Hotel booking in Bangkok
 

Hi

I am about to book a hotel for my daughter - most likely Siam@Siam - and wondered about your experiences with services such as agoda or asia rooms or any other you have used.

Were the rates good compared to booking directtly with the hotel and was there clear communication etc etc.?

Many thanks

Agoda is definitely okay. I've had problems in the past with AsiaRooms, but others have used them successfully. The discount sites often have better rates, but always compare rates with the hotel's own web site.

Keep in mind when comparing rates that Agoda (not sure about AsiaRooms) initially quotes the hotel rate excluding tax & service charge (17%+ in Bangkok). Hotels usually do the same. Also check whether breakfast is included when comparing rates.

The site I usually use for Thailand is www.sawadee.com

Typically, they quote prices including tax and service (a total of 17%) and often breakfast. Michael makes a good point to make sure all prices you are comparing are for the same thing (room type, breakfast, taxes, etc.)

I've also had problems with Asiarooms. Sawadee.com has been much better. Generally, you can get better rates at sawadee.com, but check with hotel. There may be a special.

Agoda seems more expensive usually. I prefer Sawasdee over Asiarooms too. There was one time Asiarooms couldn't confirm my booking even after 72 hours. I cancelled and tried Sawasdee and it was done within the day. :)

I concur sawadee is very good. One big advantage is if you are planning well in advance they only require 1 nights deposit until 14 days before arrive at each hotel but it is most practical then payment of balance in full is due. If going for more than 2 weeks as we do we pay balances to them at the various hotels 3-4 days before we leave the US. The catch is if we do not go or do not show even with notice to hotel I am pretty certain you do not get the 1 nts. deposit back. With most of the others you pay all up front when making reervation even if 5-6 months away and with proper notice get it all back less a small admin. fee but I hear it sometimes is a problem getting it back or it takes forever. With good travel insurance if you do not go because of last minute illness you are covered that way.
We used asiahotels.com twice on short notice while in Asia and found them o.k. but sawadee is our preferred choice.

We stick with Sawadee as tax, service always included and for most also breakfast, though going through local sites
http://www.beachsiam.com/, for more luxury places http://www.phuket-luxury-hotels.com/...ry_hotels.html

For last minute though Rates-to-Go can offer some very good deals, on http://www.asiaoz.com/thailand_hotels.html they have sawadee rates, plus Hotelclub, rates-To-Go and also hotels2thailand so you can compare 4 quite good places

I have used asiatravel.com and hoteltravel.com several times, both have competetive rates and I have never had any trouble what so ever with them. This year I have booked our Bangkok hotel with hotels.com, they have some really great offers, however never seen that anyone have used them on this board.

hotels.com is part of the same company as asiahotels.com I used to use asiahotels.com all the time until they were bought out by the current company. I find their service and their prices are no longer as good as they were before. But certainly they are reputable. If they happen to have a special on a place you want to stay, they can have very good deals, indeed.

That is strange, because asiahotels.com does not have Swisshotel Nai Lert Park Hotel listed on their website, I got a very good rate with hotels.com for that hotel with hotels.com.

Should not post messages when drinking red wine :-), spanish ribera del duoro by the way.

Thank you so much. I do hope Siam@Siam will be ok.

One issue - if I pay for it on my credit card won't the require the same credit card on check in/ check out??

jpam - I don't know when you are booking the Swisshotel Nai Lert Park but if it is during the summer Expedia has a much better rate of $141 (plus 17.7% fees/taxes and no breakfast) than hotels com at $188 with same conditions.

With all te recommendations for sawadee.com , why use Siam@Siam?? Confusing. Rate alone (what are you talking about $5-8/night difference) but service and not having to pay all up-front are pretty desirable features of sawadee.

Siam@Siam is the name of the proposed hotel. Thanks for reiforcing re sawadee

Scotters, we have booked for mid August, and I checked expedia aswell, they had exactly the same rates at the time I made the booking. The website also look almost identical to hotels.com, same company? Hotels.com and expedia.com are now also for us to acsess as hotels.no and expedia.no so we get rates in Norwegian currency etc and the rates ar to the NOK (Norwegian Krone) the same.

Swisshotel Nai Lert $141 ( no breakfast) + 17% = 164.97

http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/bangkok/nailert/ shows $ 154.94 'incluidng the 17% tax and service and also includes 'breakfast', or NOK 785.41, i don't know if that helps at all

With hotels.com we got an ALCOVE SUITE for NOK 811 or USD 161,36/per room per night including taxes however excluding. With Sawadee it woul be USD 275,80 inclusive taxes and breakfast, that would be a very expensive breakfast!

jpam - You got a good rate but Expedia does show for a stay say Aug 15 to 19, $131 per night plus the 17.7% or net $154 without breakfast. Not a difference to worry about but sure does beat Sawadee and other booking sites

Scotters- yes at both hotels.com and expedia.com rates have gone down since I made my booking. I even called hotels.com about it, and they said that their rates can vary from hour to hour depending on demand and supply.