msmiller

Hi--

After what feels like lots of research for hotels available for next April (2005), the Carnegie Hotel on W. 58th St. seems to have a pretty decent price of $169.00. What is weird to me is apparently you can ONLY make a reservation through hotels.com. I've called the hotel directly and been told this twice (I thought the first time I called at night that maybe I was bumped to a central booking agency...but same response during "working" hours).

So, I'm wondering if this is unusual, or am I just out of the loop? There's a $25.00 non-refundable fee for cancellation, and I'm not yet absolutely sure of the trip. I realize $25. is not a huge amount of money...but I asked specifically that if I walked in off the street and wanted to make a reservation, I wouldn't be allowed to do so directly with the hotel! Huh?

We were thinking of taking our chances on Priceline, and I wanted a hotel "in the bank" before doing that, but I hate to be semi-committed to this hotel if we don't need to be.

Anybody have any thoughts on this practice, or this hotel?

nytraveler

Don;t know the details - but it sounds like this price is only avaialble from hotels.com. Obviously you can walk in and get a room at any hotel that's not full - but you;ll have to take a chance on paying rack rate.

msmiller

thanks for the reply, nytraveler, but what I think is truly weird is the hotel told me *specifically* that I couldn't just walk in and book a room, rack rate or otherwise. (I questioned the poor guy who answered, "are you really in the hotel in New York and this is what you're telling me?!?!)

I'm having trouble believing this...I can believe that there's a special price only available to hotels.com.

Maybe this is a reason that rooms are available, when so many are showing they're full already in April?

Is this hotel recommended? There are pretty good reviews on tripadvisor; sure seems like a great location.

mclaurie

Here's my theory. First, all the "no rooms available" you're seeing is merely a computer thing. It doesn't mean there are no rooms available. It may mean the computer can't take booking more than 6 mos. in advance (April is more than 6 mos. away), it may mean the website has a lowest price guarantee and on that hotel, they can't make that promise, it may mean a particular hotel hasn't released rooms to that third party website. Bottom line, DON'T assume all those no rooms available are true. If there's a place you want, call them on the phone.

As to the Carnegie, I think it's possible that in order to keep their costs down, they may do all their booking through hotels.com and don't have their own reservations agents. I think the place is run like a residential apt. building and there may only be someone at the front desk during regular 8 or 9-8pm hours.

I haven't been in the hotel but have seen the good reviews on tripadvisor. I know the location is terrific. I agree you shouldn't have to pay a cancellation fee at this early date if you're going to try Priceline. The Salisbury is in the same general area with similar type suite rooms. Have you checked there?

TopMan

Any hotel which tells you you can ONLY make a reservation by using a booking service" is unusual and certainly not "mainstream." I wonder if they would tell you the same thing if you actually walked in.

The place is probably perfectly legit and if you don't mind having to go through all of the rigamarole of asking about the place on a travel board, etc., then I guess you can still go for it. I, personally, would find the whole thing rather offputting, not to mention that cancellation penalty and look elsewhere.

Good luck.

Patrick

Are you sure you weren't asking for a $169 rate directly with the hotel? Did you mention that price? It would not be unusual for a hotel to say that no they couldn't book you a room at that price. But I can't imagine them saying they won't let you reserve a room at any price? You're right. Something doesn't make sense here.

msmiller

I didn't mention any price either time I called the hotel. I simply said I "wanted to make a reservation," and they gave me the hotels.com number. The first time I called was about 9:00pm, so I assumed the regular reservations staff had left for the day and the call was bumped to an answering service; the 2nd time I called about 2:00pm and was told the same thing. I asked the guy where he was, i.e., are you actually in the hotel in New York? He laughed and said yes, and that the ONLY way to make a reservation was through the other phone #.

Anyway, I find it odd...the reviews are good and the location superb, so maybe I'll just do this and eat the $25 if I have to.

mclaurie

If you're seriously thinking about bidding on Priceline, why not make your reservation at a place that won't have a cancellation fee? I reread the reviews on Priceline and they do allude to only a desk clerk. The place only has 20 rooms, no porter/bell captain. I think it's bare bones staff. I think they just use hotels.com as their booking agent.

msmiller

thanks so much for your responses; I (almost) swear this is the last question I'll ask about this:

is hotels.com a reputable way to make a reservation? I completely understand that errors can be made no matter how you go about it, but I'm very leary of doing this if this site is questionable. I'v e never made a hotel reservation on-line except with the hotel's specific website (and, of course, by phone).

thanks again.

mclaurie

I've used them once and had no problem but I think any third party website creates the opportunity for a screw up. There was a post just a few days ago from someone who'd made a res. in Houston through hotels.com and the hotel had no record of it (and no rooms and a hurricane coming etc. etc.) The story had a happy ending (the website refunded their money and the hotel found them a room) but confirming a reservation IMO is mandatory and bringing paperwork (ie written confirmation with number) is the only way to go. I don't like having to pay in advance or having a cancellation fee though, especially this far away. Why would you do that to yourself? Are you still going to try Priceline? If yes, I still think you should book a cancellable back up some place else. This place is good, but I don't think it's THAT good.