Thanks. I checked some hotels (4* and 5*) in different locations (Miami, Key West, Orlando, Argentina, Chile). When the price was low, the hotels are lousy according to TripAdviser.
You have to do your research. I passed on dozens of hotels that were cheaper than the hotel I settled on for my recent trip to Miami Beach (The President Hotel - a very nice newly - 2008 - remodeled hotel that is the worst managed hotel I have ever encounterd. Very nice rooms, though).
Las Vegas is the best deal. You can get (some nights as low as in late Nov., December or early January) Planet Hollywood for $9, T.I. $19, Mirage $29. Some hotels are free, such as Sam's Town, Excalibur (standard rooms) or Bill's.
HotelClub is operated by Australian registered HotelClub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Orbitz Worldwide Inc (NSYE: OWW). www.hotelclub.com/about.asp Once again, don't forget you will be charged an international credit card fee (typically 3-4%) on whatever you charge on your debit or credit card. On a $52 after promo credit card charge, I was charged an additional $1.56.
Yeah, I seem to have gotten a bunch of notices from the credit card companies about these int'l transaction fees. I of course ignored them because I almost never make overseas purchases in dollars. Who knew?
Does anyone remember if there's one credit card company that is better than another on these types of transactions? I'd use that card to avoid the fee. Thanks.
FYI: I made a reservation at a Crowne Plaza and the email specifically says the rate does not get points. I then booked, for giggles, the same exact hotel on orbitz.com and the email says no such thing.
I think you are confused about the offerings of various booking agents. It doesn't matter who does the booking; it matters what rate type is booked.
I think YOU are confused. I've booked through them and seen the paperwork at multiple hotels. HAVE YOU? ALL reservations for hotels in the United States are booked through Orbitz. PERIOD. It's on their website AND THE SO-CALLED VOUCHER.
You are wrong. It doesn't just matter what the rate is. It matters what the POLICY is of your frequent guest program. Most don't give points or perks if you book through a third party provider.
You have to do your research. I passed on dozens of hotels that were cheaper than the hotel I settled on for my recent trip to Miami Beach.
Yeah, like most other deals, it doesn't work for everything. Put the hotels in price order and start looking at them (tripadvisor helps). In general, this is a great way to book a Choice Hotel or Best Western, but sometimes it gets the 4 star hotels down to priceline-like levels.
Speaking of Choice, I've got an account courtesy of the various credit card/transfer schemes. I've never actually earned points staying at their hotels. Do these third party rates count? And if a book 3 or 4 nights, would I earn enough points to care?
FYI: I made a reservation at a Crowne Plaza and the email specifically says the rate does not get points. I then booked, for giggles, the same exact hotel on orbitz.com and the email says no such thing.
I think you are confused about the offerings of various booking agents. It doesn't matter who does the booking; it matters what rate type is booked.
From PriorityClub.com: Limits on Points for Stays. Points are not issued for stays at the following reduced room rates (“Non-Qualifying Room Rates”; “Non-Qualifying Stay”): net wholesale individual and group rate, package rate, employee discount rate, crew rate, seasonal worker/crew rate, 50% travel club discount rate, industry discount rate, distressed passenger rate, Priority Club Reward Nights/Airline Hotel Reward rate, most rates booked through most third party web sites
Yeah, like most other deals, it doesn't work for everything. Put the hotels in price order and start looking at them (tripadvisor helps). In general, this is a great way to book a Choice Hotel or Best Western, but sometimes it gets the 4 star hotels down to priceline-like levels.
Note that EVERY Econo Lodge, no matter the city, is listed as a 4* on HotelClub.com That's one I just don't get. Some of the ratings on HotelClub must have been input by a drunken tech person. Many don't sense at all.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CalItalian
I think YOU are confused. I've booked through them and seen the paperwork at multiple hotels. HAVE YOU? ALL reservations for hotels in the United States are booked through Orbitz. PERIOD. It's on their website AND THE SO-CALLED VOUCHER.
You are wrong. It doesn't just matter what the rate is. It matters what the POLICY is of your frequent guest program. Most don't give points or perks if you book through a third party provider.
No, my friend, it is you that are wrong and confused. Rates through Orbitz, if rack rate, for instance, are perfectly fine. Rates through Orbitz that are discounted, such as advanced pay, are not. It depends on the rate, not who owns the website.
Note that EVERY Econo Lodge, no matter the city, is listed as a 4* on HotelClub.com That's one I just don't get. Some of the ratings on HotelClub must have been input by a drunken tech person. Many don't sense at all.
Yeah, I noticed that too. The first one I saw, I checked to see why it might be so special.
So you can't just rely on the "stars." Tripadvisor is essential at this price point.
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Posts: 1,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
What kind of room in London sells for only $49.75?
I'm already a member of Hotel Club, so it doesn't want to give me a $50 discount. (I realize I could probably work around this, however.... )
It was the Cromwell Crown Hotel, a single room with shared facilities. Definitely not posh, but hey, it's free!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CalItalian
I've done their promos before and the account summary always lists a date 1 year in the future BUT It will disappear on November 30, 2008. Remember, this is an Australian based website so plan your booking time accordingly if you are elsewhere in the world (like the United States) if you plan on waiting until the last day to book.
Wow, thanks for letting me know. I was planning on following the actual expiry date. I need to get in on this deal, but I have no where to go!
__________________ The Best Rate Guarantee Blog is back and better than ever. Recently named one of the top Travel Blogs by Priceline.com.
Wow, thanks for letting me know. I was planning on following the actual expiry date. I need to get in on this deal, but I have no where to go!
Only your actual "earned" points from a purchase stay until the day they have posted in your account.
Here is an example of points that just "fell off" my accounts on the day the promo expired:
From this forum, there is the $49 promo, which is still in effect until 12/31/2008 and another $10 promo that has expired. They were combinable unlike the current promos. The $10 just "fell off" my account balance the date the promo expired even though it was posted in my account that it would be good for 1 year from the date I added it to my account. They also "feel off" just after midnight (after the last date of the promo) I believe to be Sydney, Australia time.
If you're going to be irritating about it, at least get your information straight. You will notice, my friend, that nearly every hotel program (such as Priority Club) specifically state most third party bookings, but clearly not all. There are indeed stays that are booked through Orbitz that get one points and it has to do with the rate paid.
Using your Orbitz/Priority Club example, is there a way to determine if the rate(s) displayed will accrue frequent stay points?
Programs: UA 1K, IC RA, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold, ¤
Posts: 26,906
Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAV
Using your Orbitz/Priority Club example, is there a way to determine if the rate(s) displayed will accrue frequent stay points?
Not that I'm aware of, although my fake booking on Orbitz (non pre-paid) didn't have the "you will not get points" verbiage. But I think it is mostly trial and error with the rates.
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PLAY NICE!
Let's just leave it where it is before this disagreement gets unpleasant. Play nice or I'll have to get out my whipping stick! And by whipping stick, I mean closing the thread.
MilegeAddict
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__________________ Hotel Deals Forum Moderator - FlyerTalk Member #215 (Original Member)
Last edited by MileageAddict; Nov 15, 08 at 6:23 pm.
The Best Rate Guarantee blog says the following about booking with Hotelclub:
"Note that you will need to print a voucher and bring this to the hotel on the date of stay. This is completely normal. The hotel does not have a record of your name, only its record of selling the room to HotelClub.com, which then sells its inventory privately to you. The voucher is essential - you will not be able to check in without it."
Is this true? I kind of doubt it. I would think you would have a reservation just like with Orbitz.
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