Reservations versus Walk-in rate?

[camus]

Hey guys,

 

I'm heading to Pattaya in a couple weeks. I'm thinking of staying at the Baybreeze or a similar hotel in that price range.

 

It seems that many hotels in LOS now have reservation ability online. In your experience, is it cheaper to make a reservation or to just arrive and negotiate a rate?

 

In the case of the Baybreeze hotel, their website says that rooms can be anywhere between 500-1200 baht. So, what is to prevent them from quoting me a higher rate if they already know that I am coming?

 

Thanks for any info about this.

 

Camus

[bigmofo]

If your going in a few weeks your better getting a price on walk in as it should be quite this time of year and you can look at the room first.If you book on the net you might get a bum room.

[JohnnyK]

bigmofo is right.

also if you walk in you can negotiate for a longer stay and get a better rate.

if it's not what you want you can go next door. also it gives them no chance to lose the paperwork and other assorted bs which cut into your fun.

[rascall]

I have found that booking on line is always cheaper than walk in. Have used precisionreservations.com and asiarooms.com. Both have always worked out safe booking and cheaper.

[bigmofo]

Hi rascal can you post where you have stayed and difference in price for booking on the net cheers.

[Taltos]

My brother is staying at the Sunshine Garden, where we where last year. Came in about 20.00 hours, no manager and payed about 1000 baths for the night.. Talked to the manager the day after and got down to 800baths for 2 1/2 months. Special internet deals go as low as 618baths and stay 22 nights pay 19 and so on. He will try to lower the price more and I will wait to book my stay until I see his new price.

 

One thing. If you are booking on the net on one special hotel look on as many sites as possible. The price for Sunshine Garden was from 618bats up to 1027baths and all proclaimed to be specal internet deals.

[Emil]

I've found that you get your best rates as a walk up when the manager is on duty. Once you've stayed there before and have talked to the manager I was able to get the same rate dealing with the manager through email. I think that if your dealing with one of the Pattaya hotels that offer monthly rates then your going to get that same rate whether you walk up or book with then by email as these generally charge a monthly rate that is equal to 10 times their daily rate.

[elef]

My ex-TW walks around and can often gets a walk-in price which is half of what I can get, so if you travel with a thai wife, GF or just a BG send her in to ask for the room rate.

 

Last time in Pattaya in february TGF booked Thai Garden Hotel 2 weeks in advance but still the price she got was 900 baht under the lowest internet price I found, without breakfast however.

[rb]

just did my walk-about and the Dynesty Inn has went upto 1200bt from 990 in Oct 04 when i last stayed there so i payed the 350bt to ride the van instead of prepaying for two nights at DI Patttaya.

went over to AA residency and the raided price from 700bt in oct to 800bt but no standard rooms available for a couple days, would give me the Jr suite for 1k instead of regular 1200bt price. went to Lek, no stadard rooms at 750bt "for a couple days" just 1200bt rooms in new section.

so i'm staying at Bay Breese for 600bt a night, think i could of got cheaper if prepayed for a week but am going to check a few others yet, might need to move if i keep butterfling

[bigmofo]

Hi rascal still waiting for you to post where you stayed that was cheaper to book through an agency than walk in rate i aint calling you a lier but i would like to know which hotels are cheaper booking on the net as the agency will take a percentage.

[spacebass]

I do not believe your question has a definitive answer because of the variables involved.

 

I think it is thought in the trade that the lowest rates are available for 'walk in' , but some of the internet rates are certainly attractive and give you the benefit of certainty.

 

If you are not bothered where you stay I am sure if you 'walk in' enough you will get the best deal, but if you see something on the net you actually like at a good price you might end up with a better overall deal.

 

Like poster above says Farang might never get the best deal face to face might be better off on computer!

 

 

You pays your money and takes your choice!

[KC]

Hi rascal still waiting for you to post where you stayed that was cheaper to book through an agency than walk in rate i aint calling you a lier but i would like to know which hotels are cheaper booking on the net as the agency will take a percentage.

There are plenty of hotels you can deal with direct when it comes to booking a room so you don't get an agent taking a fee. You just got to do the leg work finding the hotels that take direct internet bookings, there are plenty in the hotel review section with direct links to their websites. Failing that get their phone number and book your room that way.

Hope that helps.

 

KC

[bigmofo]

Hi kc thanks for your input thats what i do book direct or get tgf to thrash out a deal and pay deposit if iam coming peak times its just that he posted 2 agency type companys iam just interested in getting even cheaper than walkin or booking direct good luck

[cowboy]

Camus,

 

If you try the walk in style of booking be sure to post your experience on this Board. I have found that the hotels I would be interested in staying at usually are full even thought the bars may be very slow.

 

I think the walk in approach depends on the type of hotel you are looking for. If you are after a specific hotel or a hotel that charges say 1300 baht or higher then I think booking in advance gives you the best chance of getting the best rate.

 

Most high end hotels offer the lowest rates until they are 80% or 85 % after that they raise the rates. By high end I mean place like the marriot or hard rock hotel etc. So booking in advance is the best way to go for them.

[caverzano]

I go to Pattaya (for the first time) in August.

Is low season.

In this month Walk-in rate is always better?

[bigmofo]

Hi caverzano if your topend cowboy said it is cheaper to book on the net i do not know because i never stay in the topend hotels but he is obviously speeking from experiance so book on the net.If your not staying in the topend hotels i would book a room for the night and put some footwork in as i would say the hotels would be quite this time of year iam not saying stand there bartering for 30 mins like you are buying a car or a house but you should get some nice deals.good luck.

[BigDUSA]

During low season the Sunbeam Hotel, soi 8 and others have a stay 14 nights and pay for 10. These look to be walk up rates. The longer your stay the better the discounts. I always ask to speak to the manager on duty as he's the one with the authority to offer discounts.

[sinbinjack]

hi all iv'e been quoted by the flipper

- A standard room in the new wing , stay 14 nights pay 10 nights = 9,900.- baht on room only .( @707.- baht per night

- A standard room in the old wing , stay 14 nights pay 10 nights = 9,000.- baht on room only .

( @642.- baht per night ) starting on the 2nd mayand i'm still in the UK

[Emil]

BigD,

 

I know the Sunshine has offered that discount, don't recall seeing it offered at the Sunbeam which I've been told charges a joiner fee.

[longy]

Emil,

 

your earlier post states a monthly rate equates to roughly the daily rate times 10. Have you any definite hotels that offer this? In my experience it equates to the daily rate times 15 or 20. Any help with this would be appreciated as im in town next month.

Thanks

 

Longy

[Emil]

The Holiday Mansion and Mansion 75. One thing about these monthly rates is that you have to pay for water/electricty. Housekeeping at the Holiday Mansion is free only once a week, 100 baht for each additional day. Housekeeping at Mansion 75 is only free once every 2 weeks.

Edited April 8, 2005 by Emil

[spacebass]

On second thoughts I wouldn't book anything long term in Pattaya without checking it out personally because the place is like a building site and maybe the rates are down because next door or even in the hotel itself is a building site, this is without a doubt one of the noisiest , 'angle grinder orientated' city I have ever been in.

[rascall]

Hey bigmofo, sorry for delay in response. Haven't visited the hotel review pages for awhile.

 

I have booked The Dusit, The Woodlands and Amari Orchid in Pattaya via the net, usually via www.precisionreservations.com or www.asiarooms.com. ALWAYS has worked out cheaper than UK travel agent, and they don't bill your card until a week before arrival. Also no credit card fee.

 

Have also booked Imperial Boat House (Samui) and Krabi Thai Village (Krabi) via the net. This years trip I have booked at the RG in Patt directly from these pages.

 

Sorry for the delay in my response. PM me if I can help any further.

 

Rascall

[travlling]

Has anyone stayed at Sandy Springs? I'd be interested in any info on the suites or deluxe rooms, walk-in, or reservations, thanks

 

travlling

[cowboy]

trvling,

I am trying to get a room at sandy springs on short notice. They are all booked except for suite (2500 baht) and they said to call them asap or that might be gone as well. I may just stay in BKK.