Booking direct through hotel or booking through a online travel agent?
 

I've seen some online travel agents offering deals ($20 less per night). Have people found that hotels accept these reservations easily? Also I like that they allow me to pre-pay for the hotel by credit card then deal with cash.

Sawadee.com is the one I am thinking of booking on.

Sawadee.com is reliable. The only thing about the booking agencies, all of them, is that it's important to understand the penalties and policies on changes and cancellation. In most cases you lose at least something to make changes or cancel, and in some cases you lose all that you've paid.

I wouldn't book with anywhere that you need to give your credit card details to before they tell you if a room is available. Sawadee.com is good in that you give your card details only when you know the room is available.

Be sure to check the inclusions carefully (tax, service, breakfast) and be sure you are comparing prices for the exact same room type and inclusions. I have often found the hotels themselves offer the same or better deal either on their website or by e-mailing them directly and asking about it. And, unlike you, I don't want to pay in advance; I pay with a credit card when I check out. I am more comfortable doing it this way.

For the places I book, I generally find I can get a better deal through sawasdee.com or another booking agent. But I do always check with the hotel's own website, just in case I can do better directly.

i use a sister site: www.huahin.20m.com...

they are very reliable....when you make the res they take one nite as a downpayment and then they ask you for the rest about two weeks before your stay....i have used them for about 4 years with no failures...

just don't book if you think you may need to cancel or change your res....that can be a hastle...

not only is the rate cheaper, the bigger savings is that the tax/service charge of 17.7% is included as well and usually breakfast as well....

you might also look at asiarooms.com which for the bkk marriott had a lower rate for this winter..

I found the Kata Poolside Resort there for $50 versus $75 from the hotel on sawsadee.

I don't mind paying afterwards, I just don't want to deal with faxing the hotels my credit card info. I don't have access to a fax machine and Kinkos charges $10 to fax international.

Why do you have to fax your credit card to the hotel? I've never had to do that. I just give it to them in the secure online res form, or a few times I've sent it to them by e-mail, but with the number divided and sent in two seperate messages.

For example I want to stay at Bopha Angkor in Siem Reap, they require fax of credit card. No online site.

I want to stay at Buddy Lodge in Bangkok. They require fax of credit card info to hold the room. I don't understand it myself. MAybe these smaller hotels don't have online reservvation capabilities.

Also, any experience with Priceline Europe. They have the Buddy hotel for $50/night. Same price as hotel but they guarentee the reservation and don't have to pay up front!

veracity, once you head up to the USD 50 a night ( about THB 1,850 ) you actualy open up a far wider choice of hotels, so tell us where you want to be in the city, if you are not sure then tell us some ideas about what you want to see and do and we can all give you ideas, but certainly once you start in the 40-50 range then you have a very good choice of places.

i find that many hotels and tour agencies require you to fax a credit approval slip to them or even a copy of your card....try mailing it to them instead...

For Bangok we are looking at the Buddy Lodge in Kao Sahn. My girlfriend has been to Thailand and likes that area the best.

Do be aware that KSR is the backpacker section - you'll mostly meet other young backpackers. If that's what you are looking for, great. If you want something else tell us what you are interested in and we can make recommendations.

well we are 25 years old and that may be more our scene... not sure what others interests are around here. perhaps the lonely planet forums is better for me?