reservations made via internet

[Tengotodo 52]

I have contacted at least 7 different hotels via their internet sites for reservations in June/July. I have not heard a damn response in over 5 days! What do you think? Are the purposely "holding out" for better offers or just plain inefficient? I know it's low season but I thought they would be happy to book guaranteed income. Thai Logic at work? Maybe they think I will "call back" later when I'm desparate and willing to pay more? lol. Anyone have better luck? I'm looking for Areca, Sabaii, Metro... 07/01 through 07/09.

 

peace.... Patrick

[Gordon 0]

When I made my hotel bookings about 2 weeks ago, I contacted 3 hotels and one booking agency and got replies from all within 24 hours.

 

Gordon

[Rex7777 0]

I've sometimes had trouble myself. I guess it depends on how businesslike the peole running the hotel are.

 

If you simply have to have a confirmed reservation, try www.sawasdee.com

 

 

You can pay for your room in advance, and they'll have your room ready when you get there.

 

Priceline also works well.

 

Rex

[elef 0]

If you made the contacts directly with hotels there're several reasons for delays, first only one girl there can read and write english so as she works on saturdays and sundays they just answer those days - if she's not on holiday or stopped work in the hotel. Second is that the hotel prefer to sell the rooms to the full price so if they're rather full-booked they wait and see if they can sell it to somebody else for 500-1000 baht/night more.

[Mescalito 19]

I think it just depends on what hotel you've booked; some are very good at replying and some aren't. In Pattaya I've stayed at the RG every trip but once, and I've always received a prompt reply; only once did it take more than 24 hours to hear back, and that one exception with the RG was still within 48. In Bangkok I've stayed at the Majestic Suites, the Grottino Residence and the Royal President, and always heard back within 24 hours.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

I noticed you had problems with Sabai..I have been communicating with them fine and have booked up 3 rooms in Sabai wing for 3 weeks in April..

 

Try

 

sabailodge99@csloxinfo.com

[pauly77 1]

never yet had a reply from any Eastiny email address,but always get prompt replies from Sabai Inn,maybe it helps sometimes if you have stayed there before.

[Owl_ 0]

When I made my hotel bookings about 2 weeks ago, I contacted 3 hotels and one booking agency and got replies from all within 24 hours.

 

Gordon

 

 

Same for me as I sent e-mail about a month ago for reservations for Feb! I contacted two hotels and they got back to me real quickly with what they had available! I made my choice and I'll be there this coming Feb 1st!

[Gordon 0]

My first choice was for the Sandy Spring hotel though I thought I had little chance as it seems to have gained in popularity. I contacted the hotel direct as well as trying to book through scandibar.com.

 

Scandibar said the Sandy Spring was fully booked but an email received one hour later from the Sandy Spring said they had rooms available and they gave me 3 days to confirm. I did tell them I had stayed with them before, not that I thought it would make any difference.

 

Gordon

[cookie 1]

At Jasmine Mansion I endeavour to reply to all e-mails within 24 hours, often a lot sooner - the main delays being related to the time difference between here and where the message is coming from or if I happen to be ill or away from the hotel. However, many customers have told me of numerous establishments, primarily Thai managed, where responses are very slow or even not forthcoming at all.

 

I can only add that this is not limited to hotels in Thailand but almost every business I have dealt with here be they Thai companies or International ones. For example, 10 e-mails and 12 telephone calls to Walls Ice Cream in Bangkok went unreplied to and I was eventually forced into calling Uniliver (the parent company) in the U.K. before I received any action - Nestle were not better. I have had similar experiences trying to have the hotel listed on various travel web sites getting a quick initial response followed by a whole load of nothing. I could go on and on but think you already will have got the point!

 

I simply cannot understand anyone not treating e-mails with the same degree of importance as any other form of communication especially as this is now the most common form of contact in the hotel business. I have a good computer system for the hotel which keeps detailed statistics of where my customers hear about us, the method of contact and so forth - over 91% of our bookings are made via an e-mail request for accommodation - with those sort of figures ignoring e-mails can seriously damage your business!!

[ozijeff 9]

it can be a bit hit and miss.

i tried to book in to the Nana in Bkk last november through various sites including theirs. all said they were fully booked.

i thought stuff it and called the Nana direct by phone. in less than 2 mins a room was booked and confirmed.

i used the net to book a room at the flipper lodge. all ok and they said they would send me a confirmation email. nothing forthcoming.

again i phoned. they said, 'yes you have booking, why you call?' derrrr

if in doubt, make a quick call, at least then you will know for sure.

try and write down date, time and name of who you talked to.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

I think it is a case of not having internet savvy staff for some of the smaller operators. I've stayed in some small hotels in Amsterdam and notice the reception staff always have a link open to incoming e-mail enquiries. I'm sure if you sent them an e-mail enquiry a reply would be forthcoming at the first available opportunity. I've found Nana to be very prompt in replying to my e-mails as well.

[ozijeff 9]

yep the Nana, was prompt and said they had no rooms via email.

when i phoned, i got one.

TIT

[Tengotodo 52]

Yeah, I got a response from the Nana for my 4 day stay there starting in June. The quoted me a single rate of 1695 baht! Sawasdee.com has them listed for a lot lower! I think 1695 is a bit high for June, even for BKK. I booked the Nana as they didn't want payment upfront and now I"m trying to go through one of the agencys.

 

I did get an email back from Sabaii Inn. 2 people, standard room (no ABF) for 700 baht per night. I thought that was a good price, so I grabbed it. See some of you in July!

[onelilley 6]

Tengotodo,

 

I have always found areca reply almost straight away, so not sure why the delay.

 

You may want to try www.atsiam.com I now book through them as they seem to be slightly cheaper than the hotel itself, in areca's case anyway. Some people don't like paying in advance when they make a reservation, which you have to with atsiam. If you have fixed dates and flights which i always do i personally cannot see the problem. I really think it is better than sending a deposit via credit card number on an e-mail, plus it is one expense covered before i leave home, thus leaving me with nothing but play money when i get there.

 

Hope that helps.

 

onelilley.

[Anfield 8]

I got confirmation e-mail from Flipper Lodge which asked for another e-mail to confirm which I have sent.

 

Hopefully room will be there when I arrive next week.

[wacmedia 277]

I have contacted at least 7 different hotels via their internet sites for reservations in June/July. I have not heard a damn response in over 5 days!

 

Hi,

 

Sorry Ten, they know you.

[ozijeff 9]

I got confirmation e-mail from Flipper Lodge which asked for another e-mail to confirm which I have sent.

 

Hopefully room will be there when I arrive next week.

 

i stayed at the flipper last nov and the confirmation email is the process they use.

no problems, am staying there again in april!

[fopa 0]

I usualy book the Sabai Lodge on the internet. They would get back to me within 48 hours.

[Tengotodo 52]

Hi,

 

Sorry Ten, they know you.

 

 

You may be onto something there

[Tengotodo 52]

Hi,

 

Sorry Ten, they know you.

 

Will miracles never cease! I somehow managed to convince Sabaii Inn to take my baht. I'll be damned. Maybe they forgot? At any rate, I'll be there again in June/July. I wanted to stay at skytops but they would not have my kind.