What's your tip(s) for surviving the cesspool of Hotel booking websites?

[albatross710]

I'm ok with the cashback providing some better pricing. But it's more than price. Are there other hacks that we have?

Achieving better flexibility?
Cancellation policy consistency?

I wonder what / who decide cancellation policies? Sometimes a venue will have non-cancel then next time I look the site will say can be cancelled up to 1 day before. Then next site will say something different. I think this is intentional confusion strategy as I sometimes even see things like "Yes has cancellation" then somewhere will say "for the next 48 hours only" yet I'm booking three months ahead.

Another one I see is "price range". I might set a price range at say $200-$300 then the search results will include $200-$400 properties.

As for location, "Sydney CBD" results will often include Parramatta hotels.

These last two are just booking site marketers being smart.

 

[laffer]

I have to say I am quite stunned at some of the prices Euro hotels are trying to gouge for in Winter. Hotels close to triple the price of what I have previously paid. Despite my searches there seems no relief in sight other than star downgrades and even then the prices are inflated. I taken up the option of an Air BNB in one city. Maybe I need to be more ready to book them?

 

[JohnK]

Apologies this is older thread but I think still relevant.

It's been getting harder to and harder to book hotels in Thailand. Hotels getting older and in need of maintenance yet room rates ever increasing.

I try to look for bargains. Try to spend as less as possible but avoid dumps. We don't usually change bed sheets (every 3-4 nights) so not much need for housekeeping. Breakfast is optional and totally depends on what's charged. Latest hotel we stayed wanted 200 baht per person for very basic breakfast. Room already included breakfast for 2 so wife and daughter went to breakfast. 2 boiled eggs at golf is 30 baht. Don't need more.

Whenever checking websites many had non-refundable room rates so almost always end up at Agoda as their cheapest room rates were fully refundable. What I've noticed the past couple of months is that almost all Agoda lead-in rates are now non-refundable. It's not that they're offering cheaper room rates. It's they've taken away flexibility.

A few months back September/October room rates were looking ridiculous. Now they're looking a little better but no flexibility. I'm a little sceptical booking something 5 months out without any flexibility. Thailand tourism is suffering. This is going to be a really low low season. May see further discounted room rates if they don't achieve desired room occupancy.