How do you book your travel?

[TomVexille]

I always book my hotels direct and although I do a little check to see what the online guys prices are, it has been years since I found a hotel that was more expensive and often they offer an extra something that is not price related. I don’t stick to any particular brand, so don’t have anything other than base memberships.

Anyway was taking advantage of our strong dollar to book my last hotel for the African trip (Hemingways in Nairobi), and was very surprised to find Expedia was about $110 per night cheaper than booking direct with the hotel. Tried a few others (booking.com, small luxury hotels etc) and they were the same as the hotel. Quickly booked and made a note to be more rigorous about checking in future. Look after the cents and there is more to spend on travel

Most hotels will now price beat the OTAs so always worth asking the question

 

[RooFlyer]

Why do I book my travel through my TA? As they are Virtuoso accredited, for ~A$10 more than the pre-paid internet rate at the Oberoi, Mumbai, I'll get upgrade if available, brekkie, lunch, early/late check-in/out, fruit/flowers etc

Damn .. I really wanted the Taj Palace

 

[Flying mermaid]

Why do I book my travel through my TA? As they are Virtuoso accredited, for ~A$10 more than the pre-paid internet rate at the Oberoi, Mumbai, I'll get upgrade if available, brekkie, lunch, early/late check-in/out, fruit/flowers etc

Damn .. I really wanted the Taj Palace

two of the kids stayed at the Taj in Mumbai almost exactly a year before it was attacked. The service was amazing. They had trouble with their credit cards so ended up having to go to an ATM, draw cash and pay the bill. By this time they were really late for the flight to Delhi. The Taj sent a staff member with them to the airport and sorted out all their travel difficulties for them. All of which has nothing to do with using a TA or not, but maybe a good reason why the Taj is the place to stay

Ps booking direct with the hotel often gets you those benefits as well

 

[Flying mermaid]

Most hotels will now price beat the OTAs so always worth asking the question

Yes I know, but just felt a bit reluctant to ask. That’s just the way I am...... It was just such a good price and no one else seemed to have it, so I just went with Expedia. Just a bit surprised as it has been years since I found any price difference. All the suites at Hemingways are the same (apart from two very expensive suites) and a slight difference in price for ground floor vs first floor, so I wasn’t too worried about booking via Expedia. Often booking through someone like them means you get the coughpiest room in that price bracket.

 

[GlobalT]

two of the kids stayed at the Taj in Mumbai almost exactly a year before it was attacked. The service was amazing. They had trouble with their credit cards so ended up having to go to an ATM, draw cash and pay the bill. By this time they were really late for the flight to Delhi. The Taj sent a staff member with them to the airport and sorted out all their travel difficulties for them. All of which has nothing to do with using a TA or not, but maybe a good reason why the Taj is the place to stay

Ps booking direct with the hotel often gets you those benefits as well

I stayed at the Taj Palace last year (booked direct online) and service was pretty impressive. Was upgraded to a suite on checkin, given free drinks in the private lounge while they completed the checkin process and when I went down to breakfast on the first morning I was greeted on arrival at the dining room by name (before I gave it to them). Beats the service I get at a hotel in Australia.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes I know, but just felt a bit reluctant to ask. That’s just the way I am...... It was just such a good price and no one else seemed to have it, so I just went with Expedia. Just a bit surprised as it has been years since I found any price difference. All the suites at Hemingways are the same (apart from two very expensive suites) and a slight difference in price for ground floor vs first floor, so I wasn’t too worried about booking via Expedia. Often booking through someone like them means you get the coughpiest room in that price bracket.

We stayed at the Taj Boston last year, and a lower price popped up so I just emailed them a screenshot asking the question and they happily beat it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ps booking direct with the hotel often gets you those benefits as well

Not in my experience (never had a free restaurant lunch from a hotel in 35 years of travelling), and I don't mind paying $10 to guarantee them.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not in my experience (never had a free restaurant lunch from a hotel in 35 years of travelling), and I don't mind paying $10 to guarantee them.

Each to their own . I don’t think I have ever had a free lunch either, but plenty of upgrades and free late checkouts. Often booking direct gets extras like breakfasts or meal credits as well. I have 45 years of travelling - maybe it is the extra 10 years that counts

Upgrades in the last few years include

Peninsula Hong Kong
Four seasons Sultanahmet
Ahwahnee in Yosemite - from a room to their Library suite

 

[Flying mermaid]

We stayed at the Taj Boston last year, and a lower price popped up so I just emailed them a screenshot asking the question and they happily beat it.

I should have - I did actually do that with the Taj in SFO a few years ago. Hemingways is just an independent group in Kenya, so I was a bit shy of doing it - in future I will be brave and ask the question. . Very happy with my Expedia price though - it is a 12% discount.

 

[TomVexille]

I should have - I did actually do that with the Taj in SFO a few years ago. Hemingways is just an independent group in Kenya, so I was a bit shy of doing it - in future I will be brave and ask the question. . Very happy with my Expedia price though - it is a 12% discount.

There's no reason they shouldn't though. Because now you're paying the lower rate AND they have to pay Expedia a commission

 

[Flying mermaid]

There's no reason they shouldn't though. Because now you're paying the lower rate AND they have to pay Expedia a commission

I know, I know - I promise to be better next time

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I am really interested to know what everyone else does, is there a more efficient way of doing it to ensure you get the best outcomes in terms of pricing, seating, hotels etc without having to go and visit a TA or without having to spend hours in front of a computer researching options?

A good TA can do amazing things ... if you know one. I've always DIY online and can't imagine ever using a TA. (Did know a very good one but she lived in a different city and no longer works as a TA.)

I don't mind spending hours researching options but usually end up using the same few online resources anyway, which are good enough that I don't worry afterwards about whether I've achieved the absolute best outcome that might have been possible.

Outside of airline sales, I check a few aggregators (e.g. google flights, kayak, skyscanner) for airfare pricing then normally book direct with the airline for peace of mind. Have used OTAs in the past but prefer to avoid them, having had past issues with expedia.com.au and expedia.com.br, though I did recently make a booking with eDreams!

For accommodation I prefer hotels by default, though airBnB can be a much better option in certain cities or circumstances. I very rarely book direct with hotels and almost always use Orbitz (part of Expedia) instead.

Orbitz has ongoing promo coupons, instantly redeemable reward dollars, plus its own loyalty system and complimentary perks at participating hotels. The status isn't worth chasing but is a small extra bonus since I'd book through them without it anyway. Orbitz charges in US$ but in my experience the converted post-coupon price is always cheaper than any Australian site.

May use other sites if there's an Amex offer of course, including Agoda, which has some properties not available through Orbitz. Not a fan of booking.com though it also has some cashback offers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The biggest advantage of booking(.com) for me is that many of their hotels offer free cancellation right up until day before arrival. Their prices aren't too bad and I've been saved many times by their generous policy.

Cheaptickets is also very cheap with their coupon (usually around 16% off). These are year-round and apply to non-chain hotels. Got some real bargains there.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Last time I used booking.com (four years ago) payment was processed by the hotel, with an Amex surcharge higher than what was listed. When I cancelled, the refund wasn't actioned and my later enquiry to booking.com was referred to the hotel, with them eventually refunding the base price sans surcharge.

That experience put me off booking.com, whereas the likes of Hotels.com, Orbitz, CheapTickets, etc. you're billed directly by them, no surcharges and easy refunds.

Cancellation periods seem to vary by hotel, but if it's the case that booking.com has longer free cancellation windows than other sites then that is a pretty good advantage.

Cheaptickets is also very cheap with their coupon (usually around 16% off). These are year-round and apply to non-chain hotels. Got some real bargains there.

CheapTickets is a subsidiary of Orbitz/Expedia and largely identical to Orbitz, which offers another option.

While Orbitz coupons are typically 1-2% lower, that's offset by the instantly redeemable reward dollars (similar to the former HotelClub). Plus there's the status benefits from Orbitz Rewards, which are modest for Gold (e.g. complimentary gifts such as premium wifi or a bottle of wine) but can potentially include room upgrades at participating hotels for Platinum.

CheapTickets has CheapCash but I've never looked into that closely.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Last time I used booking.com (four years ago) payment was processed by the hotel, with an Amex surcharge higher than what was listed. When I cancelled, the refund wasn't actioned and my later enquiry to booking.com was referred to the hotel, with them eventually refunding the base price sans surcharge.

I guess it comes down to payment choices and country. For refundable rates via booking(.com) the hotel itself sometimes puts through an authorisation on my card about a week out (which drops off). Then they charge me direct at the hotel on check-in (or check-out). I pay with 28 degrees and haven't been charged a surcharge. But these are all for overseas hotels... never used one in Australia.

I have to admit I've never redeemed any hotel$$ through any company (other than Accor). Prices vary between hotel booking sites so much that I rarely use each one more than a couple times each year and never get enough for a cash back. (And we're talking a couple hundred dollars difference between sites so too big to offset any cash back.)

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Orbitz rewards dollars are instantly redeemable. You get an amount for each booking and can immediately apply them to the next booking. Not a massive windfall, but there's no mucking around with converting points to dollars, redeeming a minimum amount, not being able to combine with coupons, etc.

Booking.com has had many recent popular cashback offers (see OzBargain). I've never used them but believe it is as simple as you get cashback to your credit card after completing the stay. There's only 2 negative votes against over 1,800 positive votes, so it appears legit.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Orbitz rewards dollars are instantly redeemable. You get an amount for each booking and can immediately apply them to the next booking.

Also you earn reward dollars as soon as you make a booking (not after you stay), and can apply them immediately to your next booking.