Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - 4 Star Hotel in Barcelona for $2?? GTAhotels

I am going on a cruise RT from Barcelona and need a hotel for one night on each end of it. I found a deal at a nice 4 star hotel (Hotel Advance) and it must have been a missprint, but booked it and it accepted my CC. It is at the Advance hotel right in the Los Ramblas area and the price was $2 total??? for one, so I booked two rooms for a total of $4. I figured I could not lose anything, but do you think it is legit? I was looking on Kayak.com and it linked me through GTAhotels.com to book it and have my confirmation. What do you think?

Is there anyway of knowing that i am okay and not going to get a big suprise when I get there? I know the first rule when something like this happens- Never!!! Call the hotel or booking company. SO I am leacing it up to all of you. Help me with some advice. The rate is only available on April 29th and not May 10 as that is the other night I woudl have used it for.

Is it possible that they could sell it for that rate? They accepted payment and sent me a pre paid certificate to give to the hotel which is now in my email.

Advice from all you experienced Ft'ers is needed! Thanks, JB

My first rule is to call the hotel and confirm that the reservation is in their system, which is the opposite of your first rule. They will tell you whether you have a confirmed reservation or not. If you do, thank them and call the agency to confirm that the correct price was charged. On the other hand, if the hotel says that you have no confirmation, then call the agency and ask "Wazzup?". If the hotel confirms it and it is $2, there is certainly an error and you will eventually be pointed to a statement on the site where they say that they are not responsible for such glitches. The question is whether you want to find it out now or when you get there. Priceline was nice hotels in the Las Ramblas zone.

Don't most 3rd party booking sites make the reservation but then not turn your name in right away tot he hotel? So there may be a reservation, but they will not see it in your name until a couple days or so before your stay? JB

Don't most 3rd party booking sites make the reservation but then not turn your name in right away tot he hotel? So there may be a reservation, but they will not see it in your name until a couple days or so before your stay? JB

Not necessarily true. I've been able to call the hotel directly after booking on Kayak, Orbitz, and Expedia and they've had the reservation almost immediately.

Well I know that Kayak doesn't sell anything just link you to the appropriate site and Orbitz type sites are owned by the airlies, etc. so I could understand that. i am talking about some of these true 3rd parties. Any thoughts there?

Don't most 3rd party booking sites make the reservation but then not turn your name in right away tot he hotel? So there may be a reservation, but they will not see it in your name until a couple days or so before your stay? JB
Priceline and Hotwire reservations are also in your name at the hotel as soon as they are made. If you paid for it, then it should be identified.

Thanks,

I have emailed the hotel for a confirmation, but no response yet.

quick thing GTA works on net rates i.e. the hotel has a set allocation they agree with GTA on a bi annual basis. GTA then packages those rates as they see fit and mark up usually by 30%, guest books the hotel, gta send an automated email to the hotel with the agreed net rate published on it (not the rate you bought it for) and your name the hotel never sees the actual rates you bought for...

the reverse is true for expedia as the hotel uploads net rates onto the expedia website on a daily basis the customer sees the mark up rates expedia sells, sends an email to the hotel mentioning specifically sell rate, net rate and a comment saying do not disclose net rates to guests. et voila!

best bet call the hotel!