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Then contact the hostel yourself so they save on the Booking commision.Albergue de Peregrinos do Porto is officially a hostel but the owner decided only to accept pilgrims.
There's plenty nice hostels in Porto if you want to try something else. Just go for 8+ ratings on Booking .com
I wouldn’t take that risk to save a euro in Porto.Then contact the hostel yourself so they save on the Booking commision.
Out of interest: Why do you think that it is a risk to book directly?I wouldn’t take that risk to save a euro Porto.
Out of interest: Why do you think that it is a risk to book directly?
I started in Porto in May and stayed in House of Sandeman Hostel, unfortunately it has ruined all other hostels for me as it was AMAZING! Luxury at €15 per night, breakfast, afternoon tea, welcome drink, free bike hire just some of the perks along with spotless rooms, luxurious single bathrooms! Loved it so much I'm going for a week next year! I really should get commission as I've done nothing but go on about it since I stayed!
Hardly! We booked a hotel in Paris through booking.com only to be told on arrival that they were completely full and booking.com was continuing to send them guests (much to the hotel's displeasure). If we'd called them directly, we could have avoided a wasted trip.10% of all people calling or emailing to make a reservation never shows up, and to get full some hostels over book by 10% to get full every day.
And it happens sometimes more than 90% shows up and there's a problem having enough beds.
With booking .com you are are guaranteed a bed.
If the hotel overbooked they are required to pay for another similar or better hotel if you made the reservation trough booking .comHardly! We booked a hotel in Paris through booking.com only to be told on arrival that they were completely full and booking.com was continuing to send them guests (much to the hotel's displeasure). If we'd called them directly, we could have avoided a wasted trip.
But that's the point - the hotel didn't overbook. Booking.com continued to send them bookings even though the hotel indicated they were full. I'll be booking directly from now on.If the hotel overbooked they are required to pay for another similar or better hotel if you made the reservation trough booking .com
I wouldn’t take that risk to save a euro in Porto.
I ask the same question?Out of interest: Why do you think that it is a risk to book directly?
So, I think that you are saying that if you book on berking.com and then arrive late at your lodging, which has pre-booked more beds than they have, that the owners of the lodging will throw out someone who arrived before you so that they can fulfill the obligation to berking.com, is that correct?10% of all people calling or emailing to make a reservation never shows up, and to get full some hostels over book by 10% to get full every day.
And it happens sometimes more than 90% shows up and there's a problem having enough beds.
With booking .com you are are guaranteed a bed.
So, I think that you are saying that if you book on berking.com and then arrive late at your lodging, which has pre-booked more beds than they have, that the owners of the lodging will throw out someone who arrived before you so that they can fulfill the obligation to berking.com, is that correct?
We ended up at Hostel One in Porto and were not aware of the age limit. Thankfully, we just needed a good night's rest, it was late, it was our last night in Porto. We were offered a refund (we preferred to stay) and then we were welcomed as the official "abuelitas". We enjoyed a beer with a couple of the young people hanging around and had a good night's sleep. I looked on their info online and there was no indication anywhere of the age restriction. I was glad they did not turn us away.FYI, if you are looking for hostels in Porto, you might want to avoid Hostel One, depending on your age. It is a youth hostel (although nothing on Booking.com indicated that they had an age limit of 36). We showed up and they informed us that we might want to go elsewhere (I guess we are just not fun enough) and cancelled the reservation. Apparently they sent us a long text message that never loaded for me with the age restriction.
Great tipThen contact the hostel yourself so they save on the Booking commision.
Thank you for the explanation. I did Camino Frances in Sept/Oct 2019 and I used Booking.com quite a bit. I recall it being easy to use and great to look at all the different options, with the descriptions. I plan to use it again, along with other resources.The deal with Booking.com versus calling directly is that you have already paid for the bed/room, so they are less likely to sell it to someone else. If you simply have a promise to pay via call/email, it’s far easier for them to justify reselling your bed/room based on their worry that you won’t show up and they’ll use the revenue. If you arrive and they cannot provide, Booking.com and your accommodation will find a suitable replacement for you - that’s a nice little insurance policy for a weary traveler.
As for it being cheaper by contacting directly? While that is occasionally true, I have mostly found that hotels actually quote the same or a higher price when speaking with them then what I can get from Booking.com.
Yes, but I do believe that you have stronger protection against the property selling your room to someone else when you use booking.com.You don't always pay up front with booking.com. Most of the rooms I have booked with them are pay on arrival.
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