We booked some reservations in Australia through an online booking company. Is it customary to pay a deposit and then pay the full amount 1 month before you arrive at the hotel? This is not usually the way it is done in the U.S. Thank you.

I booked accommodations for our 3+weeks vacation to OZ & NZ by using a credit card to hold the reservation. If you don't show, they'll charge you 1night stay. Once I did have to mail a deposit to a Rome B&B and pay the remaining balance upon arrival but that's because it's a private residence, not a hotel. If you are booking a tour package, they do require full payment prior to departure but I've never heard of such for hotels. Since there are so many hotels to choose from, I wouldn't pick one that requires prepayment. Good luck

I booked almost everything through an australian online travel agent and paid everything in advance. remember to bring the invoices because this is what you present at the hotel for credit. They emailed the invoices and I left it on my yahoo account so I could access it in Australia if I lost the invoices. Everything worked out well. I used globaltravelonline. Since I made my resevations wihtin 2 weeks of my travel i had to pay everything in full.

Hi Patty<BR>What you describe is not the norm in NZ or Australia. In the case of the online booking system we use, see www.vinestay.co.nz, you are charged $NZ5.90/booking upon booking and that is taken off the nightly rate. So in fact it is no cost to the guest.<BR><BR>All I can think is that you are booking for a peak time like a national holiday or over Christmas/New Year when space is in extremely high demand and it could be sold many times over; or you are booking for properties that sell out early any time of the year.<BR>I would check directly with the resort/property you are booking for. Their explination could be interesting.<BR><BR>Kerry

Hi Patty, I live in Australia & did all our last holiday bookings on the net. Yes I had to pay for them all in advance. As r.s. said make sure you take all conformations with you as these are what you hand over on arrival.<BR>If I was booking directly with most hotels then all that is required is a visa. no. to confirm the booking.<BR>Enjoy your time here.

When I planned our trip to Australia and New Zealand, I looked into placesthat wanted me to pay prepay. I found them to be more expensive than if I booked direct with the hotel. I booked 3 weeks in Oz and NZ and didn't prepay any hotels.<BR><BR>In addition, there is a much more lenient cancelation policy should you need to cancel. <BR><BR><BR>Before sending money to a third party company you need to ask:<BR>1.Am I saving enough money to warrant prepaying?<BR><BR>2.How reputable is the booking company<BR>

Check out www.travelmall.com.au. I just returned from a 7 week vacation to New Zealand & Australia. I did all my booking, which required prepayment, through the above site. They list the accommodations, rental vehicle, etc., you do the selection, & they do the booking. Instead of contacting numerous places I only contacted one. I got very good discounts & I just presented the vouchers at those places where I was booked - every thing went smooth - they already had a card made out for our arrival, etc. I would do it the same way next time.