Don’t use third-party sites to book hotels — you could be without a room.
I was in hotels for ten years. Hotels consider a night perfect if they’re overbooked by 2-5 rooms. They count on no-shows to make up the difference, but they’re totally OK with you not having the room you reserved. Likewise, if you booked with a third party like Expedia or Hotels.com, you are not guaranteed anything and will be last in line for everything because you’re not considered a loyal customer.
Very true. Currently work in a hotel. Though it pisses off the front desk agents when we are overbooked.
LPT: If you’re concerned about a sold-out situation…
- Call the hotel earlier on the day of arrival to confirm all of the details about your reservation. Usually they’ll put a note on your reservation so you’re more likely to get your booked room/not be walked.
- If you see a lower rate on hotels.com/expedia, call the hotel. 9 times out of ten we will match or beat it. It saves us the headache of dealing with these companies.
- If faced with the choice of walking two identical reservations, except one joined the loyalty program and one didn’t, I’ll walk the one that didn’t every time.
Don’t use third-party sites to book hotels — you could be without a room.
I was in hotels for ten years. Hotels consider a night perfect if they’re overbooked by 2-5 rooms. They count on no-shows to make up the difference, but they’re totally OK with you not having the room you reserved. Likewise, if you booked with a third party like Expedia or Hotels.com, you are not guaranteed anything and will be last in line for everything because you’re not considered a loyal customer.
Very true. Currently work in a hotel. Though it pisses off the front desk agents when we are overbooked.
LPT: If you’re concerned about a sold-out situation…
- Call the hotel earlier on the day of arrival to confirm all of the details about your reservation. Usually they’ll put a note on your reservation so you’re more likely to get your booked room/not be walked.
- If you see a lower rate on hotels.com/expedia, call the hotel. 9 times out of ten we will match or beat it. It saves us the headache of dealing with these companies.
- If faced with the choice of walking two identical reservations, except one joined the loyalty program and one didn’t, I’ll walk the one that didn’t every time.
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