Great New Hotel Booking Site, Have A Look

[krisb]

Just found a new hotel booking site. Lets you see clearly and compare prices. Check this out.

www.trivago.com

[chiang mai]

You're right, that is good, thanks.

[LaoPo]

Just checked also.

I LOVE it!

Very good indeed, can easily change the currency, country, cities etc.

Next to that one can choose out of various booking sites and special deals

I will mark it; thanks krisb

[roamer]

Not impressed I'm afraid. Was looking for a hotel in Pratunam, this bought up about 30, a site I prefer, http://www.hotelscombined.com/ bought up 130, possibly not as instinctive as Trivago I admit but I think better results in the long run. I stand to be corrected

[craigt3365]

Seems interesting. I'll add it to the pinned travel deals thread.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Generally book directly with the hotel...usually the same or better rate than available at the major online hotel booking sites. The only exception would be the sites where you don't know where you being booked...just the general location or hotel star rating and I would never want to be in the dark on these things.

[krisb]

Generally book directly with the hotel...usually the same or better rate than available at the major online hotel booking sites. The only exception would be the sites where you don't know where you being booked...just the general location or hotel star rating and I would never want to be in the dark on these things.

I understand what your saying but its not always true. Ive had a hotel tell me if I wanted to stay longer at the same price I needed to re book on the internet. dam_n rude I thought. So its not always true that a hotel will give you a cheaper rate.

Also I like to read reviews about the hotels. It helps me decide if Im staying with them or not.

1 thing I look for these days in reviews is 'bed bugs'. Call it paranoia or whatever, cleaners spraying deet or whatever on beds worries me.

[craigt3365]

Generally book directly with the hotel...usually the same or better rate than available at the major online hotel booking sites. The only exception would be the sites where you don't know where you being booked...just the general location or hotel star rating and I would never want to be in the dark on these things.

I understand what your saying but its not always true. Ive had a hotel tell me if I wanted to stay longer at the same price I needed to re book on the internet. dam_n rude I thought. So its not always true that a hotel will give you a cheaper rate.

Also I like to read reviews about the hotels. It helps me decide if Im staying with them or not.

1 thing I look for these days in reviews is 'bed bugs'. Call it paranoia or whatever, cleaners spraying deet or whatever on beds worries me.

That happened to me also. Had to book via the internet to get the same rate I had so I could extend 2 nights. Crazy.

I was at a major chain hotel in Malaysia. Walked in, place was almost empty...so figured I get a great deal. No way. Rack rate only. Was told to use the PC right on their check in counter to book over the internet. I was so pissed I almost left. But it was pretty much the best hotel in town. The others were pretty bad. So I went online and booked a room, walked 1 meter over to the clerk and gave her my confirmation number. Not good.

It is best to book direct if you can. You'll usually get a better room. Sometimes if you call, they'll match whatever rate you've seen online.

[madmitch]

With big hotels the reservations staff only have the authority to sell at rack rate. Many hotels' own internet sites match Agoda etc but if they visibly offer a lower price then the booking sites don't like it. They want parity throughout, so they can all offer the cheapest available deal without being untruthful. It is worth looking at the hotels' own websites.

I run a small operation and our own online booking facility has exactly the same published prices as all the booking sites we are on but we offer a long stay discount that isn't available on the other websites. Remember, hotels have to pay commission to these agents so always prefer direct bookings.

[David48]

Ive had a hotel tell me if I wanted to stay longer at the same price I needed to re book on the internet. dam_n rude I thought.

That happened to me also. Had to book via the internet to get the same rate I had so I could extend 2 nights. Crazy.

Sadly, my experience also ...

But that's down to Hotel management ... not the desk Staff ... I'm always super nice to them ...

big smiles, speak the 10 words of Thai I know (not the rude ones), buy them chocolate, leave the hotel, book back in a few days later after travelling and nice little upgrade ... thank you very much ...

Doesn't work every time ... but I reckon I'm batting at least 500 ... and that makes me ...

.

[krisb]

Ive had a hotel tell me if I wanted to stay longer at the same price I needed to re book on the internet. dam_n rude I thought.

That happened to me also. Had to book via the internet to get the same rate I had so I could extend 2 nights. Crazy.

Sadly, my experience also ...

But that's down to Hotel management ... not the desk Staff ... I'm always super nice to them ...

big smiles, speak the 10 words of Thai I know (not the rude ones), buy them chocolate, leave the hotel, book back in a few days later after travelling and nice little upgrade ... thank you very much ...

Doesn't work every time ... but I reckon I'm batting at least 500 ... and that makes me ...

.

Buy them chocolates! never thought of doing that David. Im gonna give it a try next time.

[fasteddie]

Generally book directly with the hotel...usually the same or better rate than available at the major online hotel booking sites. The only exception would be the sites where you don't know where you being booked...just the general location or hotel star rating and I would never want to be in the dark on these things.

Can't agree with you there, as a rule, booking online offers much cheaper deals. Thing to do is research the hotels they offer you on tripadvisor or other sites then you know what you're getting.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Generally book directly with the hotel...usually the same or better rate than available at the major online hotel booking sites. The only exception would be the sites where you don't know where you being booked...just the general location or hotel star rating and I would never want to be in the dark on these things.

Can't agree with you there, as a rule, booking online offers much cheaper deals. Thing to do is research the hotels they offer you on tripadvisor or other sites then you know what you're getting.

I would say 75% of the time direct price is same as through agency (e.g., Agoda, Expedia), but the other 25% Agoda is cheaper. If Agoda is the same or cheaper then I book with them as they have a rewards program. Have to be sure one is comparing the same product between the two, however, i.e., breakfast?, taxes/service included?, internet charges?

[SantiSuk]

I prefer to book through the hotel when travelling with family. That way you can confirm bed size, room size and arrangements for an extra child bed. None of these are well handled by the middlemen websites - you can state your requests, but I have sometimes turned up to be given twin beds with a hard slim mattress on the floor in a room that cant take it when I wanted a queen/king plus proper put-you-up for the four of us.

[BEVUP]

I prefer to book through the hotel when travelling with family. That way you can confirm bed size, room size and arrangements for an extra child bed. None of these are well handled by the middlemen websites - you can state your requests, but I have sometimes turned up to be given twin beds with a hard slim mattress on the floor in a room that cant take it when I wanted a queen/king plus proper put-you-up for the four of us.

Agree here

Just booked the other day

Booked through Asiarooms & checked hotel web site

Put in 3 people (wanting extra bed for 4 yr son ) Delux double = No way

So seen room for 3 but not same name room as to hotel web site concerning room

Room called Classic on Asiaroom but Hotel web says other after trying to find as to what i will end up with

Might be suprising

[HidyHo]

I would say 75% of the time direct price is same as through agency (e.g., Agoda, Expedia), but the other 25% Agoda is cheaper. If Agoda is the same or cheaper then I book with them as they have a rewards program. Have to be sure one is comparing the same product between the two, however, i.e., breakfast?, taxes/service included?, internet charges?

In my experience, I would flip the percentage around and say at least 75% of the time, Agoda has better rate than booking direct, if you are set on the date and pay for it in advance (Agoda's non cancellable rate). Booking direct with the hotel (or paying rack rate), one has better flexibility to change the dates.

[THAIPHUKET]

1.The biggest advantage of hotelscombined.com is, compared to any other site, that you can see substantial differences in the product being offered. Double room is not double room, there often additional benefits which are offered by one and the other. Suggest to to do some test bookings and it is including taxes etc.

2. One reason for me to prefer a web site, for short stays, is security= I prefer to leave my credit card with a good travel site rather than with a number of hotels. The higher price is an indirect insurance fee I am willing to incur.

[Dancealot]

Ive had a hotel tell me if I wanted to stay longer at the same price I needed to re book on the internet. dam_n rude I thought.

That happened to me also. Had to book via the internet to get the same rate I had so I could extend 2 nights. Crazy.

Sadly, my experience also ...

But that's down to Hotel management ... not the desk Staff ... I'm always super nice to them ...

big smiles, speak the 10 words of Thai I know (not the rude ones), buy them chocolate, leave the hotel, book back in a few days later after travelling and nice little upgrade ... thank you very much ...

Doesn't work every time ... but I reckon I'm batting at least 500 ... and that makes me ...

.

Cunning fellow... I never bother myself with booking. I regard is as a nuance and with booking myself i grow expectations that will differ completely from when i am there.

Hotels on their websites always post the best pictures and try to make every room look better then they are in reality. Those smucks! Same as some Thai girls on dating sites-- .

I go to hotels recommended by people i know. Whenever i am in a new town i get any hotel of my liking and that day i will look around for a better 1.

But then again i dont have kids to drag around.... unlike yourself, Kris.