Mugeturkey

Has anyone had the same bad experience with asiarooms.com as I've had? They advertise a cheap room rate. When you make a reservation, they take your credit card number. Then a couple of days later, they inform you that the hotel is fully booked, and they recommend a different, but usually more expensive hotel. This is a bait and switch operation in my opinion. They are guilty of fraudulent conduct.

rhkkmk

the way most of these discount sites work is that they accept a provisional res from you, then they contact the hotel to see if there is availability....the rate quoted is a rate that they had pre-established for the season based on availability...so if the hotel comes back and says that we have rooms but not at the discount rate, then they offer you an alternative, most probably at a higher rate....

i do not see this as bait and switch...they could have just told you that the hotel was sold out but in order to offer you service they have given you an alternative...

the airlines do this all the time, so why is it any different for a hotel to do this??

Bella_Bluebell

I don't think is a problem as long as your credit card is not charged AND you have the option of turning down the offer of the second hotel.

However, I do not like giving my credit card details out prior to having certainty that a room is available and it sounds like you may prefer this also. I use www.sawadee.com - the rates are good but they will get back to you to tell you whether the room is available BEFORE you provide your credit card details. If a room is available, you are then given about 48 hours to pay the deposit.

Hope this helps
BB

rhkkmk

sawadee is the same as the hua hin site that i always promote

Craig

I used asiarooms for three different hotels in Bangkok last month (Amari Airport, Peninsula and Plaza Athenee) and had no problems. I did reserve well in advance so it was unlikely that the hotels would be booked. Asiarooms did have the lowest rate for each of the three hotels - I checked all of the usual sites. I don't see what the big deal is about giving your credit card number - they don't charge it until the reservation is made - saves an extra step later. The most important thing with asiarooms is to be sure of your dates as they do not have a good reputation for prompt refunds.

rkkwan

I also don't think it's bait-and-switch or that it's fradulent. However, it's certainly annoying. And I am not sure why rhkkmk says airlines do it all the time. The airline's own website or the major booking sites don't do it; only some discount sites and consolidators do it.

Anyways, if one has lots of time, this can save you some money. But I like instant confirmation, as I don't want to wait up to 24 hours to hear back from one hotel, and then have to go through it all again if it doesn't go through.