Success in Reducing Secret Hotel Rate with Experdia

[aniki_xiao]

Hi All,

Recently I booked an Expedia Secret Saver Hotel for Singapore for around 270AUD, then one week later the hotel reduced the advertised booking rate to $210 AUD. Anyone had success in getting Expedia to match the a reduced rate?

I called up and they said their Price guarantee don't apply to the Secret Saver rate and the guarantee last for only 24 hrs anyway. After my 4th call they offered a $50 Expedia voucher, but I want them to match the advertised rate as the $50 voucher has many caveats over its usage.

In case anyone is wondering which secret hotel it is, It is the Intercontinental Singapore. The secret hotel atm on Expedia for Singapore should still be it. When I booked for 270ish their advertised rate was 275+, so I only saved $5AUD. This is the last time I book any secret hotel and use Expedia.

Or should I try to contact the Hotel directly and ask them if they can reduce the rate?

Thanks!

 

[mella2007]

You were lucky to even be offered a $50 voucher with Expedia as compensation. Normally they do not budge from their rules. No point calling the hotel, they will want nothing to do with the booking with the fact you didn't book through the hotel direct (they will pass you back to Expedia)
It is the luck of the draw when buying off these sites....Wotif, Last Minute etc..no one will offer you anything if the rate changes!

 

[Alanslegal]

Or should I try to contact the Hotel directly and ask them if they can reduce the rate?

Welcome to AFF.

You knew the risks, pro's and con's when booking "secret" hotel rooms and were very lucky to have received the $50 voucher.

I have utilised these secret hotel bookings in the past, usually with Hotwire and Priceline, and have saved alot of money in doing so. Examples include $90 per night at the Sheraton Waikiki when the hotel's rate were closer to $200 per night [so that 10 night stay, saved $1,000 easily], Westin Paris at $240 pn when the hotel's rates were over $400 pn.

Anyway, let's reverse that, IF the hotel rate went UP ... do you expect the hotel to call you and say, the price has gone up ... now please pay $100 more? So if the answer is No to that, then the answer is No to your question if the price goes down then that's the game we play. Prices fluctuate very frequently so you only book rooms at rates you are comfortable with. Now, most programs have Best Rate Guarantees or similar, so if you prices drop within a specified timeframe, you're entitled to make the most of those promises.

Anyway, don't stop using these sites as you can easily save money, but hopefully next time you will be more informed about the risks, the pro's and the con's of that booking method.