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I am not surprised that this happens, but my experience with the unnamed Booking and Hotel sites has been excellent.
Yeah, it is what it is, but I have to say I admire your equanimity, Dave. The day before you leave is busy enough without having to deal with that.I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
One more day before departure to Camino Ingles, and this evening I received two emails from a commonly used, online hotel/lodging Booking site. I won't mention which one but this Booking site is pretty commonly mentioned and used by members on the Forum.
There are two pre-booked lodging reservations that I had made during time on the Ingles. This Booking company notified me that both had been cancelled due to 'overbooking'. I had made the reservations months ago, and had reservation confirmation numbers. Fortunately, I was able to find AirBnB replacements. And the option of staying at alburgues in both locations is available, so the cancellations were non-consequential. It just meant last minute head scratching and time spent to make new arrangements.
I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
I've learned that what this Booking site did is not unusual at all. So I'm passing this on as an awareness. The Booking site wanted to be sure I understood that it was the hotel, not the Booking site that cancelled my reservation. My response was along the lines of, 'well, I guess I'd better just skip Booking thru you, and book thru the lodging sites directly.
I'm sure that many of you are already aware of this happening with Hotel and Booking as third party booking agents. I just never really thought about it, but it would be similar to the risks of booking thru a third-party airline booking agency.
I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
Hey. . it is what it is
Additionally, even if a facility is showing ‘no availability’ on that site it’s always worth making contact direct
It may have been a "Hurry, only one room left" accommodation (twenty people get that panicked last room, I think).I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
One more day before departure to Camino Ingles, and this evening I received two emails from a commonly used, online hotel/lodging Booking site. I won't mention which one but this Booking site is pretty commonly mentioned and used by members on the Forum.
There are two pre-booked lodging reservations that I had made during time on the Ingles. This Booking company notified me that both had been cancelled due to 'overbooking'. I had made the reservations months ago, and had reservation confirmation numbers. Fortunately, I was able to find AirBnB replacements. And the option of staying at alburgues in both locations is available, so the cancellations were non-consequential. It just meant last minute head scratching and time spent to make new arrangements.
I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
I've learned that what this Booking site did is not unusual at all. So I'm passing this on as an awareness. The Booking site wanted to be sure I understood that it was the hotel, not the Booking site that cancelled my reservation. My response was along the lines of, 'well, I guess I'd better just skip Booking thru you, and book thru the lodging sites directly.
I'm sure that many of you are already aware of this happening with Hotel and Booking as third party booking agents. I just never really thought about it, but it would be similar to the risks of booking thru a third-party airline booking agency.
I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
Hey. . it is what it is
I have used that third party booking company quite a lot on my travels and get the points raised above. I n their favour - a couple of weeks ago whilst in Badajoz tried to book a Hostel room in Seville using my mobile phone. All was going well until one of their ap's flashed up at the time I was putting my card details in - consequently I somehow booked twice, at the non refundable rate - which at 40 euros a pop was not something I could afford. I phoned b*****g.com in UK they were helpful and basically got the second reservation cancelled and my money refunded. Of course they are making money and I have heard that going direct will get you a cheaper rate. However this may not always be the case. I stopped off in Merida at a Hostel booked through the site and as I decided to return a few days later booked at the desk. The cost was the same. In balance whilst staying at a private albergue booked through the site I stayed an extra day and the cost reduced by 3 euros ie they took off the commission they paid to the site.
Overall I am positive about them but like everything else you need to apply common sense and have an open mind.
Don
I had a somewhat different problem that is worth sharing: On booking a room I was told by the booking company that there were no single rooms left but I could have a triple, at a much greater cost. Since I was desperate I accepted this. When I arrived at the accommodation the receptionist asked why I had booked a triple when they had singles available.One more day before departure to Camino Ingles, and this evening I received two emails from a commonly used, online hotel/lodging Booking site. I won't mention which one but this Booking site is pretty commonly mentioned and used by members on the Forum.
There are two pre-booked lodging reservations that I had made during time on the Ingles. This Booking company notified me that both had been cancelled due to 'overbooking'. I had made the reservations months ago, and had reservation confirmation numbers. Fortunately, I was able to find AirBnB replacements. And the option of staying at alburgues in both locations is available, so the cancellations were non-consequential. It just meant last minute head scratching and time spent to make new arrangements.
I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
I've learned that what this Booking site did is not unusual at all. So I'm passing this on as an awareness. The Booking site wanted to be sure I understood that it was the hotel, not the Booking site that cancelled my reservation. My response was along the lines of, 'well, I guess I'd better just skip Booking thru you, and book thru the lodging sites directly.
I'm sure that many of you are already aware of this happening with Hotel and Booking as third party booking agents. I just never really thought about it, but it would be similar to the risks of booking thru a third-party airline booking agency.
I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
Hey. . it is what it is
Just tell us who you're talking about?
When that sort of situation happens to me I will contact the property directly to see if indeed they do have single rooms available.I had a somewhat different problem that is worth sharing: On booking a room I was told by the booking company that there were no single rooms left but I could have a triple, at a much greater cost. Since I was desperate I accepted this. When I arrived at the accommodation the receptionist asked why I had booked a triple when they had singles available.
The penny dropped. The booking company may not have had my requested accommodation available to them but the accommodation itself clearly did.
I was refused any form of redress because I had already paid online for the triple. Since then, where possible, I have always opted to book directly with the accommodation.
I was pretty sure that was it, but why can't we just say it?I think all times he said "Booking" (notice Capital B), was our hint
I was pretty sure that was it, but why can't we just say it?
So I've used them for many years and so far, no problems.
Is it THEM or is it the hotels?
I feel your pain, good luck. I was on the CI a couple months ago, happy to share places that you can book direct if it will help.
Buen Camino.
Actually, there are quite a number of third party airline sites that will take your payment for a "booking request"at the advertised price. It is definitely not clear that payment is for a "request" only. When the price can't be honored because that fare no longer (or never did) exists, because the third party site doesn't have access to live airline pricing, the third party agent will come back to the purchaser to let them know that they now need to come up with more money to complete the purchase. I would trust large well known companies like Expedia, Travelocity, etc., but there are dozens of third parties out there that are much less scrupulous.A difference, though, between the airline third party sites, and the hotel versions, is that the airline tickets and reservations actually exist when the purchase is made;
Actually, there are quite a number of third party airline sites that will take your payment for a "booking request"at the advertised price. It is definitely not clear that payment is for a "request" only. When the price can't be honored because that fare no longer (or never did) exists, because the third party site doesn't have access to live airline pricing, the third party agent will come back to the purchaser to let them know that they now need to come up with more money to complete the purchase. I would trust large well known companies like Expedia, Travelocity, etc., but there are dozens of third parties out there that are much less scrupulous.
It is all part of the Adventure
How weird. I got a two notices. One said you responded to my OTHER post, and one notice that you were responding to THIS post, but I wasn't the one who posted this.
Now that's a first!
Anyway, I'm not attacking and I certainly believe you.
I just wondered why you didn't just say it was booking.com.
Yeah, but it still sucks.
Sorry that happened to you.
One more day before departure to Camino Ingles, and this evening I received two emails from a commonly used, online hotel/lodging Booking site. I won't mention which one but this Booking site is pretty commonly mentioned and used by members on the Forum.
There are two pre-booked lodging reservations that I had made during time on the Ingles. This Booking company notified me that both had been cancelled due to 'overbooking'. I had made the reservations months ago, and had reservation confirmation numbers. Fortunately, I was able to find AirBnB replacements. And the option of staying at alburgues in both locations is available, so the cancellations were non-consequential. It just meant last minute head scratching and time spent to make new arrangements.
I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
I've learned that what this Booking site did is not unusual at all. So I'm passing this on as an awareness. The Booking site wanted to be sure I understood that it was the hotel, not the Booking site that cancelled my reservation. My response was along the lines of, 'well, I guess I'd better just skip Booking thru you, and book thru the lodging sites directly.
I'm sure that many of you are already aware of this happening with Hotel and Booking as third party booking agents. I just never really thought about it, but it would be similar to the risks of booking thru a third-party airline booking agency.
I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
Hey. . it is what it is
We had a bad expeience with 'venere' , now defunct, and picked it up because we always phone ahead the night before to confirm our arrival time. On that occasion the hotel had closed around the time we booked and we had no notification. We made a new booking direct with the Garelos in Betanzos and it cost more as it was their last room and a triple, but it was great for the 2 nights we needed.
Someone has since said that if that happens you can claim the difference in accommodation costs from the booking firm (venere in our case) . However we did not now and so don't know if this is correct.
If it is true and those 'dumped' did claim then I assume, if it is the hotel at fault, that the booking service will try to reclaim their costs, so making the practise less attractive.
We have had no problems at all with booking.com and have found them easy to use and to deal with. Sometimes it is easier to phone direct, others to use a booking service especially if trying to organize things before leaving home.
Sorry this happened to you @davebugg and hope you have a great Camino
That popular Booking site did the same to me. Twice. The first time was on the day of arrival. I knocked on the door and when the owner came he said he only had 6 beds and I was the 7th. I had made my reservation 5 months in advance and they cancel that day??? My guess is that someone showed up paying cash so the owner canceled my reservation.One more day before departure to Camino Ingles, and this evening I received two emails from a commonly used, online hotel/lodging Booking site. I won't mention which one but this Booking site is pretty commonly mentioned and used by members on the Forum.
There are two pre-booked lodging reservations that I had made during time on the Ingles. This Booking company notified me that both had been cancelled due to 'overbooking'. I had made the reservations months ago, and had reservation confirmation numbers. Fortunately, I was able to find AirBnB replacements. And the option of staying at alburgues in both locations is available, so the cancellations were non-consequential. It just meant last minute head scratching and time spent to make new arrangements.
I'm just glad we had only booked two locations thru that Booking company.
I've learned that what this Booking site did is not unusual at all. So I'm passing this on as an awareness. The Booking site wanted to be sure I understood that it was the hotel, not the Booking site that cancelled my reservation. My response was along the lines of, 'well, I guess I'd better just skip Booking thru you, and book thru the lodging sites directly.
I'm sure that many of you are already aware of this happening with Hotel and Booking as third party booking agents. I just never really thought about it, but it would be similar to the risks of booking thru a third-party airline booking agency.
I am now busy re-doing the reservations I had made on Booking site for our Post-Camino European Road Trip lodgings. I am making them again, but on the actual hotel websites. Once that's done, I will cancel the Booking faux reservations, since I am still able to do most of the cancellations before the cut-off date for free cancellation.
Hey. . it is what it is
That popular Booking site did the same to me. Twice. The first time was on the day of arrival. I knocked on the door and when the owner came he said he only had 6 beds and I was the 7th. I had made my reservation 5 months in advance and they cancel that day??? My guess is that someone showed up paying cash so the owner canceled my reservation.
They tried to replace it with a hostel that had 2 ½ stars on their site for the same amount I was going to pay for my highly rated private room. Nope.
I still think this would be a very good idea.It might be helpful to the rest of us if we compiled a list of places that have dumped reservations unilaterally. Then we would better know where we need to make a contingency reservation. Any further ideas on this listing?
My idea is that a simple list of the Camino route, place (town / city) and name of the property that engaged in unilateral reservation cancellation would suffice. As an example, Frances / Leon / Hostal Mi Casa... (make believe place).
I have always used said company and have never had a problem like this. As stated above I'm sure you didn't need this at the last minute.
Maybe I'm thinking too legal, but once you book a reservation (They promise to provide a room) and obtain a confirmation (You promise to pay) wouldn't that be creating a contract with that company??????
Sorry to hear about this happening. I will be more so open minded when I book in January.
Enjoy your trip anyways !!!!!!!!!
Nice idea, but most places require cancellation at least 24 to 72 hours in advance, so how to have a plan B then?Better, to plan ahead, and to ALWAYS have a Plan B - everyday...
Plan B might include staying somewhere that would not be your first choice, like a private albergue, in place of a hotel or hostal. Similarly, the alternative might be to stay at a public or parochial run alburgue, if nothing else is available.
If THEY cancelled on YOU, then your money will be refunded...eventually. A property cannot unilaterally cancel your reservation and keep your deposit. That is called theft, in any society. If that occurs, dial 112 and summon the policia
I think this may be closer to the truth. I had made a reservation for a hotel just before Pontedueme a few weeks before my trip, but then received an email from Booking saying that the hotel was requesting that I cancel my booking. Apparently Booking itself cannot cancel the reservation if there is a problem, things still have to be worked out between the individual and the property.but the story that unfolds is that it was the accommodation itself, and not the booking site, that actually cancelled.
Yes! So many of you seem to know exactly who is being discussed but some of us don't.... Why can't you say? Internet reviews are common across the board! Sure would like to avoid problems if I can, thanks!Just tell us who you're talking about?
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