Reservations?                                         Back

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I have spent over three months in south-east Asia in the past six years & I've yet to make a reservation. Why? you ask.

1. You will pay more.

1a. The travel agent has to make a profit.

1b. even if you make your reservation personally you can't barter over the phone, by fax or on-line. You have to

have a face to face.

2. Accommodations are everywhere and of all prices & quality

3. If at first you don't succeed try, try again. If you get in late and rent a room your not crazy about, because your

tired from your flight, you'll only have to spend that first night there.

4. You can almost always barter down the price per night if you decide to stay longer/or if you like the place but

are not crazy about your room, request a different/better room. i.e. closer to the pool, beach, etc.

5. Once you make a reservation your stuck with, at the very least, a hassle getting a refund if you find out your not

satisfied with the accommodations or atmosphere.

So try traveling without reservations.       Al.

If you decide to make reservations, Try contacting the hotel directly (Make sure you talk to someone who has the right to set prices. i.e. on-duty manager or sales director.

First go to a site web site such as hotels.com or travelocity & check their price. Remember they are getting a reduced rate then marking it up for resale at 24 - 48% so start by offering 35% less then the price you got from the web site & negotiate from there. If you settle for let's say $80 when the web site's price was $100. & the hotel was giving the web site the room for $60. The hotel still will make a profit of $20 & you'll save $20. Everybody wins except the web site.