Agoda prices not real?

[Goanna]

I have been researching hotels for a month or so to suit my wife and I, and 15yo daughter. So, something more or less family friendly.

 

We only have a week to go, so I was searching Agoda, and settled on Areca Lodge Luxury room in the new wing, Evergreen or

 

whatever at $78 AUD. I have stayed at Areca before in the old wing, and it was crap, but the reviews persuaded me. I went through the

 

credit card payment process, and was invoiced at $95 per night. Hmm. Went to the customer service link, and left a query, and still no

 

response today. Last night, I called their contact No. in England, and was told that the extra charge was for tax. I have cancelled that

 

booking now. Booking direct through Areca costs 100 baht/night more, but the prices are what you really pay. I have used Agoda

 

before, and not noticed this, but maybe wasn't paying attention, because there is no mention on their website.

 

All good though. I have booked a different hotel now. But something to be aware of when using third party bookings. Booking direct, you

 

get the real price, including taxes.

 

Not long now.....

[dukemoreau]

I've never seen this problem. The site tells you wether taxes are included or not Pattaya usually is included. My guess is you looked at a price for a lower room and booked the suite.

[Goanna]

No. Like I said, I called customer service, and was told that it was tax. I've been back to the site, and no mention of more tax.

[Perthie]

I've used Agoda a couple of times to book for LoS. Fees and Taxes are usually added once you click through to the booking page but are clearly displayed. My alternate booking site asiawebdirect.com does the same thing.

 

So, the prices displayed on the info page for any hotel are pre-tax etc.

 

Cheers

 

Perthie

[kaikwong]

I believe normally agoda price is without tax and the tax will be only added on after you have selected all the necessary information like dates, type of rooms and how many person.

[SLEUTH]

As said, bit like ryanair on the price front + tax, but still generally cheaper rates than most

[FROST MEDIC999]

Surely when you finish the Booking and before you click pay it gives Total amount due ?

 

Just looked at some i booked and Total amount is price i paid

 

Are you saying your final amount and invoice is different from what has been charged to your card ?

 

If that is the case it well out of order

 

Cheers

 

Ghosty

[Goanna]

http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/pattaya/areca_lodge_hotel.html

 

now $79 for luxury family. Hey, I know they are still cheaper. But their prices do not show tax until

 

it is invoiced. I'd not noticed this until now. I have no beef with Agoda, but just something for

 

others to be aware of. Prices advertised should be prices charged.

[Goanna]

No ghosty, it didn't show until the email confirmation mate. Otherwise I would have stopped it earlier

[FROST MEDIC999]

No ghosty, it didn't show until the email confirmation mate. Otherwise I would have stopped it earlier

 

Strange my price was what was listed just checked CC the same do you think it becsuse you in OZ and not UK ?

 

Maybe a New practice but as i said well out if order and sneaky to boot

[SLEUTH]

It would be MORE CONVENIENT if it was all inclusive. But it does say at the bottom of the room rates that they are exclusive of tax and service fees?

[whitespider - RIP]

Goanna

 

As a slight aside - Arecas rooms are cheapest (we think) on the Pattaya Addicts booking site see link below. You can cancel and get a full refund from Agoda.

 

http://www.pattaya-a...hotels-pattaya/

 

On your own matter, I always see the tax added before hitting the actual "pay" button, and I use it a LOT. Its very odd that you don't see this before actually confirming payment.

 

Things to remember with Agoda is the prices can fluctuate a lot as they sell capacity not fixed prices. You could book NOW for a room on the 3rd November 2012 but tomorrow (or even the next hour) see a different price for the same night, either higher or lower. So Agoda is always worth checking out as sometimes they have amazing deals (we got April Suites for $1 a night, usually around $97).

[Goanna]

It would be MORE CONVENIENT if it was all inclusive. But it does say at the bottom of the room rates that they are exclusive of tax and service fees?

 

I don't see it on my page link. And not the first time I've looked. I hope I'm not wrong

[whitespider - RIP]

http://www.agoda.com...odge_hotel.html

 

now $79 for luxury family. Hey, I know they are still cheaper. But their prices do not show tax until

 

it is invoiced. I'd not noticed this until now. I have no beef with Agoda, but just something for

 

others to be aware of. Prices advertised should be prices charged.

 

Just checked that same hotel my end. When you go to the payment page the total, inc' the tax, is clearly shown in a box on the right hand side. This is AFTER you have filled in payment details but BEFORE you click the "confirm payment" button. Most odd!

 

In your confirmation email there is a "cancel" booking link and you would get a full refund although it takes a few days to arrived on your card.

[SLEUTH]

I don't see it on my page link. And not the first time I've looked. I hope I'm not wrong

Edited April 16, 2012 by SLEUTH

[Goanna]

Whitespider, I will not go down the same path and rebook to prove my point. Already, I have to wait 10 days for my refund. The first I saw of the higher price was the

 

invoice. But I am not out to denigrate the services provided by Agoda. They are cheaper. But if there is a slim chance that there may be someone out there as vague

 

as I am, then i have maybe helped someone.

[whitespider - RIP]

Whitespider, I will not go down the same path and rebook to prove my point. Already, I have to wait 10 days for my refund. The first I saw of the higher price was the

 

invoice. But I am not out to denigrate the services provided by agoda. They are cheaper. But if there is a slim chance that there may be someone out there as vague

 

as I am, then i have maybe helped someone.

 

Understand bro' it was just a thought.

 

This is what SHOULD happen - can you actually try it as I will report to Agoda if there is a bug. Obviously its a concern to us.

 

Select your hotel

Chose dates etc

 

Click BOOK IT

 

That takes you to a page for payment details.

 

On the RIGHT hand side you SHOULD see the room price and the tax price below. As per attached pic below. In the example case $53.79 for room + $9.52 tax.

 

On the NEXT page you would see the TOTAL for the number of nights booked before clicking the "conformation" button (but i cant do that without showing my details in the attached pic).

 

[portfolio]

just done a mock booking and its working as it should defined by both sleuths and whitespiders screen shots.

 

on a western/eu booking sight, things might be slightly clearer and prices inclusive , but any world travellers these days know to look a it closer at anything online,as the air asia booking experience has taught many of us.

 

either way, have used Agoda a lot in asia an always been happy with results.

[Goanna]

You all win. Instead of being up front, they are up front sideways.

 

[Goanna]

sorry, didn't mean to post just yet, hit the wrong button

 

If you look closely, you will see in the very fine print, the extra charge. I have not seen it until now, so the ploy worked until I cancelled. I don't like being tricked, and I

 

congratulate all who have picked up on my gullibility. Agoda did before I knew it. I am done with this. Every hotel gives the real rate on their own sites, which is the point of my post.

[gavfalcon]

your right i found the same problem after i clicked confirm the room price jumped from $55 a night to $68 a night ,then i found some small print saying taxes and service charges extra...so next trip i booked directly through the hotel and worked out $62 a night in the same season ..,,must read fine print ,very sly.

[william7093]

booking.com gives you price with tax vat service all included no hidden fees i use these now as cheaper than hotel direct

[Case]

I've been fucked by Agoda in a similar way. Perhaps it varies from hotel to hotel, but I've been given the price per day which looks OK so I buy the package. However on the check out page, the total amount isn't listed: you only see (for example) 7 days at $xx dollars per night. Then on the confirmation page (after you've purchased) you're told that the total amount you just got charged for is 7 x $xx dollars PLUS tax and a service fee. I thought it was pretty shitty so from now on I will be using Hostelbookers or another site that gives you the total price with no mucking around.

[shrimp.mcfc]

agoda have been using this system for years now . but you can still get good deals on some of the hotels , i mainly use booking.com now as you can get the same deals from there and most of the time you are not charged a penny as you pay the hotel on arrival ,you can allso cancel 48hrs before time of arrival and you still wont be charged a penny as most [not all] are free cancellation so if you find a better hotel after booking you can easily change hotels wthout having to wait for the refund its allso worth checking the hotels own website if they have one as you can pick up some good bargains through promotional things . eg pattaya beach resort are doing a stay 7 night pay for 6 at the moment which is way cheaper than any other website

[FIGO_0710]

On hotel comparison websites..they come up most of the time as cheapest..UNTIL YOU ADD THE TAX..why dont they show the full price like Expedia,booking.com Travelbag.com etc etc...Never used Agoda i dont like the way they operate... I always go direct and barter with hotel directly..usually get a better deal