cheaper as I know Booking.com charge between 5%-10% commission for hotels to be on their platform, so you would think the hotels would be at least the commission cheaper, but nope, looks like Booking.com has told them they can't go below their figure.

BDC charge 15% more if they collect payment 17.5 %

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Try Agoda, it's better than Booking.com imo. 

Same company

[4MyEgo]

8 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

BDC charge 15% more if they collect payment 17.5 %

Your 100% correct, my bad, I did a wrong calculation, because I know the hotel that we booked for a night in BKK through Booking.com showed an amount on their print out which was around 15%, now doing the calcs to be 17.5% as you say, I then decided to stay an extra two nights, with the hotel doing a separate booking through them, same charge, although less the Booking.com commission, but no discount to us, but we weren't really after a discount as it was cheap enough at the same rate for us.