Hotel reservations booking question
Oct 12th, 2004, 11:59 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hotel reservations booking question
Hi again.
More questions about our May 05 trip to Italy....When booking hotel reservations...does anyone use a travel agent anymore? Or do you think the best rates are online? Would you recommend calling or emailing? Of course we just want to get the best rates at the best hotels we can...but not sure if travel agent is the way to go.
Thanks.
k
More questions about our May 05 trip to Italy....When booking hotel reservations...does anyone use a travel agent anymore? Or do you think the best rates are online? Would you recommend calling or emailing? Of course we just want to get the best rates at the best hotels we can...but not sure if travel agent is the way to go.
Thanks.
k
Oct 12th, 2004, 12:16 PM
#3
I decide the hotel(s) I want from guidebook and/or internet research. Then contact the hotel directly by fax or email. I have no idea if this will get you the "best rates at the best hotels" but I feel it gives me the most control of the situation and best chances of getting exactly what I want. (Results have been~ so far so good.)
Oct 12th, 2004, 12:26 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't use a travel agent, but some people do. From what I read in travel magazines, they may still be advised to get your good deals or special upgrades/rooms at expensive hotels or resorts, or maybe some top chains. They can't get you any special rate at small, modest European hotels.
I can't address hotel rates structures in Italy as I'm not familiar with them. In the countries I am most familiar with, there is not a lot of game playing with posted rates, they are what they are--online or if you call. That may be a function of the kind of hotels I book, also (usually 3* moderate-sized hotels, sometimes 2* or rarely 4* but then only small independent hotels).
If you don't mind calling, I think that can work best--you clearly get the most immediate feedback. I admit I do email (or FAX) for countries where I don't speak the language, as I think it is clearer to have things in writing and we both have more time to think. Sometimes this is very efficient and quick; sometimes it can delay things some days or you might miss out on a room.
I did just get off the phone to a hotel reservations guy in Mexico to reserve a room because it was a popular hotel I thought was filling up for my period--he speaks very good English and I speak Spanish enough to get by. However, I had laid the groundwork in an email as to what I wanted, the dates, important points (for me, the quietest room possible) and that saved a lot of time. He had called me at home last night and at work about this request, so I know he was going out of his way to talk to me, so I called him this morning. I had no problem conversing with him, but I will admit, my Spanish came in very useful with the person who originally answered the phone. I had to then request a couple times that he email me a formal confirmation letter with specifics, as he wanted his verbally telling me I had a reservation to be enough. I like things in writing so there are no mistakes. I told him I would email him asking for the confirmation so he could just "return reply". He liked that idea. I think it's a good idea to get something in writing, regardless of how you reserve.
Now, Ira knows Itally well, I think -- is that kind of bargaining common over room rates? I was just thinking that sometimes the person who answers the phone may have no authority to change room rates, and if you are going to negotiate, that might work better in writing (email or FAX), so they have time to think about it and check with the manager or whomever can do that. I think it might put some people off if you ask them that on the phone as it's so "in your face" kind of aggressive, and it may be easier to save face and for professional reasons, to give discounts to written requests. Also, you don't have to worry about people nearby overhearing you giving discounts to someone else.
I could be way off base on that -- I just was thinking how I'd react if some foreigner called me up and demanded a rate discount on the phone, citing something they said they found on the internet somewhere, and I had no notice they would do this. Also, this idea of finding the cheapest rate and asking them to "match it." well, maybe they will, but that's another thing they may want to check out to verify. I would write to do that.
I can't address hotel rates structures in Italy as I'm not familiar with them. In the countries I am most familiar with, there is not a lot of game playing with posted rates, they are what they are--online or if you call. That may be a function of the kind of hotels I book, also (usually 3* moderate-sized hotels, sometimes 2* or rarely 4* but then only small independent hotels).
If you don't mind calling, I think that can work best--you clearly get the most immediate feedback. I admit I do email (or FAX) for countries where I don't speak the language, as I think it is clearer to have things in writing and we both have more time to think. Sometimes this is very efficient and quick; sometimes it can delay things some days or you might miss out on a room.
I did just get off the phone to a hotel reservations guy in Mexico to reserve a room because it was a popular hotel I thought was filling up for my period--he speaks very good English and I speak Spanish enough to get by. However, I had laid the groundwork in an email as to what I wanted, the dates, important points (for me, the quietest room possible) and that saved a lot of time. He had called me at home last night and at work about this request, so I know he was going out of his way to talk to me, so I called him this morning. I had no problem conversing with him, but I will admit, my Spanish came in very useful with the person who originally answered the phone. I had to then request a couple times that he email me a formal confirmation letter with specifics, as he wanted his verbally telling me I had a reservation to be enough. I like things in writing so there are no mistakes. I told him I would email him asking for the confirmation so he could just "return reply". He liked that idea. I think it's a good idea to get something in writing, regardless of how you reserve.
Now, Ira knows Itally well, I think -- is that kind of bargaining common over room rates? I was just thinking that sometimes the person who answers the phone may have no authority to change room rates, and if you are going to negotiate, that might work better in writing (email or FAX), so they have time to think about it and check with the manager or whomever can do that. I think it might put some people off if you ask them that on the phone as it's so "in your face" kind of aggressive, and it may be easier to save face and for professional reasons, to give discounts to written requests. Also, you don't have to worry about people nearby overhearing you giving discounts to someone else.
I could be way off base on that -- I just was thinking how I'd react if some foreigner called me up and demanded a rate discount on the phone, citing something they said they found on the internet somewhere, and I had no notice they would do this. Also, this idea of finding the cheapest rate and asking them to "match it." well, maybe they will, but that's another thing they may want to check out to verify. I would write to do that.
Oct 13th, 2004, 05:12 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>I just was thinking how I'd react if some foreigner called me up and demanded a rate discount on the phone, citing something they said they found on the internet somewhere...<
I was thinking more on the lines of
"Bon Giorono Signore(a), Parla Inglese, per favore?"
Short wait for someone who speaks English.
"Thank you for speaking English. I found a rate of ..... at ...... Do you have a room at that rate?"
The hotel knows what rates they are advertising through internet brokers. By calling them directly I can get their lower rate and they don't have to pay a commission.
I was thinking more on the lines of
"Bon Giorono Signore(a), Parla Inglese, per favore?"
Short wait for someone who speaks English.
"Thank you for speaking English. I found a rate of ..... at ...... Do you have a room at that rate?"
The hotel knows what rates they are advertising through internet brokers. By calling them directly I can get their lower rate and they don't have to pay a commission.
Oct 13th, 2004, 05:16 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 13th, 2004, 10:18 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've booked most hotels through the hotel's email. In some cases I did it by phone if I couldn't find the direct email. I've never booked using a booking site. I need quad accommodations and want to get specifics and bed configuration, etc. I think dealing with the hotels directly usually gets as good a rate as any, and you can make specific requests.
Oct 13th, 2004, 11:07 AM
#10
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I found a nifty site this morning...it asked for my arrival/departure ...then it listed all the hotels available for my dates...and listing was accompanied by a tiny picture, address and of course, map, comments as to any "special promotions" "Kitchenettes" etc.. It was called MartLink.com. There were some really fine deals available "if only" I find the ways and means to get there Thanksgiving week...I won't be able to this year but a girl can hope!
Now that said, I was only on the Paris portion...but there were other cities available.
Now that said, I was only on the Paris portion...but there were other cities available.
