I assume Hotels.com has a booking fee. Does anyone know what it is? Nothing on the web page as far a I can tell.
They have a "taxes and fees" page at the end. The totals, including the taxes and fees usually work out to be the same as directly from the hotel. If not, and you show them, they will match the hotel price. Presumably they make their money from the hotel.
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 12
1 free for each 10 works well
I've used the free night quite a bit. What's nice about it, that's different to other loyalty programs, is that you can choose from all hotels in their inventory. You're not confined to only Starwood, Hilton, or the others out there. The $400 cap provides an adequate allowance to choose some really nice properties, if you choose well. You will have to pay resort fees and usually a small processing fee. I just booked a 5 star hotel in Athens, Greece, for $35. I'm pretty happy with it.
Well, I just booked a room at a hotel that would have cost $394 before taxes and fees.
I only needed it for one night, so can't confirm/deny the one night thing, but I didn't pay any fees other than the clearly stated $16 in tax.
I did in fact book cheap rooms (for other people) and think that this is a fantastic deal.
I'm just waiting to see what the catch is...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steph58
<snip>
They are hoping to use the free nights for a stay in Hawaii in January. He told me that upon checking out the redemption possiblities he discovered there's a $65 fee. If that alone isn't bad enough, he says you can only book 1 night at a time, thus incurring a $65 fee for each night. Does this sound accurate to anyone who has redeemed nights?
Quote:
Originally Posted by brp
There is actually no booking fee for using the reward (I have done it).The standard hotel fees and taxes are still due, as noted in the T&Cs
The maximum value of the free night is $400 before taxes and fees. You are responsible for paying for taxes, fees, meals, incidentals and any other costs associated with the booking or stay.
but that would be the same if paying.
Also, since the taxes and fees are per-night anyway, booking multiple nights as multiple awards won't incur any additional fees. More of a pain to do it that way, but no more cost.
Well, I just booked a room at a hotel that would have cost $394 before taxes and fees.
I only needed it for one night, so can't confirm/deny the one night thing, but I didn't pay any fees other than the clearly stated $16 in tax.
I did in fact book cheap rooms (for other people) and think that this is a fantastic deal.
I'm just waiting to see what the catch is...
Your room reservation is probably the reason that hotels.com is looking for other alternatives for their 10 nights = 1 free night program. LOL! Or at least that is what I assumed when I opened their marketing survey yesterday. None of the alternative possibilities offered for selection sounded nearly as good as the present offer!!
Now, if they had only credited my cheap 5 night stay at a BW in Naples, FL (which they say I booked through an affiliate telephone number, but that's another story), I'd be very close to my first $400 free room.
Well, I forgot to come back and post, but I'm happy to report that everything was perfect.
I paid $16 to hotels.com, and there was some sort of city tax of 2.10Euro per night and that was it.
I am convinced (as I am with priceline bookings, though I've never looked to see if it's discussed) that they give you the crappier rooms in the house, but I've never been sure if that's because they're holding back the better rooms for higher paying guests, or if they don't want to feel like they're giving away the store.
In any case, it was fine and definitely worth the $20...
Now I have another question. The T&C states a "1 free night per booking" policy. This is actually clever because it gives you an incentive to stay at a higher price hotel than you might otherwise look at. But I'm wondering if you can get around this by doing back to back bookings to get two (or more) free nights at the same property?
I might try it this week and will report back if I do.
(BTW, as an aside, I found in reading the T&C that it seems that hotels.com is actually owned by Expedia, since it's Expedia employees and their special prices that are excluded from the rewards program... thought some might find that interesting.)
1 free for each 10 works well
, but that's another story), I'd be very close to my first $400 free room.
