Agoda - How do I know for sure I have a room?
Oct 16, 14, 2:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 84
Agoda - How do I know for sure I have a room?
I recently booked a hotel in Thailand through Agoda. Hotel may be a bit of a stretch, it's a small mom-and-pop type operation (i.e. bungalows on the beach). I don't have to pay anything until 2 days before the reservation and can cancel for free.
I am a bit worried as I had an experience with Hotels.com where I showed up to a hotel I had already paid for and they said there were no rooms. Eventually Hotels.com set me up at a different hotel but obviously it was a hassle and a bad experience.
How do I know for sure that Agoda actually has the reservation? I am worried because the hotel on their website mentions an affiliation with Booking.com but it was showing no availability when I searched on that site.
Is flipping an e-mail to the hotel an option to confirm? Any other ideas?
I am a bit worried as I had an experience with Hotels.com where I showed up to a hotel I had already paid for and they said there were no rooms. Eventually Hotels.com set me up at a different hotel but obviously it was a hassle and a bad experience.
How do I know for sure that Agoda actually has the reservation? I am worried because the hotel on their website mentions an affiliation with Booking.com but it was showing no availability when I searched on that site.
Is flipping an e-mail to the hotel an option to confirm? Any other ideas?
Oct 16, 14, 3:31 pm
#2
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: Tri-State Turducken, Keisei Skinflint, KCR Headphones, Kopaja Platinum
Posts: 6,271
I've used Agoda about 50 times, and have only had one conflict, which was actually similar to what you described with hotels.com.
Print or at least, take a screen shot of the confirmation email. If the hotel/hostel did end up being sold out for the night, Agoda will certainly help you (in my case, I got a refund within two business days). As a back-up plan, take down a few addresses of alternate places to stay, preferably in the local language too.
Print or at least, take a screen shot of the confirmation email. If the hotel/hostel did end up being sold out for the night, Agoda will certainly help you (in my case, I got a refund within two business days). As a back-up plan, take down a few addresses of alternate places to stay, preferably in the local language too.
/JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator
Oct 16, 14, 4:01 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: between DCA and BWI
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, UA Premier, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,651
This is a valid concern for some of the smaller places and your best bet would be to email or call the hotel to confirm.
I've had 3 "surprises" out of 50+ Agoda bookings - all 3 of which involved very small mom-and-pop hotels and last-minute booking (usually early morning of the day of arrival with the arrival being in the evening) - it was usually a question of the hotel not keeping the inventory up-to-date in Agoda's system .
In all 3 cases either the hotel or Agoda were able to resolve the problem promptly and with very minimal inconvenience .
I've had 3 "surprises" out of 50+ Agoda bookings - all 3 of which involved very small mom-and-pop hotels and last-minute booking (usually early morning of the day of arrival with the arrival being in the evening) - it was usually a question of the hotel not keeping the inventory up-to-date in Agoda's system .
In all 3 cases either the hotel or Agoda were able to resolve the problem promptly and with very minimal inconvenience .
Oct 17, 14, 12:25 pm
#5
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 18,849
I would definitely try to reach out to the hotel to get a confirmation..... at a minimum.
