Turning up at Hotels with no reservation

MsQuinn

Anyone any experience of this? Was thinking of doing it this year instead of pre booking.

A few years ago, I thought I had booked a room in a Hotel in Killarney but when we arrived they had no record. When I checked my booking online, I realised I hadn't pressed confirm so booking did not go through.

So anyway, they said I could book there and then. I got a room for the same price for two nights. But the room I go was excellent. It had a four poster bed, jacuzzi in the bedroom (yuk - but if your into that...) and a private balcony with table and chairs overlooking the lake.

I doubt I would have got the same room if I had pre booked. Maybe they just felt sorry for me being so dumb in the first place.

MsQuinn

MsQuinn wrote: »

Anyone any experience of this? Was thinking of doing it this year instead of pre booking.

A few years ago, I thought I had booked a room in a Hotel in Killarney but when we arrived they had no record. When I checked my booking online, I realised I hadn't pressed confirm so booking did not go through.

So anyway, they said I could book there and then. I got a room for the same price for two nights. But the room I go was excellent. It had a four poster bed, jacuzzi in the bedroom (yuk - but if your into that...) and a private balcony with table and chairs overlooking the lake.

I doubt I would have got the same room if I had pre booked. Maybe they just felt sorry for me being so dumb in the first place.

Eh......it's grand if they have rooms. What if they're full?

Also, you almost always get better rates if you book on a third party website instead of directly with the hotel.

fermanagh_man

Depends on a number of factors

Day of the week, time of year, location of hotel - if its weekend in a busy hotel its likely to be fully booked.

You can usually haggle on room price if its quiet

Jocelynel

i find bookings.com the cheapest most of the time, but lidl breaks can be great value too.
https://www.lidl-breaks.ie/

with working away mid week, i never book in advance and have been getting great deals b&b and evening meal by just turning up on the day

would not turn up without pre-booking during july / august now!

belcampprisoner

booking on line is cheaper

prebooking at peak times is a must

MsQuinn

Obviously wouldn't expect availability at peak times. Was thinking more of mid week in September as that is when I usually take my hols.

Never heard of lidl breaks so will give that a look now.

Fratton Fred

If a hotel cant sell a room, they cant sell it twice the following day to make up for it, so haggling with a half empty hotel at five in the afternoon should get you the nest rates.

Should.

JustAThought

Ive Done this a Lot on the continent but you prepare to spend a fair bit of your day worrying & driving about looking for
Nice Looking hotels & haggling or being disappointed & having to stay in the dowdy next door hotel with no pool.
Now I compromise and book
Last minute On the Internet where you get the benefit of the reduced rates & can check out the pictures & facilities in advance to make sure you're not staying in a fleapit!!

Last minute.com
Needaroom.com
Hotels.com

Has worked really well for me & you can typically stay in more lovely places - however - sometimes the saving isn't that great for mid range hotels & you
End up staying somewhere you'd
Really rather have been in " that" other place that didn't have spaces for your nights!!!

You were particularly lucky with the jacuzzi!! I wouldn't take that as normal
At all!!

Have fun!

Balmed Out

from thinking logically that this should work, ive tried quite a few times over the years but it never has. they tend actually to refuse to even match on line offers and will stand there watching you book on line before checking you in and welcoming you to the hotel.