Low Season Hotel Prices

[thaisabai]

I just wonder if it is wise to book a hotel on the internet. If there are indeed 70% less tourists and with the political situation many hotels must be half empty. but the prices on the websites are the same as always.

is it advisable to just walk in to a hotel and may be getting a good deal?

your oppinion or experience is appreciated

thaisabai

[wileycoyote]

I would book 1or 2 nights for bearings & then look around & negotiate with the Reception Staff for a "walk-in rate" when you find something you like !

[onethailand]

I don't think many hotels are actually dropping their prices - let's face it, lowering the prices isn't going to help them fill more rooms because people are not even coming into the country! And once they arrive, they still need a hotel room...

That being said - I heard of at least one hotel (Royal Riverside if I'm not mistaken) offering a special rate of 600 baht on Tuesdays - don't know if that's only for Thais or not.

[Mighty Mouse]

The Thai business mentality is to raise prices when things are bad.

Internet prices will always remain constant due to on-line operators charging a commission.

Face to face negotiating with the hotel manager or owner will usually result in a cheaper room rate.

[JAS21]

I just wonder if it is wise to book a hotel on the internet. If there are indeed 70% less tourists and with the political situation many hotels must be half empty. but the prices on the websites are the same as always.

is it advisable to just walk in to a hotel and may be getting a good deal?

your oppinion or experience is appreciated

thaisabai

ok we live here.

At present we are staying, only because its cheap, at the Grand Pacific Hotel and Spa. Its the only 5* in Cha-Am. We are paying less than we paid a few months ago when it opened (look at their web site). We have come to Hau Hin to play some golf..most courses here charge 800baht this month.

At breakfast yesterday there was only one other couple. I know that the hotel is less than 10% full, maybe much less and they said many had cancelled. From people we have met whilst playing golf here, Chaing Mai is the same and so is Hau Hin.

Why don't you phone the hotels direct...have you looked at asiareservations.net. We actually booked via the hotels Bangkok office. Its is a fantastic hotel in our view much better than other 5*s in Hau Hin such as Sofitel.

[tartempion]

At present we are staying, only because its cheap, at the Grand Pacific Hotel and Spa. Its the only 5* in Cha-Am. We are paying less than we paid a few months ago when it opened (look at their web site). We have come to Hau Hin to play some golf..most courses here charge 800baht this month.

Looks good indeed, found price starting 3644B/night for montain view at asiarooms.com, you don't mention how much you pay though.

I stayed at 4* Montien Pattaya last week for 2800B/night, never saw the place for less than 3800B.

I always book online after first looking around and comparing.

But I see price quotes are HIGH as of Nov 1st, higher than any thing I ever saw.

I regularly stay at Sofitel Raja Khon Kaen, paid 1800 3 years ago, 2000 2 years ago, 2500 last year, 2850 this Januari , November 2008 prices begin at 4000!

At that price they will not see me next January.

[Ricardo]

Expect to see many hotels double their published room-rates. TiT.

But a whole lot more 'Special-Offers' too !

[JAS21]

At present we are staying, only because its cheap, at the Grand Pacific Hotel and Spa. Its the only 5* in Cha-Am. We are paying less than we paid a few months ago when it opened (look at their web site). We have come to Hau Hin to play some golf..most courses here charge 800baht this month.

Looks good indeed, found price starting 3644B/night for montain view at asiarooms.com, you don't mention how much you pay though.

I stayed at 4* Montien Pattaya last week for 2800B/night, never saw the place for less than 3800B.

I always book online after first looking around and comparing.

But I see price quotes are HIGH as of Nov 1st, higher than any thing I ever saw.

I regularly stay at Sofitel Raja Khon Kaen, paid 1800 3 years ago, 2000 2 years ago, 2500 last year, 2850 this Januari , November 2008 prices begin at 4000!

At that price they will not see me next January.

Paid 3400Baht for the two of us including breakfast and one dim sum lunch..if thats how you spell it, for every two nights stay. Their web site is sovereignresortandspa.com We booked the Mountain View but they gave us the sea view. I can highly recommend this hotel. However they did charge me 600Baht for wifi internet access for 24Hrs. I was desperate for it and didn't want to risk the free wifi which is available down the beach road. This hotel is 5* and we will come back for a third stay in a few months time. Choice at breakfast is excellent, in fact we spent about one and a half hours in there eating and reading the morning papers. Then off to play golf.

[onzestan]

I regularly stay at Sofitel Raja Khon Kaen, paid 1800 3 years ago, 2000 2 years ago, 2500 last year, 2850 this Januari , November 2008 prices begin at 4000!

At that price they will not see me next January.

I beg to differ.

Just booked for 3 nights next month. They have a promotion for 3 nights - pay 2 - at less than 6000 Baht for the 3 nights, all taxes and breakfast included. This on the accor website.

cheers

onzestan

[tartempion]

Thanks for the tip onzestan, but that promotion is non-existent for Jan 2009 (I always stay there around my birthday)

Best price they have incl breakfast is 2990.

I paid 2850 last jan incl 1 dinner buffet x2 per 2 nights, did check accor website but got better deal.

Will check in dec but might chose Charoen Thani Princess instead.

At asiarooms price is 2690 now to 31st Oct, you got yourself a good deal

[onzestan]

Thanks for the tip onzestan, but that promotion is non-existent for Jan 2009 (I always stay there around my birthday)

Best price they have incl breakfast is 2990.

I paid 2850 last jan incl 1 dinner buffet x2 per 2 nights, did check accor website but got better deal.

Will check in dec but might chose Charoen Thani Princess instead.

At asiarooms price is 2690 now to 31st Oct, you got yourself a good deal

You"re very welcome.

However, if Charoen Thani Princes have not refurbished their rooms the last few years be prepaired for a lot less comfort than you're used to at the Sofitel, and also the breakfast at Sofitel is the best available in Khon Kaen IMHO.

cheers

onzestan

[madmitch]

You'll get better deals online in the majority of cases, rather than showing up at the hotel.

Receptionists and front desk staff at the big hotels do not have the permission to deviate from the prices they are given. This is especially the case in hotel chains.

A friend recently booked a 3 star hotel here in Phuket on a last minute website for 850 baht per night. The hotel staff would not go below 2,000 baht. That's a big difference.

Smaller hotels are different; they may be family run and they will do you a deal depending upon their occupancy rates. It depends what you are after.