WOTIF and other last minute deals - WARNING
 

We have lost nearly $1000 by making bookings on Wotif because of their cancellation policies. The bookings we made were 2 weeks in advance.

As the time came closer, we realized that our schedule had changed and that we needed to alter the dates of the booking.
However, the 3 hotels we booked at all had no-cancel policies, as most hotels on Wotif. I knew that at the time of booking (stupid me- I was utterly sure of the dates) but decided to try anyway to see if they could re-rent the rooms and refund me at least some of the money since there was so much time in which to do so.
Wotif directed me to the hotels and the hotels directed me back to Wotif. No success.

Using a last minute booking service has been a costly exercise and I'll never do it again.

I advise anyone to find out the general rates from the sites, and then negotiate with the hotels directly. Make sure you are aware of the cancellation policies, because more and more hotels now are copying the concept of the no-cancel-no-change air fares.

-- Jane

What are you warning us against?? if you changed your schedule?? but the hotels and Wotif did not change theirs.
Sorry, but I do not understand what your point is.

I've used WOTIF several times. Their site clearly indicates the cancellation polices in bold red print on the booking page.

It's unfortunate that your plans changed, but I fail to see how that's the fault of WOTIF or the properties you booked.

Cancellation policies certainly aren't limited to last minute bookings. It's just the way it is - buyer beware.

Do a Google search for the hotels that you booked with and contact them direct. Depending on who they are and what their in house rules are they may decide that they can bend the rules for you if it is possible for them to do that. I know that most small hotels and B&Bs would bend over to accommodate you in this respect despite the Wotif ruling. It is up to them to decide if they can help you. However the cancellation rules are there for everyone to inspect and if they did change things to help you out it would only be a goodwill gesture.

HiJango,
I sympathise with your plight, but, with respect, I don't really think WOTIF or the hotels are at fault if you change your plans and they adhere to their clearly published conditions.

Unfortunate that it may be, "there's no such thing as a free lunch". No change-no cancellation is a common condition attaching to many cheap deals. If we're happy to take advantage of the conditions favourable to us as buyers, then it seems fair to me that we accept the deals on that basis. After all, I for one, wouldn't be happy if the vendors changed the conditions after I'd booked, so I don't suppose they can be expected to change them when it suits us, either.

If they do as an ex-gratia, that's a bonus.

I had a similar thing last week with a cheap fare to Melbourne. Should have booked myself a later return flight (found some new shops in Brighton that I wanted to explore (LOL)). Called to see if they'd change and/or what it would cost to upgrade/drop that leg & book another. In the end decided the extra few hours wasn't worth the $380 it would have cost. Probably did me a favour & saved me that twice over by curtailing the Bay Street retail therapy ;)

Priceline also has a 'use it or lose it' policy.

So the warning should be - 'Know what you are doing, and take your chances.'

BTW - When we went to NZ, we emailed the hotel directly and got the same rate as with Wotif. ((*))

The warning should be "Actually read and believe the big red letters which tell you if there is no refund for cancellations." Like everyone else said, it's not like Wotif is trying to pull one over on anyone. And buy trip cancellation insurance that pays for just changing your mind.

Wotif's rules are fairly self explanatory - each accom has the rules clearly stated right up front about their cancellation policy. What I usually do is contact the accom house direct and ask them if they will match the WOTIF rate - most will and quite often you don't have to pay upfront so if your circumstances change then you can cancel according to their own cancellation policy.