Booking a hotel, which method the best ?

[mrsterryn]

Package type via airline with flight
Booking via the hotel site
Booking via an airline site eg Qantas not booking flight with them
Booking via third party eg booking.com
They do seem to be within about $100 overall except the hotel ended being about $350 over the other three options
Just wondering the pros and cons
Hotel for this is in Seoul

 

[SYD]

It really all depends what else you’re after besides the room you booked and paid for.

If you hold status (or seeking status) with the hotel chain then booking direct will open up perks that you don’t get booking via a 3rd party.

Booking via QF Hotels gives QFF points and the other booking platforms have some other equivalent rewards (usually a cash credit to be used on future bookings).

If you’re just after a room, then a fly / stay package might be good value.

 

[elanshin]

There is no one size fits all method imo. Destination and what is available in each location dictates things too.

Flight packages i find tend to be soso unless it's a really big combined deal. It's ok if you don't want to go and have every booking site open checking all the prices and options.

Direct with hotel can be good if you want loyalty benefits. Some stuff are only available booked directly and depending on the circumstances it can be cheaper or more expensive. Basically I view this the same as flying with one airline you have status/trying to build status with. Generally speaking its not the cheapest option but you could get extra perks from it.

3rd party DIY. Generally you need to spend a bunch of time trawling various websites. I'd have expedia, booking, agoda all open at the same time and going over their maps. I have found some incredible deals from time to time, but I have also spent ages staring at the map.

As for places like QF Hotels, generally if I'm using 3rd party, i give then a quick glance to see if they have anything on special. I'd only book through them if they're price competitive or I have expiring vouchers to use.

I'd generally at least take a look at my loyalty chains and aggregate to see how the hotel chain stacks up to other options. (Currently planning Taipei and I noticed that ALL has almost no hotels, so I definitely won't be using them).

 

[woodyren]

I nearly always book refundable rooms with one of the big aggregators. I book a long way ahead and go through Cashrewards or Shop back when they have a promo of >10% cashback.

 

[mrsterryn]

Thanks definitely ideas to consider. I am leaning towards using Qantas as points are allocated, the pricing is all similar and Qantas have a free cancellation up to the day before .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree. The ‘best’ option can depend on the circumstances.

Sometimes it’s the hotel directly, for cancellation benefits, or even so you can have status recognised.

Other times a 3rd party is better because of heavy discounting.

There are some third parties with bad reviews… ‘too cheap’, and the reviews reflect that. But the other day simply by signing in to QF hotels I saved $80 on a ‘member special’. The hotel i’m staying at has no rewards program, so missing out on nothing there.

 

[Lynda2475]

I'm not a fan of packages as you generally get fewer choices on flights and room type.

I will generally check what hotels any hotel loyalty programs I have status with have in the area I want to and consider whether I will benefit i.e. free breakfast or likely upgrade. But I will also generally also check with an aggregator if there is a better suited property and then check QF Hotels pricing.

For me its a balancing act of comfort and location vs loyalty benefit.

On recent trip to Dublin none of the IHG, Accor or Hilton properties had a suitable room type (i.e. guaranteed walk in shower, in a good location, aircon) , so after doing some research I found the property that suited me best (The Alex which was not part of a major loyalty scheme, and was less expensive than IHG, Hilton), had excellent pricing through QF hotels plus a promo of 9 points/$1 with free cancellation so I booked through QF hotels. And because I had 2 stays (bookending my time in Ireland), on the second stay I received a raft of welcome back amenities i.e. wine, sparkling water, cheese platter, dessert platter and fruit.

I do not think there is one best way, it varies each trip.

 

[elanshin]

Thanks definitely ideas to consider. I am leaning towards using Qantas as points are allocated, the pricing is all similar and Qantas have a free cancellation up to the day before .

Just from memory Qantas hotels charges you as you make the booking (then refunds later if you cancel) where as others just does a preauthorisation check. I believe this could mean that you get different amounts back if you cancel as it's dependant on the exchange rate of the day.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just from memory Qantas hotels charges you as you make the booking (then refunds later if you cancel) where as others just does a preauthorisation check. I believe this could mean that you get different amounts back if you cancel as it's dependant on the exchange rate of the day.

Not ime, QF charges you in AUD and refunds the same AUD amount. It's one advantage of QF hotels no foreign transaction fees.

I often make a refundable QF bookings 9-10 months out knowing if I see a better deal closer to departure I can cancel. Money always back on card within 24 hours.

 

[elanshin]

Not ime, QF charges you in AUD and refunds the same AUD amount. It's one advantage of QF hotels no foreign transaction fees.

I often make a refundable QF bookings 9-10 months out knowing if I see a better deal closer to departure I can cancel. Money always back on card within 24 hours.

That's nice to know that the FX isn't involved here.

The charged immediately part however is a thing that some people would be put off by (others would prefer to not worry about future payments I guess).

Personally I'd rather be in posession of the money until much closer to the date than have QF hold it.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I book direct with the hotel these days.
And if you put in the effort to get a big higher status, you do get some benefits, small and meagre, but helps.
Drinks and free internet in my case.
They also tend to give a bit more favouritism, if you are a member, and want a specific type of room.
95% off the going rate, and you also tend to earn points that does not expire, so long as you stay with the hotel chain once a year.
No harm in going in a package, if your travel agent can offer you a say, 80% discount on the whole trip, airfares, cruise, and hotel included etc.
I am not a cruise geek tho.

 

[mrsterryn]

I book direct with the hotel these days.
And if you put in the effort to get a big higher status, you do get some benefits, small and meagre, but helps.
Drinks and free internet in my case.
They also tend to give a bit more favouritism, if you are a member, and want a specific type of room.
95% off the going rate, and you also tend to earn points that does not expire, so long as you stay with the hotel chain once a year.
No harm in going in a package, if your travel agent can offer you a say, 80% discount on the whole trip, airfares, cruise, and hotel included etc.
I am not a cruise geek tho.

This is just a quick trip to Seoul. Kinda status credit run

 

[Tiki]

In addition to what was already said, you could also try Rocketmiles.com because you can credit to a wide variety of airlines. They charge in USD so you have to compare with Aussie based booking agents.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you are not interested in gaining hotel points, then book via your most used airline, to earn the points there.
What ever you do, which ever way you end up going, at the least, put your gains in points somewhere.
NOT FB travel tho, I booked for a hotel with them, thinking I could earn FB points from the booking, but after calling up FB and their Hotel section, neither ever issued the FB points for my hotel stay, even after I sent in proof to both.
I think FB travel is operated by CTM, ie, Corporate Travel Marketing, or similar.

 

[cloudy]

I recently booked directly with a Rydges hotel for a one night stay on Christmas eve and decided to check the price of the stay the day before check in and the price had dropped by $130 a night. As I had booked direct with Rydges, I rang up and asked if they could match the current price which they were able to as I had booked directly with them. I was extremely pleased as the price went from $500 to $370 just by making 1 phone call and checking online if the price had dropped.