I have gotten mixed messages over the last few months as to which site to use for Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Kuala Lumpur and our Redang Islands trip. Sawnee has a 1 nights "non-refundable" deposit-period" regardless of notice (even 2 weeks), planetholidays is $150 non-refundable and asiarooms was $10 or $15USD. Yet, their rates at each location (resort) were within $10-$20/night. Asiahotels was also in the $25USD range,

What is going on??
I want to book in 4-5 resorts/hotels but need clarifaction from travelers who have multiple experiences where a cancellation was necessary.
I know that trip cancellation insurance is an option, but at our age and the length of the trip, TravelGuard and AccessAmerica would cost us $700+ to cover the entire trip.

NEED HELP!!
Thanks.

i forget insurance and just go with the flow...the hua hin site does not charge your card until 14 days before except for the one nite cancellation guarantee...can't beat that...

What is Booing site??? is that a typo??

I typically use asiahotels.com, though I have used others from time to time. The cancellation fee seems to vary even within aisaihotels.com

Rhkkmk: Yes a typo. I meant booking. I am a hunt-and-peck typist.
At Sala Samui Sawadee.com wants one night's now for a March trip and it is about $300 (for the room we want)and it is non-refundable. Hua Hin does not list that resort, or I missed it, as well as one in Malaysia. I wanted to use one source for all 5 stops of 23 nights. At that rate it could cost me ~$1500 without insurance. I realize I can get coverage but I am just confused since other sites such as asiarooms.com charges $10 at the same resort. Do you get better room assignments going through certain booking sites?
Even on the flight of $1200 in premium economy the cancellation is only $75 or re-schedule at no cost.

Stan, don't hesitate to use more than one booking site for a trip. Even tough I typically use asiahotels (and have for many years) I have used other sites as needed for particular hotels.

I agree, shop around, if you want one site that does Asia (and also Oz ) then try www.asiaoz.com, they offer both Australian and Thai booking services, quite good for Malaysia and they have the option of linking into Sawadee 'or' Hotelcub so you can choose and compare from same place. Within Thailand I always go for 'local' sites that go into Sawadee/R24 so I can get local info.

just curious...those famous words has anyone ever tried to get a better rate when using one of these sites (Hua Hin, asia24, asiahotels, etc) by calling them and making the reservations for 5 or 6 different hotels at the same time? Can they give you a better rate than is published online when making multiple reservations or is what they show online their final non-negotiable price?
Aloha!

my only experience with rate adjustmets occured with huahin last spring...the price of the hotel dropped and as i was staying there 3 different times for a total of 14 days i asked if they would offer me the new price which was 300 B cheaper per nite...they said they would ask the hotel and in a few days came back and agreed...i was pleased...they also charge a credit card booking fee...i asked if they would only charge it once with all my reservations and they agreed to that as well...

i do not think that you get as good a room by booking with any agency as you do booking with the hotel direct or their preferred site like starwood.com in the case of sheratons...its just my felling...

Stan-is there any advantage to booking through only one site? If not, shop around. We've had some luck comparing online prices with those of travel agents. Remember to calculate in Taxes and breakfast. "Booing" and "felling", keep 'em coming.

Hi

for the malaysian part of the trip - maybe check out www.cuti.com.my. prices are in malaysian ringgit.

just checked out redang - the coral redang has a 3D/2N package inc breakfast lunch and dinner and transfers from merang to redang that looks reasonable.

its one of the first non-budget hotel in redang. i was in redang 88 (pre-hotels... magical) and 1996. a lot of changes but the beach was still pretty in 96.