Hotel Room Discount

[chuang]

The commercials keep flashing at the top of my TV website...save up to 75 % or 80 % for rooms in Bangkok by Asiaroom.com and Agoda.com..

How true is it....i went to their booking site and found the prices not much difference from the hotels' website....

[patekatek]

These sites advertise the discount based on the "rack rate" published by the hotels. I have used Agoda for booking and have saved money on some hotels. At other times I have been quoted prices from hotels at about the same rate as Agoda. I have had excellent luck using Agoda. I will say that the "normal or rack rate" price is hugely exaggerated for some of the properties and this is where the 70% discount applies. Also, don't believe everything you read/see about the properties. Photoshop can do wonders. If in doubt, book one night and see how you like the place. Move on if you don't and book extra nights if you do.

[tomallison]

These sites advertise the discount based on the "rack rate" published by the hotels. I have used Agoda for booking and have saved money on some hotels. At other times I have been quoted prices from hotels at about the same rate as Agoda. I have had excellent luck using Agoda. I will say that the "normal or rack rate" price is hugely exaggerated for some of the properties and this is where the 70% discount applies. Also, don't believe everything you read/see about the properties. Photoshop can do wonders. If in doubt, book one night and see how you like the place. Move on if you don't and book extra nights if you do.

Very sound advice. Last time I booked in an unknown Hotel, made the mistake of paying for 4 nights up front. The first night was very noisy outside until early morning. Would have liked to change Hotels. Requested the balance of monies paid to be refunded. The answer was: No Way!

[beano2274]

Fridays is the day to book with agoda, they have special deals on that day.

[spidermike007]

Yes, trying to get a refund from a Thai hotel operator is like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. Nearly impossible. Goodwill is rarely a consideration, and neither is fairness. For a people as kind as the Thais, it is always a surprise. Live and learn, and be cautious with commitments in the LOS.

[Shot]

I like Agoda. I used some of the others, but came back to Agoda. Yes, some of the savings are small when compared to the regular rate at the hotel, but if there is a problem, Agoda can help. Also, if your booking several rooms in different locations, you can do it all from Agoda, which saves a lot of time. You can also get points to use for discounts later on.

[hadock]

why not try a meta search

http://www.trivago.com/

very comfortable to use, and you can compare all major companys like agoda, expedia,booking.com and so on.....

[PattayaParent]

why not try a meta search

http://www.trivago.com/

very comfortable to use, and you can compare all major companys like agoda, expedia,booking.com and so on.....

or www.hotelscombined.com which displays prices in Thai Baht

[tfc]

I've used Agoda at least 20 times but never gotten more than a 10% discount of the hotel rate. Most of the time the price I pay adds up to about the same price after the Agoda booking fees have been added but I go with Agoda anyway because the points have gotten me a free night every now and then and so far they have been stable for me, in that the room is booked and waiting for me when I get there. But 70-80% to me that is just flashy marketing. Even when I click on the so called killer deals I get sent to me on email they are no where near the deal they are making it out to be. There have been a few times that the hotel is actually cheaper booking directly with them.

[phl]

These sites advertise the discount based on the "rack rate" published by the hotels. I have used Agoda for booking and have saved money on some hotels. At other times I have been quoted prices from hotels at about the same rate as Agoda. I have had excellent luck using Agoda. I will say that the "normal or rack rate" price is hugely exaggerated for some of the properties and this is where the 70% discount applies. Also, don't believe everything you read/see about the properties. Photoshop can do wonders. If in doubt, book one night and see how you like the place. Move on if you don't and book extra nights if you do.

Very sound advice. Last time I booked in an unknown Hotel, made the mistake of paying for 4 nights up front. The first night was very noisy outside until early morning. Would have liked to change Hotels. Requested the balance of monies paid to be refunded. The answer was: No Way!

Why would you even try to ask for money back? You booked the room,so hotel withdrew the room from being sold for that period.

Later you changed your mind, and why would you expect hotel to loose money?

Back to OP

Agoda, Booking and all others, run regular checks to make sure rooms are not sold cheaper, so hotel CAN NOT advertise cheaper rate than Agoda or Booking as management gets hounded by parity problem emails and penalties.

Book 1 night, if you like the place, speak with hotel direct and i am sure you will get a better rate. if not the discount, then some freebies like breakfast if not included or some coupons or something like that

[phl]

Yes, trying to get a refund from a Thai hotel operator is like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. Nearly impossible. Goodwill is rarely a consideration, and neither is fairness. For a people as kind as the Thais, it is always a surprise. Live and learn, and be cautious with commitments in the LOS.

sorry but that is just rubbish.

goodwill??? why should any hotel loose money in hope that you may return?(which you will not, and hence you checking out earlier and asking for your money back)

Same policy's apply worldwide, no need to bash Thai for your own mistakes

[phl]

These sites advertise the discount based on the "rack rate" published by the hotels. I have used Agoda for booking and have saved money on some hotels. At other times I have been quoted prices from hotels at about the same rate as Agoda. I have had excellent luck using Agoda. I will say that the "normal or rack rate" price is hugely exaggerated for some of the properties and this is where the 70% discount applies. Also, don't believe everything you read/see about the properties. Photoshop can do wonders. If in doubt, book one night and see how you like the place. Move on if you don't and book extra nights if you do.

these sites advertise rates which HOTEL sets, none of them have any control over rates or discounts offered

[JAS21]

Here is a suggestion ... use booking.com ... book one night. If you like the place then use the hotel wifi or whatever to book more nights with booking.com ... we do.

[phl]

Here is a suggestion ... use booking.com ... book one night. If you like the place then use the hotel wifi or whatever to book more nights with booking.com ... we do.

here is a better one, if you like the place, speak directly with a hotel to get a better deal

[madmitch]

Here is a suggestion ... use booking.com ... book one night. If you like the place then use the hotel wifi or whatever to book more nights with booking.com ... we do.

here is a better one, if you like the place, speak directly with a hotel to get a better deal

You can try but often the staff and management of chain hotels in particular do not have the authority to reduce the rate to match those available on the internet. If this is the case then simply go back to the Agoda/Booking.com or whatever site and book more nights.

For smaller establishments then you should be able to at least match the web price with direct negotiations.

It is true that many hotel operators will not give a refund for an early checkout, though again this can often be negotiated. And Phi is quite right with the parity issue so you rarely save anything by shopping around between the various booking websites (though they don't like the public knowing this!). That's why they all offer the 'lowest price guarantee'.

[phl]

Here is a suggestion ... use booking.com ... book one night. If you like the place then use the hotel wifi or whatever to book more nights with booking.com ... we do.

here is a better one, if you like the place, speak directly with a hotel to get a better deal

You can try but often the staff and management of chain hotels in particular do not have the authority to reduce the rate to match those available on the internet. If this is the case then simply go back to the Agoda/Booking.com or whatever site and book more nights.

For smaller establishments then you should be able to at least match the web price with direct negotiations.

It is true that many hotel operators will not give a refund for an early checkout, though again this can often be negotiated. And Phi is quite right with the parity issue so you rarely save anything by shopping around between the various booking websites (though they don't like the public knowing this!). That's why they all offer the 'lowest price guarantee'.

You are correct, but you should also pay attention as to what is included in the price. For example same rate on Agoda may not include breakfast, while booking direct through hotel will.

Hotels pay rather a large commission to sites like agoda and booking, so any direct bookings are always appreciated in a number of ways-better room, better view, etc.

Hotel sites can not offer lower rate as already mentioned due to parity, but can offer more for the same money-breakfast, or whatever.

I believe if you approach hotel staff, even in the bigger chain in a nice manner and ask for discount to book direct, they will find a way even if they do not have the authority(which they do )

But naturally if you rock up with an attitude and demand the same rates as agoda or booking, it will be denied as at the end of the day its not their business so they could not care less if boss makes more money or less

[ripstanley]

I used Agoda for a booking in Bangkok. After the booking I enquired about if the room had a seperate bedroom. Afterii think 3 emails they came back with the answer No. To late for cancelation. Upon arrival at hotel there was a seperate bedroom. Have never used Agoda again