Hotel Booking Websites

Skramit on 21/10/2015 - 17:00

Hi OzBargainers,

Was wondering with sites like Trivago, Booking.com etc…. they advertise quite low prices, and in my experience much lower than trying to book with the hotel directly. I'm looking at heading to the singapore GP next year where hotel rates are extreme (fair enough), and found a good hotel with reasonable rates on the dates i want on trivago. When I rang the hotel to try to book directly (my preference) they told me there's a $150 surcharge on top of the usual rate. So I asked if this applies to rates if I book through trivago and they said yes.

But how does this does this actually work? The rates on trivago clearly don't include this $150 per night surcharge. Should I risk it and book the cheap rates? Will I simply get slugged $150/night when I turn up and if I do…. do i have a leg to stand on? Trivago rates are pay up front and nothing I can see on the site or the T&C says anything about $150 surcharge on top. Is my sale contract with the booking site or the hotel?

It's a bit of a "what if" question ….. but wondering whether to just risk it and book the cheap rates while I can?

Anyone have experience with the booking sites, paying up front and then being slugged surcharges on arrival?

Cheers.

Travel

Comments

  • mbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 17:18
    +2

    Trivago is only a hotel comparison site. You don't make direct bookings with Trivage. You need to check which website/agent you went to where you saw the cheaper rate.

  • Skramit on 21/10/2015 - 17:37

    It forwards on to another site you're correct, but even those T&c have no mention of another fee. :/

  • PVA on 21/10/2015 - 18:07

    contact the hotel direct and find out the price.
    I shopped around a few months ago for hotels in Brisbane - hotels.com, etc even wotif and the like, found one and looked on their site directly and they were nearly 10% cheaper by booking directly. I guess the booking sites need to make money somehow.

      • PVA on 21/10/2015 - 18:11

        oops, stopped reading after the first paragraph. sorry 'bout that.

    • mbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 18:11

      that's what OP did - "When I rang the hotel to try to book directly (my preference) they told me there's a $150 surcharge on top of the usual rate"

      • PVA on 21/10/2015 - 18:12

        beat you too it, I already apologised.

  • jennkei on 21/10/2015 - 18:37

    That sounds dodgy. Never had a hotel try to take extra on top of what I'd already paid upfront with the booking company. (Most was deposit/cc imprint.)

    I would avoid, but as Cheap Charlie says, post the hotel in question and we can have a look.

  • battler on 21/10/2015 - 20:34
    +1

    also factor in the 5-10% cashback that can be had from using booking sites like hotelclub, hotels, webjet, and lots more, plus coupon codes on top of that, eg $100 off $800 spend at webjet that was posted earlier today.

  • DarkOz on 22/10/2015 - 07:34

    $150 surcharge per night? Is this a security bond or something you need to pay on top of your hotel fees? I don't quite understand what that $150 surcharge is for.

    • Skramit on 22/10/2015 - 08:25

      It's basically an F1 weekend surcharge because they can.

      • DarkOz on 22/10/2015 - 08:46

        Wow, $150 surcharge per night is literally around 50% of its normal price. A bit steep for a sporting event…

  • piggyfund on 22/10/2015 - 11:18

    I've only ever booked hotels via expedia, Entertainment card and scoopon and they all worked great and saved a ton of money. I did a lot of comparisons to get the best price for the hotel of choice. If you are going during F1, I don't think you can avoid this peak surcharge. If you book online you may be able to avoid it but when you check in they may ask for it at the actual hotel.

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