How Good is Agoda

[Sexyfarangman]

I checked the prices of some of the hotels on Agoda. The prices for Tim's Boutique, LK Metropole and Areca seem very low compared to what is advertised on their websites. Can any of the forum members who have used Agoda verify whether the prices are legitimate?

[whitespider - RIP]

I will try and answer as I use Agoda a lot.

 

The prices you see are real but remember when you get to booking page tax is added so it goes up a bit.

 

The downside is requires full payment up front. This i8s pretty much the same for all online bookers - its actually the reason why they CAN offer the discounts.

 

Also check other bookers PLUS the hotels site as NO BOOKER is cheapest across the board.

 

One thing to remember is ALWAYS fill in the 2nd person entry when booking - just put Mrs Smith. This removes the possibility of them charging a joiner fee and refusing your guest a breakfast.

 

Finally, the REAL benefit on Agoda is the loyalty points - if you are a frequent hotel users (worldwide) this is a REAL benefit.

[FIGJAM]

I checked the prices of some of the hotels on Agoda. The prices for Tim's Boutique, LK Metropole and Areca seem very low compared to what is advertised on their websites. Can any of the forum members who have used Agoda verify whether the prices are legitimate?

 

I used Agoda.com a lot previously, the prices advertised is not what you actually pay.

When you go to checkout/pay once you have booked the room they then add the taxes/services charges per night to the final bill.

All said & done there prices are on par with other sites in the online hotel booking category.

 

Also another downside to using Agoda.com is that they charge a $15 US cancelation even if you cancel 2 months before you are due to check in.

 

I have found the best site to use is booking.com

 

They have just as many hotels as Agoda.com on the books & they charge no cancelation fee up to 3 days before the check in date.

 

 

www.booking.com is the way to go.

 

 

Hope this helps.

[vze549]

I've used Agoda before, it's legit, but I prefer to book direct.

 

My main beef is that the price you see in the listing is not what you are charged. Try booking and watch it inflate noticeably (15-20% IIRC). Plus they don't break out why the higher cost - what's their service charge vs. tax etc. In my book good service is itemizing these things before you buy (Agoda never breaks it out). Also, watch out on the exchange rate, theirs is never that good.

 

Another issue is that they require full payment in advance. If for some reason you don't like the place or the room good luck sorting that out.

 

Places like Areca don't seem to list all their availability on Agoda. Last couple times I've booked direct with Areca and everything was great (except the lack of a chair in the Superior room, not recommended if you want to use a laptop on a desk without sitting cross-legged on the platform).

 

Agoda site does have good maps.

[Sexyfarangman]

Thanks for all the great information. As I suspected, it really is too good to be true.

[philkrenshaw]

I have not yet used Agoda in Asia (but I will very soon--heading over in late June). I have used Agoda for hotels in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. I compared multiple reservation sites and on the whole Agoda had the best prices and a fairly wide selection.

 

Some cities Agoda tells you the fees and taxes up front. Others you see the fees and taxes after you pick your dates and room, but BEFORE YOU PAY so if you don't like the final price you don't have to take it. I THINK, at the end, it boils down to the bonus points you earn--you earn only on the initial price, not on taxes added on the 2nd page.

 

I have about $66 US in Agoda credit after my South American stays. I will be using Agoda for at least part of my Asia vacation. Usually, Agoda gives you a good price, but not always. For example, the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong is a couple dollars cheaper on the Hyatt site than on Agoda (even though Agoda makes it look like they are knocking the price down from >$600 to around $220). Not every hotel is on Agoda. You may find alternatives on other sites. The last hotel I used in Hong Kong is not listed on Agoda.

 

Occasionaly, you don't get an Agoda voucher, but they give you a confirmed reservation through, if I remember correctly, sister organization booking.com, and you pay at the hotel.

 

The reviews on the Agoda site are usefull and fairly accurate. You should read them even if you book in some other way. As long as you don't mind paying in advance and possible penalties if you cancel, I think you can't go far wrong with Agoda. I actually like to pay in advance for hotel and plane flights so I don't have to worry about paying for them on vacation. In chile my wallet and credit card were stolen, but my hotel was paid in advance as was my flight home. I had enough extra cash to get by OK for meals and touristy stuff.

[whitespider - RIP]

Thanks for all the great information. As I suspected, it really is too good to be true.

 

Even with the tax added its still usually cheaper + the Loyalty Points.

 

Yoiu cant expect to have your cake and eat it - there are reasons WHY they can offer discounts such as the cancellation stuff and paying up front. Without those they simply cant get the deals from the hotels. hotels offer discounts for guaranteed bookings basically as they dont have last minute empty rooms unpaid for.

 

I always use it and for me its the best of the lot but I use hotels a lot so the Loyalty Points are a BIG part of it for me.

[whitespider - RIP]

 

 

Places like Areca don't seem to list all their availability on Agoda. Last couple times I've booked direct with Areca and everything was great (except the lack of a chair in the Superior room, not recommended if you want to use a laptop on a desk without sitting cross-legged on the platform).

 

 

 

Arecas lowest price in on the Pattaya Addicts / Sawasdee site (I believe). Can see it here

 

http://www.pattayahotelreviews.com/hotels-pattaya/

 

And yes we do get a commission if you use that

[Bitch Controller]

Best hotel booking site for Asia/Thailand.

[arbiez]

Thanks for all the great information. As I suspected, it really is too good to be true.

I've used both Agoda and their last minute site, Latestays.com and I think they're pretty good. Publishing the pricing without taxes is pretty standard throughout the industry. Book a hotel in Vegas listed at say 119/night and you'll have the taxes thrown on top of that. It's not that substantial and oftentimes still lower than what other sites will post. (esp if doing a latestays booking)

[Sexyfarangman]

The major factor that would inhibit me from using Agoda is that, as already mentioned, you have to pay the full amount up front. However, I understand why it is necessary for Agoda have this policy.

[whitespider - RIP]

The major factor that would inhibit me from using Agoda is that, as already mentioned, you have to pay the full amount up front. However, I understand why it is necessary for Agoda have this policy.

 

There is an option on that. Book 2 or 3 days then extend when you are there. Of course that means your occupancy is not guaranteed and you would pay their ful rate on extension probably.

[whitespider - RIP]

Best hotel booking site for Asia/Thailand.

 

I agree.

[bobby1961]

I use quickrooms for my bookings. The price is always per room and no extra guest charges.

But like most website bookings there is no cancellation policy.

Though they are trying to change my dates from Sunday to September for £20.

[prak]

I have used Agoda a lot. They do add tax and service charge after they show you the room rate, but the full amount is shown before you pay. I've never had a hotel add on any additional charges on top of the Agoda price (other than true extras like mini-bar, laundry, etc). A lot of hotels I have booked with Agoda want a security deposit at check-in, usually about 2k, but I've always had this returned to me. Personally, I find Agoda has much better pricing than most direct bookings, and I plan until continuing to use them unless I hear something really bad about them.

 

Two things to be cautious of when booking:

 

1. Your entire stay has to be pre-paid through Agoda. Make sure you are booking with a hotel you know, or that has a good reputation, as you will not be able to change hotels without losing your money - this is especially important for long stays.

 

2. Remember to print the confirmation voucher, it gets emailed to you several hours after you complete the booking on the site. I have checked in many times without the voucher in-hand, but its always a pain in the ass to try and get the voucher printed at the hotel, or get them to call Agoda and confirm. All the times I've had the voucher printed have been easy and painless.

 

 

There is an option on that. Book 2 or 3 days then extend when you are there. Of course that means your occupancy is not guaranteed and you would pay their ful rate on extension probably.

This. I've done this a whole lot. When asking to extend your stay most hotels will actually tell you to extend via the Agoda website, otherwise they will have to charge you a higher price. I don't know why they just don't negotiate it down with you, but I've never had them do this, they seem to like their middle-man. So I just get on the site and book a few more days at the reduced rate. Like you said, you are not guaranteed to get a room this way, but if you are not staying at a busy time, this nearly always works, and nearly always gets you a rate similar to what you paid to begin with.

[thaitravels]

with respect, this is terrible advice. i've used Agoda for years and feel obliged to come to their defense.

 

booking.com actually doesn't charge any cancellation fees at all. they just send your credit card number to the hotel, who decides how much to charge you and when. you have absolutely zero guarantee that the price you saw on the website is the price the hotel is going to charge you, and you are completely at the mercy of the hotel when it comes to cancellation. if anything goes wrong, and you call booking.com, they will tell you to call the hotel.

 

i've used both sites (they are both owned by priceline.com) and booking.com is not even on the same planet when it comes to asian/thai bookings in terms of pricing or service. one is based in bangkok, one is based in amsterdam. who do you think is better positioned to handle issues in thailand? if you're going to europe, use booking.com.

 

last thing. you see the total price on Agoda before you book (in your currency) and you get charged exactly that. booking.com (and pretty much every other booking site in the world) will show you a completely unrealistic estimate in your currency and then leave it to the banks in thailand to work out the exchange rate when you actually get charged. the net result is that you pay 3-5% more and everyone just hopes you don't notice/remember. Agoda is actually the only company where what you see is what you get.

 

 

I used Agoda.com a lot previously, the prices advertised is not what you actually pay.

When you go to checkout/pay once you have booked the room they then add the taxes/services charges per night to the final bill.

All said & done there prices are on par with other sites in the online hotel booking category.

 

Also another downside to using agoda.com is that they charge a $15 US cancelation even if you cancel 2 months before you are due to check in.

 

I have found the best site to use is booking.com

 

They have just as many hotels as agoda.com on the books & they charge no cancelation fee up to 3 days before the check in date.

 

 

www.booking.com is the way to go.

 

 

Hope this helps.

[filibuster]

I've used both Agoda and their last minute site, Latestays.com and I think they're pretty good. Publishing the pricing without taxes is pretty standard throughout the industry. Book a hotel in Vegas listed at say 119/night and you'll have the taxes thrown on top of that. It's not that substantial and oftentimes still lower than what other sites will post. (esp if doing a latestays booking)

 

Agoda is part of Priceline. Latestays is part of Asia Web Direct which, in turn, is part of an Aussie company, Wotif. Unlike Agoda, Wotif and its subsidiaries include tax and service charges in their search pricing.

 

Other online agents worth considering are Rates to Go/Hotel Club. They include taxes and service charges in their search prices and, like Agoda, offer loyalty points. They are both part of Orbitz.

[Big Casino]

Never had a problem with them. Booked 5 hotels in thailand and 1 in Laos this year. Printed off vouchers which you hand in at each hotel and never paid any extra at hotel.

 

Big C

[bodbod]

I find that I can get the rooms cheaper myself that is in pattaya used Agoda in Europe no problem good company

[jalal]

with respect, this is terrible advice. i've used agoda for years and feel obliged to come to their defense.

 

booking.com actually doesn't charge any cancellation fees at all. they just send your credit card number to the hotel, who decides how much to charge you and when. you have absolutely zero guarantee that the price you saw on the website is the price the hotel is going to charge you, and you are completely at the mercy of the hotel when it comes to cancellation. if anything goes wrong, and you call booking.com, they will tell you to call the hotel.

 

i've used both sites (they are both owned by priceline.com) and booking.com is not even on the same planet when it comes to asian/thai bookings in terms of pricing or service. one is based in bangkok, one is based in amsterdam. who do you think is better positioned to handle issues in thailand? if you're going to europe, use booking.com.

 

last thing. you see the total price on agoda before you book (in your currency) and you get charged exactly that. booking.com (and pretty much every other booking site in the world) will show you a completely unrealistic estimate in your currency and then leave it to the banks in thailand to work out the exchange rate when you actually get charged. the net result is that you pay 3-5% more and everyone just hopes you don't notice/remember. agoda is actually the only company where what you see is what you get.

 

After I have booked Safary Beach hotel through Agoda.com, in confirmation mail they noted that

I must bring the credit card used for payment with a valid photo id for hotel check in.

But i have booked it through my friends credit card, so its not possible to bring his card with me.

Is hotels booked by Agoda asked to show Credit Cards while check in or just the voucher or confirmation?

[wackyjacky]

After I have booked Safary Beach Hotel through Agoda.com, in confirmation mail they noted that

I must bring the credit card used for payment with a valid photo id for hotel check in.

But i have booked it through my friends credit card, so its not possible to bring his card with me.

Is hotels booked by agoda asked to show Credit Cards while check in or just the voucher or confirmation?

IMO, Jalal, you're fucked. Standard procedure everywhere due to cc fraud. Call 'em & see if you can switch over to your cc. Maybe tell 'em your friend was coming/with you, but can't now. wj

[Slacker]

with respect, this is terrible advice. i've used agoda for years and feel obliged to come to their defense...agoda is actually the only company where what you see is what you get.

 

I'm guessing that, with your board name and the fact that it is your first post, that you have a vested interest in defending Agoda ? Agoda publish ficticious starting rates that do not reflect accurate pricing of the hotels listed, then 'discount' by a random amount and point to the saving. Once you factor in taxes they very rarely beat rates quoted by the hotel itself. Not exactly honest advertising, is it ? More than a whiff of sharp practice IMO. Unless a hotel lacks a secure payment system, or will reserve without CC guarantee, I don't bother with booking sites. I'm not saying I haven't used them, but Agoda are usually beaten by others.

[johnnyk]

I like Agoda, best rates I could find for BKK hotels. I cancelled one night of my booking about 10 days before arrival and I was refunded fully within 24 hours @no charge.

[forqalso]

Back in November '08, during the airport fiasco, we got stuck in Chiang Mai. I had a room booked in Bangkok through Agoda. I was able to get a flight to Taipei from the airport up north and I thought I would have to write off the bangkok room. Before i could even check with Agoda, they had emailed me, offering to cancel the rooms without a fee. I did; but, the night before I was to leave, Suvarnabhumi reopened and I was able to regain my last three days of vacation in Bangkok.

 

I was impressed then with Agoda's service and I have used them several time since with excellent results.

[kopite]

i quite like the idea of paying it all up front. Then when I get there at least I don't have to worry about keeping any dosh aside for the hotel.