Agoda Cancellation Policy

[kikc69 45]

I booked a room at Sabai Lodge for three nights (13th-16 March) through Agoda. The total cost for the three nights was $109.00 (about 3500 baht). On 8 March an emergency arose and I had to cancel my reservation. I canceled through their website and they sent me a reply that no refund was due. I made an inquiry and this is their reply.

 

 

Dear XXXXXXXXX

 

 

 

Thank you for your email.

 

With reference to your booking IDXXXXXXXXX as detailed below:

 

Hotel: Sabai Lodge Hotel

Room Type: Superior B Double

City/Country: Pattaya/Thailand

Arrival: March 13, 2010

Departure: March 16, 2010

 

 

 

We regret to inform that there is no refund as full period charge according to cancellation policy.

 

I could possibly accept a one night cancellation charge but to keep all three nights is way out of line in my opinion. I canceled 5 days before my arrival. Just a word of warning to anyone wanting to book through Agoda. What would have happened if I had booked for two weeks at a more expensive place and paid them $500.00. NEVER AGAIN AGODA.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

You need to read carefully when booking online through any site including directly through a hotel, airline, etc.

 

Travel insurance is a good option when booking far in advance, then if something unfortunate occurs you will have refund options.

 

I should heed my own advice on that one as I am pre-booked for Christmas and New Year.

[lovedog100 1,372]

That is why I never book more than one day. If I want to stay, I can always extend after I am there. I also have the option to find another place that I like better.

[js007 795]

I remember one time I booked a hotel room in Bangkok through Priceline. It was one of those deals where if they accept your bid, you just bought yourself a room. Anyway, I knew going in that I wouldn't be able to get my money back in the event I couldn't make the trip. Sure enough, I couldn't make the trip. I never thought to bitch about it, as that was part of the deal. No refunds.

Edited March 17, 2010 by js007

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I could possibly accept a one night cancellation charge but to keep all three nights is way out of line in my opinion.

 

I can't see the issue. The cancellation conditions for each particular booking are spelt out at the time of booking. Although I choose not to book through Agoda for different reasons, it's not their blanket policy to apply the charges you encountered to all bookings. Normally "no refunds" are only applied to special deals.

[kikc69 45]

I can't see the issue. The cancellation conditions for each particular booking are spelt out at the time of booking. Although I choose not to book through Agoda for different reasons, it's not their blanket policy to apply the charges you encountered to all bookings. Normally "no refunds" are only applied to special deals.

 

 

I agree and I was stupid not to read the fine print. I just wanted to let others know that their cancellation policies can be strict and they should read carefully before they book. Being that the policy is that strict I will not use Agoda again. As far as a special deal it worked out to about 1200 baht per night which is not really that special. I am out 3500 baht through my own fault. Just hope others will read this and make their own decision.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

I agree and I was stupid not to read the fine print. I just wanted to let others know that their cancellation policies can be strict and they should read carefully before they book. Being that the policy is that strict I will not use Agoda again. As far as a special deal it worked out to about 1200 baht per night which is not really that special. I am out 3500 baht through my own fault. Just hope others will read this and make their own decision.

 

I appreciate that, however, where the special rates are offered (by whichever booking agent) the no refund policy is determined by the hotel, not the agent. You would have encountered the same issue with any agent that was offering that specific deal. It's a bit of a bummer but no different to booking a flight - the cheaper the deal, the more restrictions that will apply.

[voracious 31]

I use agoda exclusively (used to use asiarooms but they had very poor service) and have been quite happy. I believe the ability for them to refund you is based on the hotel. I was bumped off a plane and they requested and received a one night credit on my behalf. This was done without me even asking for it, since I knew that the cancellation policy didn't entitle me to anything. For some of the early booking steep discounts, the hotel applies a pretty strict cancellation policy and once the money's gone out to the hotel, if Agoda can't get it back, they're not giving it back to the customer.

 

Not fun, but if you need/want more flexibility than that don't use any prepay service and just book where you can go with no deposit. Pros and cons to that too, but you'll won't have to deal with cancellation policies.

 

Stuff happens. A couple years ago I made a reservation at the vault about many months in advance. Had a death in the immediate family and had to cancel plans. Still several months before the trip. Promptly canceled. I never received a refund of the $50 deposit.

[torrenova 644]

You cannot knock Agoda for the OP not reading the booking conditions !

 

As mentioned, travel insurance would be advisable. Seems the OP forgot to consider that as well. Hardly fair to blame Agoda for that either.

 

I appreciate being pissed off but can't accept it is a fault of anyone other than the OP.

[seeker 0]

You cannot knock Agoda for the OP not reading the booking conditions !

 

As mentioned, travel insurance would be advisable. Seems the OP forgot to consider that as well. Hardly fair to blame Agoda for that either.

 

I appreciate being pissed off but can't accept it is a fault of anyone other than the OP.

So you think thats fair do you?

[nus01 305]

So you think that's fair do you?

a 3500 baht cancellation fee is hardly the end of the world , what do you think is fair compensation for Taking the booking, confirming your reservation , cancellation the reservation, refunding your money especially if both ways its international money exchange.

 

Just below the "confirm booking" button their is "booking conditions" hit it and there is only one booking condition

 

 

Booking Conditions

"Any cancellations are subject to a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the reservation amount. Failure to arrive at your hotel will be treated as a late cancellation and will incur a charge equal to 100% of the reservation amount."

 

It would take you 1 second to read the conditions much much lesss time that it took you to start a thread about it.

 

 

 

2) Travel Insurance

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

So you think thats fair do you?

It may seem harsh but the rules are spelled out on the site.

 

We gain wisdom from our mistakes, not our successes.

[nkped 1,208]

Interesting. I booked the Sala Thai in Phuket/Patong for 5 nights at the end of the month through Agoda. Just reviewed their reply e-mail and here is a major part of what it says about the cancellation policy--"Any cancellations received less than 7 day(s) before arrival will be subject to a cancellation fee, in the amount of 1 night(s) charge. Failure to arrive at your hotel will be treated as a late cancellation. This will incur 1 night(s) cancellation fee." Obviously hope, for a variety of reasons, that I don't have to find out whether they are as good as their word on the cancellation policy.

 

Used Agoda, because I could not make the Sala Thai site accept a direct reservation.

[torrenova 644]

So you think thats fair do you?

 

Yes I do. If you are too lazy or stupid to read the rules for cancellation before you book why should the booking agent be responsible for that ?

 

If you think it is the agent's fault, you need to go back to school.

[jacko 8,815]

I booked a room at Sabai Lodge for three nights (13th-16 March) through Agoda. The total cost for the three nights was $109.00 (about 3500 baht). On 8 March an emergency arose and I had to cancel my reservation. I canceled through their website and they sent me a reply that no refund was due. I made an inquiry and this is their reply.

 

 

Dear XXXXXXXXX

 

 

 

Thank you for your email.

 

With reference to your booking IDXXXXXXXXX as detailed below:

 

Hotel: Sabai Lodge Hotel

Room Type: Superior B Double

City/Country: Pattaya/Thailand

Arrival: March 13, 2010

Departure: March 16, 2010

 

 

 

We regret to inform that there is no refund as full period charge according to cancellation policy.

 

I could possibly accept a one night cancellation charge but to keep all three nights is way out of line in my opinion. I canceled 5 days before my arrival. Just a word of warning to anyone wanting to book through Agoda. What would have happened if I had booked for two weeks at a more expensive place and paid them $500.00. NEVER AGAIN AGODA.

I mooched around their website and this statement hit me....

Your confirmation email will specify the exact cancellation due date which is the deadline you must cancel by in order to avoid any cancellation fee. Generally, the cancellation due date is 14 days prior to arrival at the hotel.

It is a good reason for not paying up-front.

[JohnnyK 28]

In December I booked two rooms for 4 nights in BKK through Agoda then cancelled one night (both rooms) of the four. The refund was back on my credit card within 48 hours. Just my experience, I would use them again.