100% deposit Areca Lodge!!?

[Skallagrim 0]

Made my booking yesterday evening at Areca lodge from mid to end of July trough this site. 990.00Baht for the deluxe room, whatever that is does not seem to steep and the place seem to be recomended by lots of people.

 

But todasy when confirmation arrived in my in-box they want a 100% non refundable deposit payable via VISA or direct bank transfer.

 

Now that sort of sets my alarm bells off, so considering cancelling and look elsewhere.

 

I have nothing against forking out a 10-15% deposit to secure the room. But 100% is a bit over the top. And they want it by tomorrow the 29th of June.

 

So should I follow my gut feeling and book elswhere? I mean it's low season, so should not be to difficult finding a place to pass out between the action?

 

Any advice?

[sexy beast 12]

I've booked for 13th July, direct to the hotel website, they wanted 3000baht deposit, of which I paid..

 

[Skallagrim 0]

Thanks for the answer, how long are you staying?

[sexy beast 12]

Thanks for the answer, how long are you staying?

I am booked there for 11 nights, then to bangkok probably for a bit!

[sexy beast 12]

I see you are a registered member, why not sign up for the members? Its a great forum, trip reports etc.

[Skallagrim 0]

Okay...well, see you around then I guess. I will be the lightly confused dude with a Scandi-hooligan accent trying to figure out where I am and what the h... I am doing there.

 

I'll reply to this Grace person that sent the 100% deposit thingy and ask a few questions...

 

Cheers :-)

[blacknight 5]

I had a similar thing on my last trip to LOS. I booked Areca's sister hotel as Areca was fully booked, via Asiarooms.com and had to pay the full amount. If it is this site you booked through they are a good reliable site and you are saving 300bht per night on the hotel price.

 

If you are paying by credit card, which I think you have to anyway you will be fully insured on both fraud and most companies also insure your holiday too, should you need to be moved hotel during your trip. The online booking is also secure.

 

If you book via the hotel they do not have a secure booking facility on their website. This is a good hotel.

 

You could always try another one though

[Skallagrim 0]

Thanks for the reply Blacknight :-)

 

Yeah the Hotel comes recomended and appears to be good. Just put on my best behaviour and fired of a couple of questions to the booking agency. The offer is a good one, the location likewise...we'll see

[Skallagrim 0]

Well I got some sort of answer to the effect that they are a travel agent not the hotel and that they require payment in full...well they should call it just that instead of calling it a deposit *grumph*

 

Anyway, to tired to spend another evening browsing for hotels...so may go with this one.

So will have drink and think about it. It is not that much money...

 

Anyway, have sent a reg. email to become a full meber of this place...could be all sorts of fun going on in there :-)

[Skallagrim 0]

Having discussed the matter thouroghly with myself and a few G&T, and hereby following the principle of never follow a decission taken when sober, until you have discussed it while drunk, I have now forked out my heard earned cash.

 

See you in Pattaya on the 13th. I will be the European that came to a beach holliday destinatioln without a GF, so I should be easy to find. To make it even easier I will be wearing a T shirt, sandals and shorts with a lot of pockets. I will probably also be holding a beer in my hand and looking at some creatures they call females that I have heard shall exist in this fine place.

 

Have a good one

 

Skallagrim

[BigDUSA 71]

Personally I wouldn't pay any hotel 100% non refundable room deposit. What happens if you get sick or family emergency and you cancel? Way to many good hotels that only require one nights deposit.

[Skallagrim 0]

Personally I wouldn't pay any hotel 100% non refundable room deposit. What happens if you get sick or family emergency and you cancel? Way to many good hotels that only require one nights deposit.

Thanks for the input.

 

Well, I decided to take a chance. I am a big fool anyway, so if things go wrong, well...

 

Have a good one

[ozboy 31]

Personally I would check that you are getting a deluxe room,ie pool view with in room safe, because if you are, 990 baht is an exceptional price and no doubt several people including me would like to know who you are booking through.

My wife and I were there late may/june and walk-in price for standard room was 1090 baht, we booked through sawasdee.com and got standard room for 990 baht,and deluxe room both at hotel or sawasdee was 200 baht more than standard.

ozboy

[saranagon 0]

I called Areca and they quoted me 1290 for deluxe rooms inc breakfast

i will banter for discount on arrival

[WoodyAmsterdam 0]

I have made reservations for January 7 untill January 29 and they charged me 3000 Bath deposit as usual. (3th. visit)

[blacknight 5]

Ozboy I booked Areca while I was over in April and since I was a returning customer the manageress Nancy gave me a deluxe room for 15 nights in August for a 100bht per night with only a 3000bht deposit. If you ask to speak to her she will always work out a deal depending on the duration and how many times you've stayed.

 

I have spoken to other guests who stay there everytime and have been told that she does this quite often.

 

Asiarooms.com sometimes have deals with Areca, but I checked today and there is none at the moment.

[Skallagrim 0]

Personally I would check that you are getting a deluxe room,ie pool view with in room safe, because if you are, 990 baht is an exceptional price and no doubt several people including me would like to know who you are booking through.

My wife and I were there late may/june and walk-in price for standard room was 1090 baht, we booked through sawasdee.com and got standard room for 990 baht,and deluxe room both at hotel or sawasdee was 200 baht more than standard.

ozboy

Sorry guys,

 

That was a big misunderastanding on my part. The 990 Bath qoute was for the standard room, I must have ticked the wrong box when I ordered becouse I want the deluxe room

for the safe deposit box.

 

Do not particularely care to fix it right now, but going to ask for an upgrade when I hit Pattaya. Coming back with a review once my 17 days are finished so at least you will now how flexible they are.

 

It IS low season so it should not be a problem, unless all the punters in here ahe gathering there at the time.

 

By the way, I booked trough Sawasdee...

 

Will

[monkeyman 1,604]

I'd tell 'em to fuck off.

 

Oh sorry, too late.

[rascall 130]

Too risky. Anything could happen to stop you going. Plenty of competition out there. Tell them to shove it.

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

I would not bank on getting a room change on arrival, as the Areca is quite often fully booked, especially at weekends, even in low season.

I have stayed there numerous times, and the only deposit asked for by the hotel was the cost of 1 night.

If you book via a hotel booking website expect to have to pay upfront for the full stay, this is the normal policy for these companies, although refunds are available if you cancel, less a small administration charge.

[Skallagrim 0]

To late for me but plenty of good advice here for others,

 

Will fire off an e-mail to the booking company and ask them to try and upgrade my booking.

 

For the record. It was not the hotel that asked my to pay up in full bit the booking company. So booking directly trough the hotel is the best option. But for me this was the easiest way at the moment.

 

Also my situation is that my employer is actually paying for the trip (flight + hotel) and that is why i don't really care if I have to cancell or not.

 

Will keep up the postings here until everything is set in concrete.

 

(You all must think I am a total twat by now...but hey, you only live once...)

 

Will

Edited June 29, 2006 by Skallagrim

[soi unwise 6]

Am afraid this is a by-product of wankers who book 4 or 5 hotels just in case

they are not happy once they arrive.I can see the hotel's point of view but in low season it's worth just booking one night and then assessing the situation.

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

I have see SO many people at the Areca who have booked a few nights to "see what it's like" and then try to extend their stay with no success as the hotel has a large golf group arriving etc etc

If you do get to extend your stay, be prepared to have to move rooms, maybe on more than one occasion so they keep their regulars happy !

[Skallagrim 0]

Well, the deluxe rooms are all booked. for the period I am staying there they say. But will pester them when I arrive as well...

 

Anyway, I never let things like that destroy my hollidays. As long as the place I sleep in is clean and I can have a shower in the morning I am happy...

 

[WoodyAmsterdam 0]

Anyway, I never let things like that destroy my hollidays. As long as the place I sleep in is clean and I can have a shower in the morning I am happy...

 

In that case you'll have a great time!

 

Have fun!