On-line Booking Agencies

philip1988

I wonder if someone can help me.


There is a specific hotel that I want to book as part of our tour around Sicily. Normally I book direct with the hotel, however in this particular case the hotel has no on-line booking facility and full payment must be made before arrival by bank transfer. I am uncomfortable with this because I lose the security of paying by credit card and there being the charge for making an international transfer.


From reading reviews I am aware that on-line booking agencies don't have a particularly good reputation but the advantage of using them is that I can pay via credit card. Can anyone recommend the better agencies for being able to solve any problems should they arise.

DCFC79

Apologies I cant answer your question but why that particular hotel ? Why not another who have an online presence or book via 1 of the hotel comparison sites ?

dj1471

Pre-payment by bank transfer screams scam. Are you sure you're looking at the hotel's real website?

Book with one of the big names - Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com etc. I usually use Hotels.com as they're reliable and will price match any better price you find right up to the day before check-in.

philip1988

dj1471 wrote: »

Pre-payment by bank transfer screams scam. Are you sure you're looking at the hotel's real website?

Book with one of the big names - Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com etc. I usually use Hotels.com as they're reliable and will price match any better price you find right up to the day before check-in.

Thanks for your reply. I did think it a bit strange so I emailed them to confirm (from another source) and they confirmed that to be the case. I had thought that Hotels.com might be the best and their price matches the price direct with the hotel

philip1988

DCFC79 wrote: »

Apologies I cant answer your question but why that particular hotel ? Why not another who have an online presence or book via 1 of the hotel comparison sites ?

Problem with Sicily is finding a hotel which is of the required standard, good location and doesn't break the bank. This hotel meeets that criteria

Thanks I will have a look at comparision sites

benjus

dj1471 wrote: »

Pre-payment by bank transfer screams scam. Are you sure you're looking at the hotel's real website?

While I agree that bank transfers are risky and you do need to do some due diligence before agreeing to one, I wouldn't say that it necessarily means it's a scam. I've stayed at several places over the last few years where a bank transfer was the only payment option. You just need to do some research then decide whether or not you trust them. If not, find somewhere else to stay or find a safer way to make the booking.

Bank transfers don't have to be expensive - OK, it won't be as cheap as using a Halifax Clarity or similar card, but if you use a service like TransferWise it won't cost you much - and it will probably be cheaper than using a bog-standard credit/debit card to pay in foreign currency.

PeacefulWaters

philip1988 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I did think it a bit strange so I emailed them to confirm (from another source) and they confirmed that to be the case. I had thought that Hotels.com might be the best and their price matches the price direct with the hotel

I'd be booking via Hotels.com then.

Topcashback commission. Card acceptance. Free night contribution.

Voyager2002

philip1988 wrote: »

From reading reviews I am aware that on-line booking agencies don't have a particularly good reputation but the advantage of using them is that I can pay via credit card. Can anyone recommend the better agencies for being able to solve any problems should they arise.

I have used hotels.com many times and never had any problems; therefore I cannot say anything about their ability to solve problems. Since you know the hotel and have obviously taken a good deal of time and trouble to check everything, it seems highly unlikely that you would have any problems.

bagand96

Generally there's not too much that can go wrong with a Hotel booking.

Hotels.com are part of Expedia (so are eBookers, Travelocity, Venere, Cheaptickets, Orbitz and also the trivago comparison site).

Generally all of the sites will have the same price, but it's worth looking at all of them as sometimes prices do vary, or you will find a discount coupon for one them, or a favourable Topcashback rate. Just choose the cheapest as customer services etc are all done centrally.