Booking Hotel

Tim Robbins

Hi,
I was needing to book a hotel for a trip away and I came across this website,
http://www.1800hotels.ie/, it got me thinking are my better off going direct to a hotel to make a booking or going to a broker?
Basically, my fear would be I make a booking with a broker or middle man and it I don't actually get what I pay for?
any tips?
Cheers

Benedict XVI

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Hi,
I was needing to book a hotel for a trip away and I came across this website,
http://www.1800hotels.ie/, it got me thinking are my better off going direct to a hotel to make a booking or going to a broker?
Basically, my fear would be I make a booking with a broker or middle man and it I don't actually get what I pay for?
any tips?
Cheers

I usually try both,

Get a quote from the 'middleman', then call the hotel or look at their site and see if they can match or better it, sometimes they can, sometimes they can't, it's no harm trying.

ncmc

I used 1800hotels.ie for a recent trip to Paris. I checked the hotels own website and the price was the same, but with our 1800hotels booking we got breakfast included (we would have had to pay if we booked direct with the hotel). I would normally price both and see which is the better deal.

I have to say I found them brilliant to deal with, I had a couple of queries and they were dealt with quickly and efficiently. Also unlike a lot of the hotel websites (i'm talking to you hotels.com!) the price you see includes all the taxes etc, so no nasty suprises at checkout.

I would definitely use them again and have recommended them to friends.

P. Breathnach

Like Benedict XVI, I have used both approaches and gone with the one that delivers the best deal for my circumstances. There can be differences, such as the breakfast that ncmc got, or you might get a better rate from a broker by paying upfront, something that might or might not suit you.

Meathlass

I've used 1800hotels lots of times with no problem, they were usually cheaper but on our last trip to London we stayed in Jurys and their own website compared to 1800 hotels was about 150 euros cheaper. Even on the hotels own website make sure you go through all the options - don't believe their best rate quote, check out the lesiure saver/city break/weekend packages etc. That's how I got my cheap price with Jurys.

OPENROAD

I always book direct with the hotel, much better imo also depending on hotel they will gurantee to give the lowest rate so if you do find a cheaper rate elsewhere they will match it if all details are the same.

Pythia

I used hotels.com as they gave me a 15% discount for booking 3 nights which the hotel didn't.

trek climber

ncmc wrote: »

I used 1800hotels.ie for a recent trip to Paris. I checked the hotels own website and the price was the same, but with our 1800hotels booking we got breakfast included (we would have had to pay if we booked direct with the hotel). I would normally price both and see which is the better deal.

I have to say I found them brilliant to deal with, I had a couple of queries and they were dealt with quickly and efficiently. Also unlike a lot of the hotel websites (i'm talking to you hotels.com!) the price you see includes all the taxes etc, so no nasty suprises at checkout.

I would definitely use them again and have recommended them to friends.

We are going over to Paris in October for a weekend away - would you recommend a hotel there as we have never been there before.
Thanks..

danindublin

I'm a little bit weary of paying up front for any hotel - though I did it in germany last year and it saved me a packet.

Looking at boston at the mo, most sites are charging $456 (~€294) e.g. hotels.com but 1800hotels.ie have it for €201 - seems kinda strange. Should probably just take my bargain and shut-up!

D

ncmc

trek climber wrote: »

We are going over to Paris in October for a weekend away - would you recommend a hotel there as we have never been there before.
Thanks..

The hotel we stayed was called Kyriad d'Italie, it was fine, pretty basic but clean and comfortable. Plus it was cheap! It cost us less than €80 per night including brekkie which is mega cheap in Paris.

However, it was quite a bit out of the action, it was a 20-30min Metro journey to any of the main sites. We knew that before we went and were fine with it as we were there for 5 nights and had been before. If you are only going for a weekend, I would recommend somewhere more central (the 5th and 6th arrondissements are good areas). You don't want to waste half your weekend stuck on a Metro.

Why don't you post a seperate topic asking this question? I'm sure you will get loads of good recommendations, a regular contributor to this forum, Ponster actually lives in Paris so you should get plenty of suggestions.

Enjoy! Paris is beautiful!

ncmc

danindublin wrote: »

I'm a little bit weary of paying up front for any hotel - though I did it in germany last year and it saved me a packet.

Looking at boston at the mo, most sites are charging $456 (~€294) e.g. hotels.com but 1800hotels.ie have it for €201 - seems kinda strange. Should probably just take my bargain and shut-up!

D

You will be fine with this site, I would jump at that bargain! The only thing is that the cancellation policy is pretty tough, you lose a lot of what you paid, so you'd wanna be sure you were going!

FantasticWinner

You've probably already booked - but if anyone else reads this thread I think they should be warned that 1800hotels.ie is not trustworthy.

We booked a room at the Hilton in San Francisco for New Years Eve through this site - we got a really great rate and were excited for a great night out. When we got to the hotel to check-in, they had no reservation for us - and even though we had a confirmation from this company, the Hilton would not recognize it and was booked out for the night. We called the company's 24-hour customer service line...and no one was there.

When we got back to Ireland, we contacted the company and told them about our ordeal, but they refused a refund. I had confirmation from the Hilton that there was no reservation for that night for us and the company still wouldn't budge, insisting that there had been a reservation. It was only after I threatened legal action that they admitted that they accidently made the reservation for the 21st of December instead of the 31st.

Long story short: Do not book with this company. And if you already have - call the hotel and double-check that they have a reservation in your name for the date that you booked.

WENTY07

Sorry to hear your bad experience re 1800hotels but in my case i've used them on a number of occasions and have been very happy with them and hotels selected.From talking to friends bookings com seems a lot less reliable.

Also,if you book with 1800 Over the phone,you can ask for a person who you've dealt with previously so you have a contact name which doesnt happen with other hotel websites from what i see.

OPENROAD

I think it is always worth looking at a hotels official website also, as many of them will guarantee the lowest rate and will match the rate if you find one cheaper, also I feel it is an advantage to deal directly with the hotel.

Dodge

Bottom line is; Shop Around. Plenty of websites willing to book hotels for you. I've used booking.com a couple of times recently as they were cheaper than hotel site, and I could cancel without any charge (up to 24/48hours before check in).

The Ibis is another hotel that allows you to book without taking a deposit/paying upfront.

I've used hotels.com and needahotel.com in the past with no problems (but without the flexibility) and regularly book directly with hotel