Le Rip off

Geofff_2

Hi all,

Has anyone experienced this issue when trying to book accommodation through TripAdvisor?

I find the perfect place, right location, right number of beds, good price and available. I select to email the manager only for the manager to come back to me and tell me the place is unavailable on those dates but if I would like to select one of these other more expensive, further out of town options then they would be happy to help.

This has happened a number of times with a number of Rental managers.

Can any one suggest a good source of Paris holiday accommodation for a family of four?

Thanks
Geoff

jpsartre

Has anyone experienced that the place they want is fully booked? I'm sure lots of people have. If you're looking to book at the top-rated TA hotels they are often booked a long time in advance. Not sure why you consider that a rip-off.

Geofff_2

Sorry, I may not have been clear in my original post.

The booking site, Travel Adviser, informs you through their calendar that the places are available. They clearly show where it's available and where its not. You reply to only those that are available. and only then you are told they are not.

Obviously, if a place is booked a place is booked.

By way of post script - the ones I have been told are booked still show as available???

But perhaps Rip off is too strong a word. But it does seem to be a method to hook the unwary in.

Cheers

jpsartre

Sounds like a problem with Tripadvisor not being properly updated. Never used the site to search for availability. Usually how I do it is to have a look at the toprated hotels for the town I'm visiting and then check for availability/exact prices on the hotel's own website. I don't think I've ever personally contacted a manager to enquire about availability. Seems even small hotels these days have online booking systems in place. If you are looking to book at places that do not it could explain why TA's calendar isn't properly updated.

Caz3121

Agreed with above, you mention these are rentals rather than hotels. Unless the rentals update their information to TripAdvisor, these will still show up in the search. TripAdvisor can only display the information it has. In this case TripAdvisor is great for look at places but it is not a live booking system (it is an information portal that can display the information it is made aware of)