What is the best way to get the best deal on a hotel price, contact through phone, fax, or Internet? I am a local resident and speak Thai and can contact them myself, or put my wife onto it in case they have a farang price. I am never sure if the Internet prices are really the best deal, or if it is better to call them up and haggle? Any input appreciated.

Use INTERNET for figure then call and haggle.

Last week I called the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel to make a reservation for early December for 2 nights. They told me the only room available was 1350 bhat and would let me have it for 1250 B including breakfast. I then went on-line and made a reservation and got a standard room for 900 bhat including breakfast.

Hi

http://www.latestays.com/

Twice Hotels have told me the website for the best deal at there Hotel, and yes it saved 3 -400 baht..

I got a great deal on latestays for an upcoming visit to Bkk--but that is not always the case, sometimes I find cheaper rates on other sites. I use the internet and check multiple sites, sawasdee.com, agoda, latestays and the hotels website (which sometimes but rarely, has a good deal).

In Thailand I usually use Agoda and check the hotel website too if they've got one.

But I've found for Viet Nam it's cheaper to use a travel agent there than Agoda.

Never tried the same here though.

In Thailand I usually use Agoda and check the hotel website too if they've got one.

But I've found for Viet Nam it's cheaper to use a travel agent there than Agoda.

Never tried the same here though.

I think it varies. I've had cases where me or my Thai wife have tried haggling on the phone, and then gone to a website and got a significantly lower price. Against this my wife recently got several hundred baht off what I'd assumed was the best internet price when she called (this one was a two-tier price example). I've also noticed that some of the agents' websites are more expensive than the hotel's own website (something that was almost never the case years ago). This is especially the case for more remote locations, such as Isan. Overall, I'd say that getting a Thai to make the booking probably gets the lowest price but that you should use the web price as a benchmark.