Please recommend reputable Vietnam Hotel booking site
Sep 28th, 2009, 04:05 PM
#1
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Please recommend reputable Vietnam Hotel booking site
Has anyone used the HotelVietnamonloine.com, and is it reliable/reputable?
I am interested in the Mui Ne Sailing Club. The beach front bungalow at the hotel website is US$160, but the HotelVietnamonline lists the bungalows at US$125. Just not sure if that is real, because a few other booking sites, either do not have the dates/price updated, or are more expensive the the hotel's own website (from $180-205).
Or does anyone know of booking sites for Vietnam hotels that I may try? Thank you.
I am interested in the Mui Ne Sailing Club. The beach front bungalow at the hotel website is US$160, but the HotelVietnamonline lists the bungalows at US$125. Just not sure if that is real, because a few other booking sites, either do not have the dates/price updated, or are more expensive the the hotel's own website (from $180-205).
Or does anyone know of booking sites for Vietnam hotels that I may try? Thank you.
Sep 28th, 2009, 04:18 PM
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I used traveltovietnam.com and had no problems.
http://traveltovietnam.com/Hotels/Ho...px?hotelId=194
http://traveltovietnam.com/Hotels/Ho...px?hotelId=194
Sep 28th, 2009, 07:16 PM
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Thanks!!
Traveltovietnam has a rate of $135 instead of $160 (hotel's own website) for a beach front bingalow. Pretty good price. I couldn't get the Asiaroom site going for Phan Thiet hotels (it also says the Mui Ne Sailing Club hotel is "unavailable" - even without having to put in the dates. But I'll try a bit later. Thanks again.
Traveltovietnam has a rate of $135 instead of $160 (hotel's own website) for a beach front bingalow. Pretty good price. I couldn't get the Asiaroom site going for Phan Thiet hotels (it also says the Mui Ne Sailing Club hotel is "unavailable" - even without having to put in the dates. But I'll try a bit later. Thanks again.
Sep 28th, 2009, 09:31 PM
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we used vietnamstay.com last summer and got the best rate, by far, for the majestic in hcmc. (and i researched a good price for this hotel for way, way too long...) also, we had to change our dates at the last second and they were responsive and easy about it. as i noted in another post, i had been turned off at first because you have to submit dates to them and then get a quote back. i don't favor that approach generally-- but they were so quick and so great, that we would use them again in a second.
btw... and sorry to hijack this post...but i saw this post only because i followed your name from the "italian language schools" post and wanted to see whether you were happy with your choice. were you??)
btw... and sorry to hijack this post...but i saw this post only because i followed your name from the "italian language schools" post and wanted to see whether you were happy with your choice. were you??)
Sep 29th, 2009, 07:38 AM
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Thanks Kawh - the vietnamstay website looks very out-of-date. They are listing the price of 2007 and 2008 for the Sailing Club. I will still send them an email to check their latest price.
Yes - I love the Michaelangelo School in Florence a lot. It is considered one of the top language school in Italy. If you have any questions you can post them in the Europe forum and I'll be happy to answer them.
Yes - I love the Michaelangelo School in Florence a lot. It is considered one of the top language school in Italy. If you have any questions you can post them in the Europe forum and I'll be happy to answer them.
Sep 29th, 2009, 05:00 PM
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NO web site specialising in VietNam can be trusted!
I'll tell you why. Almost all of the web sites permit hotel properties to self-describe their facilities. This also applies to Hotels.com and Hostels.com. Having personally checked over 5,000 hotels in VietNam I know the reality here.
Often web sites have completely erroneous information as to location and/or distance from a certain city.
The sucker (guest) selects a site and a hotel. Clicks Buy and pays a 10% deposit. This 'deposit' is kept by the web site as a ee for services rendered.
The web site then shoots off an e-sail to the hotel (and you)advising the hotel of your request. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT or CONFIRMATION is expected by the web site. This is a weakness.
At the hotel the owner often id faced with a choice of a 100% cash customer wanting a room at the front desk OR a 90% customer showing up later. Usually the 100% customer gets the room.
Given the depressed state of tourism out here you should be looking for PROMOTIONAL RATES (discounts) of about 40% which what you will NOT get from a web site.
Many hotels are presently advertising 40% off for direct bookings in local papers here in VietNam.
I'll tell you why. Almost all of the web sites permit hotel properties to self-describe their facilities. This also applies to Hotels.com and Hostels.com. Having personally checked over 5,000 hotels in VietNam I know the reality here.
Often web sites have completely erroneous information as to location and/or distance from a certain city.
The sucker (guest) selects a site and a hotel. Clicks Buy and pays a 10% deposit. This 'deposit' is kept by the web site as a ee for services rendered.
The web site then shoots off an e-sail to the hotel (and you)advising the hotel of your request. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT or CONFIRMATION is expected by the web site. This is a weakness.
At the hotel the owner often id faced with a choice of a 100% cash customer wanting a room at the front desk OR a 90% customer showing up later. Usually the 100% customer gets the room.
Given the depressed state of tourism out here you should be looking for PROMOTIONAL RATES (discounts) of about 40% which what you will NOT get from a web site.
Many hotels are presently advertising 40% off for direct bookings in local papers here in VietNam.
Sep 29th, 2009, 05:31 PM
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My experience has been directly contrary to BMT's. Of course, I always research hotels on my own rather than relying on the description on the booking site (which is often cursory). I have gotten prompt confirmations, typically after the booking site has received a confirmation from the hotel. None of the websites I've used charge rack rates, they are often 30-50% off rack rates. You'll find lots of promotional rates on these booking sites.
Of course the websites get a fee for booking you, so does a travel agent.
You can contact the hotel directly, sometimes you can negotiate the same rate as a booking site or better, but often not, in my experience.
Of course the websites get a fee for booking you, so does a travel agent.
You can contact the hotel directly, sometimes you can negotiate the same rate as a booking site or better, but often not, in my experience.
Sep 29th, 2009, 06:45 PM
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BMT - I have been tracking the price of the Mui Ne Sailing Club for almost a year, and have not yet seen any promotional rates being offered at their website.
http://www.sailingclubvietnam.com/scmuine.php
As for the hotel-booking websites, so far a few, like Hoteltravel.com actually offers the room at a HIGHER price than the hotel's own website (US$205 versus $160 for Nov/09 stay). So far I have only seen the Traveltovietnam.com (suggested by HappyMom32) which lists the beach front bungalow at a lower price US$145. I have tried Asiaroom.com a few times without success - they don't seem to be listing any hotels in Phan Thiet (???).
If you can kindly tell me which local newspapers, I can try to look for that when we arrive in Saigon and Hanoi. Phan Thiet is at the end of our Vietnam trip so we can afford to book it first, and if we can find a better rate while we're in Vietnam we can cancel/re-book while we are there. Thanks.
http://www.sailingclubvietnam.com/scmuine.php
As for the hotel-booking websites, so far a few, like Hoteltravel.com actually offers the room at a HIGHER price than the hotel's own website (US$205 versus $160 for Nov/09 stay). So far I have only seen the Traveltovietnam.com (suggested by HappyMom32) which lists the beach front bungalow at a lower price US$145. I have tried Asiaroom.com a few times without success - they don't seem to be listing any hotels in Phan Thiet (???).
If you can kindly tell me which local newspapers, I can try to look for that when we arrive in Saigon and Hanoi. Phan Thiet is at the end of our Vietnam trip so we can afford to book it first, and if we can find a better rate while we're in Vietnam we can cancel/re-book while we are there. Thanks.
Sep 29th, 2009, 10:49 PM
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I'll be down south in a couple of days time and will re-post here.
As a guide, tour operators are enjoying 70-75% discount of rack rates.
November is a shoulder season here..
Phan Thiet is the name of the town and Mui Ne a sub-division. The whole area is referred to as 'The Gold Coast' a 75-kilometre beach area. Check out the Trinh Nu, Bau Trang Lake and Mui Khe Ga areas.
The whole area was featured in VietNam Travellive Magazine earlier.
K: Your grammar was wrong! You said "My experience has been directly contrary to BMT's. Of course, ..." It should have read: "My experience has been directly contrary to BMT's, of course."! :^)
As a guide, tour operators are enjoying 70-75% discount of rack rates.
November is a shoulder season here..
Phan Thiet is the name of the town and Mui Ne a sub-division. The whole area is referred to as 'The Gold Coast' a 75-kilometre beach area. Check out the Trinh Nu, Bau Trang Lake and Mui Khe Ga areas.
The whole area was featured in VietNam Travellive Magazine earlier.
K: Your grammar was wrong! You said "My experience has been directly contrary to BMT's. Of course, ..." It should have read: "My experience has been directly contrary to BMT's, of course."! :^)
Sep 30th, 2009, 11:27 PM
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i know, johnmango. i was completely turned off to them... then in desperation shot them an email quote request after months of scouting for prices... and was surprised. let me know what your experience is.... hope it wasn't just a fluke of good luck and service. again.... i fully expected them not to change our reservation at the lasst minute and they did it in a helpful way.
kawh
kawh
