asiarooms.com?
Sep 16th, 2005, 06:27 PM
#21
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Maybe the people who had problems with asiarooms.com were the source of the problem. Asiarooms.com arent here to defend themselves either. I had no problems using them. Correspondence was great as well.
Sep 21st, 2005, 02:06 AM
#22
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Hi there,
I hae booked my hotel in bangkok with asiarooms, the booking is very quick, but they charged me something I have never booked. After my five times phone calls and three e-mails to their accounting department including managing director, I have received no replies to date. So my advise is be very cautious using them. They simply just ignore you on purpose.
I hae booked my hotel in bangkok with asiarooms, the booking is very quick, but they charged me something I have never booked. After my five times phone calls and three e-mails to their accounting department including managing director, I have received no replies to date. So my advise is be very cautious using them. They simply just ignore you on purpose.
Sep 21st, 2005, 07:20 AM
#23
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Has anyone booked the BKK Pen through Asiarooms? I am trying to compare rates for the Pen, and on their website site it says that "breakfast included: to be determined." When I emailed them for a yes or no answer on whether or not breakfast is included in the rate, they still said "to be determined". Not very helpful....
Sep 21st, 2005, 06:47 PM
#25
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Hello there. I have used Asiarooms.com many many times for hotels in thailand, and have been very happy with the service. i have looked at most of the sites out there, and Asiarooms surely has some of the most competive rates out there. I have also used them for last mintue bookings, such as the day before. Another booking site i have used is directrooms.com somewhat comparable to Asiarooms.com
Sep 22nd, 2005, 10:11 PM
#26
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I just booked then Pen thru Asiarooms. Got the best rate i could find by a long chalk and it definately included breakfast.
I too was nervous about using them but i got my reply Monday morn after booking Thurs night (uk time) i even contacted the Pen and they have confirmed they have my reservation....So, so far i have been happy using them.
I too was nervous about using them but i got my reply Monday morn after booking Thurs night (uk time) i even contacted the Pen and they have confirmed they have my reservation....So, so far i have been happy using them.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 12:57 AM
#27
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I have used AsiaRooms twice for my forthcoming trip to Thailand and Laos, both times they have been good and prompt, better than a lot of UK hotel booking web sites. Like you I have checked with the hotel as well
Sep 23rd, 2005, 07:40 AM
#28
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Hi, just a quick note on this one,
I was recently in Thailand and needed two hotels at short notice, I found asiarooms to have the best rates! But when they tried to confirm bookings I was told that the hotels were full!! I was well aware that the hotels were not full. I tried calling the numbers listed on the site and they never worked, I asked a local thai person about the number and they said that they were Cell phone numbers!! I also asked the hotel manager what he new about asiarooms and he said that they had such cheap prices that they were often told that the hotel was full! Anyway, my advice is book well in advance as it takes 24 hours to confirm bookings.
I was recently in Thailand and needed two hotels at short notice, I found asiarooms to have the best rates! But when they tried to confirm bookings I was told that the hotels were full!! I was well aware that the hotels were not full. I tried calling the numbers listed on the site and they never worked, I asked a local thai person about the number and they said that they were Cell phone numbers!! I also asked the hotel manager what he new about asiarooms and he said that they had such cheap prices that they were often told that the hotel was full! Anyway, my advice is book well in advance as it takes 24 hours to confirm bookings.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 01:49 PM
#29
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Well...I ended switching hotels in BKK for my upcoming trip and seem to be having a heck of a time getting my refund credited back to my CC. Starting to really make me mad and, if not fixed soon, will make me definitely advise against asiarooms in spite of the favorable pricing.
Shade
Shade
Sep 23rd, 2005, 02:34 PM
#30
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Having a similar problem. Cancelled a reservation worth $664 US. Still waiting for a credit card refund after several e-mail and phone call attempts. STAY AWAY! Some of you all might have had a good experience, well try cancelling a reservation to see how cooperative they are. There's a pattern here. And by the way, I followed the cancellation process 100% and still am getting no where. Again, STAY AWAY!
Sep 23rd, 2005, 03:03 PM
#31
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It seems that for the straightforward reservation that you keep, no changes and no cancellation, asiarooms.com is ok. But if you change or cancel, it's a problem.
Note that in their FAQ they say that a refund can take between 15 and 45 days to post to your credit card account.
Booking directly, you don't have to pay in advance, therefore you don't have to worry about a refund. I am uncomfortable paying in advance - because of the hassle of refund; what if I want to check out early or extend my stay; what if there is a problem with the room - not much leverage trying to negotiate a better room or early check out if you've already paid.
It has never been my experience that any booking agency has a better price than the hotel's direct price. I'm sure it can happen, just not in my case.
Note that in their FAQ they say that a refund can take between 15 and 45 days to post to your credit card account.
Booking directly, you don't have to pay in advance, therefore you don't have to worry about a refund. I am uncomfortable paying in advance - because of the hassle of refund; what if I want to check out early or extend my stay; what if there is a problem with the room - not much leverage trying to negotiate a better room or early check out if you've already paid.
It has never been my experience that any booking agency has a better price than the hotel's direct price. I'm sure it can happen, just not in my case.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 04:07 PM
#32
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KimJapan - I know you are not inexperienced but to say that you have never known a booking agency that has a better price than a hotel's direct price is simply wrong. I agree with you that refunds in general are a hassle but if you have planned your trip out well and are lucky(!!) you shouldn't have to cancel or make changes. For those that fit this profile, asiarooms seems to make sense.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 05:20 PM
#33
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Craig...what I said about direct pricing being cheaper is "in my experience" and "I know it can happen"...read again what I wrote, and don't tell me that my experience is "wrong"...no experience is wrong. Your experience is different...but that doesn't make it wrong.
My travel experience is quite extensive and includes budget to 5 star hotels and resorts over the span of 10 years, several trips a year, and that's not even including the 2 years I spent working as the primary booking agent and trip coordinator for a student travel company. I know what I'm doing, believe me.
Just because someone plans chooses well doesn't mean asiarooms.com makes sense for them. It means it might make sense for them IF they don't mind paying up front and IF they can't find a better deal elsewhere, be it direct or through another agent, which is very possible. Someone using any booking agent MUST be careful to understand all booking conditions and change/cancellation policies and penalties. Time and time again, I've heard of a lower rate becoming available closer to the date of stay and the customer being locked into the higher rate (Bob is an exception here, another Fodorite used the same booking agent and was unable to change their rate to the lower one, as well as others on other boards). In this thread alone there are several complaints about charges/cancellations/changes.
Another company you like, balidiscovery.com, has come back to me with higher prices than the direct rate for 7 different hotels in Bali for Christmas 2005. While they were satisfactory for you and worked for the places you chose, they haven't offered me anything better than I can on my own with payment at the end of the stay direct to the hotel.
I think it's important for potential customers of booking agencies to know that refunds and changes are, in all likelihood, not free of charge or hassle-free like a direct booking. It's also important to know that booking agents' price may possibly be beaten by the hotel by inquiring directly by phone or e-mail and direct booking, as is my experience. You also have to know the right questions to ask. Simply looking at the website for rates, or e-mailing for rates will usually get you rack rates. Search for specials on the website...write to the hotel and quote the rates and source you found somewhere else and state you'd prefer to book directly and ask if they can match it. The times this doesn't work is when a hotel is one of the type that sells most of its rooms to a wholesaler...but this type of hotel isn't one that we would like anyway, as we prefer smaller, privately owned places over big, corporate hotels (Peninsula Bangkok the exception, we love it there).
Someone who is looking for the best price, as we all are, should know how to explore all possibilities. There are many people, I'm sure, who don't read the terms and conditions carefully, and are surprised when they learn that penalties apply. Even the best planned trips can have hiccoughs and require change or cancellations.
My travel experience is quite extensive and includes budget to 5 star hotels and resorts over the span of 10 years, several trips a year, and that's not even including the 2 years I spent working as the primary booking agent and trip coordinator for a student travel company. I know what I'm doing, believe me.
Just because someone plans chooses well doesn't mean asiarooms.com makes sense for them. It means it might make sense for them IF they don't mind paying up front and IF they can't find a better deal elsewhere, be it direct or through another agent, which is very possible. Someone using any booking agent MUST be careful to understand all booking conditions and change/cancellation policies and penalties. Time and time again, I've heard of a lower rate becoming available closer to the date of stay and the customer being locked into the higher rate (Bob is an exception here, another Fodorite used the same booking agent and was unable to change their rate to the lower one, as well as others on other boards). In this thread alone there are several complaints about charges/cancellations/changes.
Another company you like, balidiscovery.com, has come back to me with higher prices than the direct rate for 7 different hotels in Bali for Christmas 2005. While they were satisfactory for you and worked for the places you chose, they haven't offered me anything better than I can on my own with payment at the end of the stay direct to the hotel.
I think it's important for potential customers of booking agencies to know that refunds and changes are, in all likelihood, not free of charge or hassle-free like a direct booking. It's also important to know that booking agents' price may possibly be beaten by the hotel by inquiring directly by phone or e-mail and direct booking, as is my experience. You also have to know the right questions to ask. Simply looking at the website for rates, or e-mailing for rates will usually get you rack rates. Search for specials on the website...write to the hotel and quote the rates and source you found somewhere else and state you'd prefer to book directly and ask if they can match it. The times this doesn't work is when a hotel is one of the type that sells most of its rooms to a wholesaler...but this type of hotel isn't one that we would like anyway, as we prefer smaller, privately owned places over big, corporate hotels (Peninsula Bangkok the exception, we love it there).
Someone who is looking for the best price, as we all are, should know how to explore all possibilities. There are many people, I'm sure, who don't read the terms and conditions carefully, and are surprised when they learn that penalties apply. Even the best planned trips can have hiccoughs and require change or cancellations.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 05:37 PM
#34
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kim---your experiences in the past is something that most of us have not been able to experience....running a travel group for students....we just plod along and try to do the best we can with the resources at our finger tips....we do not know the right questions to ask to a hotel, except "can you do better..."...
when any of us use these discounted sites, and that is exactly what they are, we should expect problems with any change requests....i agree with craig that one should not expect to be able to easily change a reservation (i have changed his words, but think this is his sentiment)made on one of these sites, especially when pre payment is involved...
these hotels only allocate a certain # of rooms at discounted prices and accept or decline reservations based on current occupancy conditions...same as airlines do...
when any of us use these discounted sites, and that is exactly what they are, we should expect problems with any change requests....i agree with craig that one should not expect to be able to easily change a reservation (i have changed his words, but think this is his sentiment)made on one of these sites, especially when pre payment is involved...
these hotels only allocate a certain # of rooms at discounted prices and accept or decline reservations based on current occupancy conditions...same as airlines do...
Sep 23rd, 2005, 05:50 PM
#35
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Can you do better is all you need to ask. The thing is, sometimes the hotels do better right up front, without being asked.
One example from just yesterday is the Nusa Lembongan Resort. Their rate by simple e-mail was $47.00 cheaper per night than balidisovery.com, included tax and service, an extra bed, breakfast for 3, 2 30 minute massages, and a lunch (which balidiscovery.com's did not include, only included tax and breakfast for 2) and their published transfer rate to the island is also cheaper than balidiscovery.com's "discount" rate.
You should not have to expect problems from a change or cancellation request...that's poor service. Pay a fee or penalty for a change, sure...I totally understand that, but even if you pay you still get trouble...that's just poor.
The whole point is that people should be aware that the "discount" booking site doens't always offer the best price or the best value...it can, it might, but no guarantee. Nothing to lose at all by asking the hotel directly.
One example from just yesterday is the Nusa Lembongan Resort. Their rate by simple e-mail was $47.00 cheaper per night than balidisovery.com, included tax and service, an extra bed, breakfast for 3, 2 30 minute massages, and a lunch (which balidiscovery.com's did not include, only included tax and breakfast for 2) and their published transfer rate to the island is also cheaper than balidiscovery.com's "discount" rate.
You should not have to expect problems from a change or cancellation request...that's poor service. Pay a fee or penalty for a change, sure...I totally understand that, but even if you pay you still get trouble...that's just poor.
The whole point is that people should be aware that the "discount" booking site doens't always offer the best price or the best value...it can, it might, but no guarantee. Nothing to lose at all by asking the hotel directly.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 08:20 PM
#37
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In Bangkok, the Peninsula, twice in August, twice around Christmas/New Years.
In Koh Samui, Laem Set Inn, 3 times.
In Bali, Alam Sari Keliki, Nusa Lembongan Resort, Conrad Bali, Ritz Carlton, Blue Moon Villas, Alila Manggis, Maya Ubud, Komaneka Resort, Tjampuhan, Bali Spirit, Kubu Bali, Rambutan Cottages...we haven't stayed at all of these, but these are ones we have either stayed at or considered and shopped rates for within the past 3 months, each one quoting lower directly than the popular agents I also contacted (balidiscovery.com, indo.com, balibagus.com, asiarooms, com and asiahotels.com)
Hong Kong, Royal Pacific Hotel, Conrad, Kowloon, Peninsula
Japan, Tokyo Hilton, Tokyo Bay Hilton, Osaka Hilton, Nagoya Hilton, Narita Hilton, Tokyu hotels in Kanazawa, Saitama, APA hotel in Kanazawa. For the Hiltons, I get the best rate half of the time on hilton.com and the other half by phoning directly to the hotel.
In Koh Samui, Laem Set Inn, 3 times.
In Bali, Alam Sari Keliki, Nusa Lembongan Resort, Conrad Bali, Ritz Carlton, Blue Moon Villas, Alila Manggis, Maya Ubud, Komaneka Resort, Tjampuhan, Bali Spirit, Kubu Bali, Rambutan Cottages...we haven't stayed at all of these, but these are ones we have either stayed at or considered and shopped rates for within the past 3 months, each one quoting lower directly than the popular agents I also contacted (balidiscovery.com, indo.com, balibagus.com, asiarooms, com and asiahotels.com)
Hong Kong, Royal Pacific Hotel, Conrad, Kowloon, Peninsula
Japan, Tokyo Hilton, Tokyo Bay Hilton, Osaka Hilton, Nagoya Hilton, Narita Hilton, Tokyu hotels in Kanazawa, Saitama, APA hotel in Kanazawa. For the Hiltons, I get the best rate half of the time on hilton.com and the other half by phoning directly to the hotel.
