- Time of past OR future Camino
- September 2024 Invierno / VdLP or Cathar
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All that convenience does come at a cost though, doesn’t it? What percentage of the revenue goes to booking.com?I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
All that convenience does come at a cost though, doesn’t it? What percentage of the revenue goes to booking.com?
Contractually, for the same room and facilities, the Booking.com price and direct booking price have to be the same. That doesn’t always appear to be the case in practice.It is my first choice when booking a reservation using a one site company to make reservations. Booking.com site is hands down, IMO, the most user friendly! It has the best maps for hotel locations, organization of your bookings with easy access to it, simple to cancel reservations.
BTW my experience has been most of the time when I go to the accommodations directly the prices are the same.
Contractually, for the same room and facilities, the Booking.com price and direct booking price have to be the same. That doesn’t always appear to be the case in practice.
Ive always liked the ease of booking.com, where all your bookings are kept together and cancellation is possible.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
Thanks for the clarificationThis rule does not apply everywhere. In Germany, for example, the Federal Court of Justice ruled in 2021 that the associated restriction on hotels was anti-competitive.
Hotels that present themselves on booking portals such as Booking.com are allowed to offer their rooms cheaper on their own website. Such clauses are finally a thing of the past on the German hotel market. I don't know how this is ruled in Spain though.
It was 15% in 2019-2020.All that convenience does come at a cost though, doesn’t it? What percentage of the revenue goes to booking.com?
(As a client, I do use booking.com from time to time; but prefer to make direct contact with the accommodation and book direct where I can, but that’s just me)
Why is that? Albergue owners that I know recuperate the booking.com fee by increasing the price on that site.Contractually, for the same room and facilities, the Booking.com price and direct booking price have to be the same. That doesn’t always appear to be the case in practice.
I always preferred a direct booking as that gave me the opportunity to speak directly with the pilgrim in question and ask if there were any special needs or requests (I offered breakfast and dinner).Accommodation providers often only list a proportion of their rooms as they, obviously, make more from direct bookings. I’ve often been told that I’ll get a better deal by booking direct as ‘a repeat customer’ next time I stay.
I've never used them for any Camino and if reserved always called myself.I can see both sides of this. I’ve happily used booking.con in the past and I’m impressed with their product.
These are my reasons as well.This is certainly another complex topic! On the CF this September/October I generally booked a day or two ahead. I used a variety of methods and didn't find WhatsApp very successful. My spoken Spanish is minimal but just enough to book a bed or room. However it is not enough to understand if the host had much to say to me! Then there was the problem of making the call at a suitable time. Booking.com became my favourite method because it was just so easy.
I've enjoyed using Booking.com over the years.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
In the US we normally use Hotels.com for travel, but they offer far fewer smaller, intimate type propertiesa internationally, so for the Caminos, Booking.com works better for my needs/wants.I usually use B.com when travelling but I have found that sometimes going through Trivago the B.com price is cheaper than on the B.com site, and occasionally a hotel will appear through Trivago for B.com which is not even on the B.com site. Best to check various websites to get the best price.
FYI for those who do not know; Booking.com & Agoda are the same company. I sway between the two as there is often a price difference. I'm a 'Genius'on B.com which gives me discounts & bonuses (like breakfast for eg) but Agoda often have things like cashback ultimately making the stay cheaper.
As for booking multiple properties on the same date; B.com flag it & require you to cancel the 'extras'. If you want to pull that caper, you need to make reservations with separate booking platforms that aren't connected!
Also I have on a number of occasions been asked by the property on arrival to cancel my booking with B.com so they don't have to pay the commission. So any ethical issues work both ways...
This happened with my VF walk through France last summer on multiple occasions. I refused as a matter of principle, explaining that I would be uncomfortable doing that and the innkeeper always understood, save one time and he created a bit of a mess on my VISA statement with some extra charges. My VISA card issuer dealt with him directly (after I discovered what he had done, essentially double charging me for the room and then saying he couldn't refund the fees without a $35 wire service fee.) The VISA people were great and got me a full refund.Also I have on a number of occasions been asked by the property on arrival to cancel my booking with B.com so they don't have to pay the commission. So any ethical issues work both ways...
I’m a fan. They get criticised here a lot but they he service has its uses. Wouldn’t find lots of accommodation without it.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
I whole heartily agree with you with regards to Booking.com as I have not always have had replies to my emails from the hospitaleros not just because of the language barrier , but no doubt they get overwhelmed with work getting things ready for the pilgrims stay , so really something like booking.com is a life saver if you need confirming what is opened and what is closed and with an instant click you can book your bed for the night , I have done this many a time on the CF and now as I am in the planning stages to do the Portuguese one next month from either from Lisbon or Porto I will no doubt need that for over the Christmas holiday but taking my tent as the last resort.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
Thomas, this sounds like a great idea and hope it works out for all of you working together on the app in Galicia.I use booking too at times, but not on the camino. Most places, especially the (for me) nice pilgrimaccomodatins, are not on booking. In the normal commercial world booking might be a right thing, but for many owners of an albergue the camino is not just a commercial thing.
Besides this, since more then 4 years I am also an owner of an albergue.
For me, booking has no added value, while the costs are 15% of the income. What also happens, once on booking, it becomes very difficult for people to find your your direct website on google. Al the search results are taken by booking and likewise websites. Your potential direct guests are kind of manipulated towards booking. it takes a lot of efford for your own site to be find.
Maybe the average pilgrim on this forum is different from the average pilgrim on the camino, but really by far most pilgrims use any kind of direct booking.
There are guides, sites and apps who offer information for free about every albergue, hotel or other accommodation on the camino, not just a selection who need booking. This information is reliable, not written by the albergue owner but by the writer of the app-guide websites. And these websites and apps also offer feedback comments from pilgrims.
Maybe we are lucky, maybe we have a good name, but we get more then enough pilgrims who reserve directly. And we are thankful for that. Having to use booking would take by far a too big part of the very small profit we have over the year.
So as a pilgrim, it can be comfortable to use booking sometimes. Especially if you are looking for private rooms. But don´t expect to find the nice pilgrimsplaces on booking, they have no reason to do so.
When the language is a problem, use google translate on your phone. Once you are used to it, it is a matter of a copy/page and a swipe. Or ask hospitalero´s or Spanis speaking pilgrims to make a phonecall for you.
For the coming future: a Galician association of albergue owners is busy making an own booking app for albergues. I hope this will be working soon. It will be an app without commission. I sincerely hope it will be a succes.
How will the app developer be paid? Will there also be a website that has to be maintained? Advertising a property is rarely free, so it's understandable that many accommodation owners see value in being on the largest hotel booking site on the world.For the coming future: a Galician association of albergue owners is busy making an own booking app for albergues. I hope this will be working soon. It will be an app without commission
This is very easy to rectify.Cons; After your stay, you get bombarded with "please rate your stay" emails
Also I have on a number of occasions been asked by the property on arrival to cancel my booking with B.com so they don't have to pay the commission. So any ethical issues work both ways...
I've always refused too, giving the reason that if the property owner/manager doesn't want to pay the commission, then they shouldn't participate in the program!This happened with my VF walk through France last summer on multiple occasions. I refused as a matter of principle, explaining that I would be uncomfortable doing that...
Did it!This is very easy to rectify.
For B.com, go into your profile, then click 'manage your account', then 'update your preferences' & tap the 'reservations' tab. From there you can opt out of everything except booking confirmation emails. Takes a few seconds & that little negative is gone forever.
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I have never heard of that until today, and have never been asked to do it thankfully, even after using booking.com on Caminos.I've always refused too, giving the reason that if the property owner/manager doesn't want to pay the commission, then they shouldn't participate in the program!
100%All that convenience does come at a cost though, doesn’t it? What percentage of the revenue goes to booking.com?
(As a client, I do use booking.com from time to time; but prefer to make direct contact with the accommodation and book direct where I can, but that’s just me)
I imagine the percentage and the structure of the deal will vary by supplier. Big volume drivers will pay less I would guess with revenue incentives in place. Just a guess.100%
It is! I've stayed with Ria and Ton twice.Thomas, this sounds like a great idea and hope it works out for all of you working together on the app in Galicia.
BTW, your albergue looks lovely from the photos on your profile page.
Indeed, the commission that hotels and other hospitality properties pay to Booking.com varies. On average it appears to be 15% of the price paid by the Booking.com customer. Their CEO, Glenn Fogel, did a video call interview with Spanish media recently and an average commission of 15% is what they report as a figure. Booking.com itself is actually a Dutch company. They were bought up by a US holding company some years ago who owns several travel technology companies including Kayak.com. One poster in this thread who actually owned a Camino albergue and made use of Booking.com also wrote that the percentage was 15%.I imagine the percentage and the structure of the deal will vary by supplier. Big volume drivers will pay less I would guess with revenue incentives in place. Just a guess.
As A pilgrim, what I like about booking.com is that it’s easy to remember what you have booked without having to store a bunch of addresses and phone numbers. When I get close to the town where my accommodation is, I open it on booking.com and use the map to guide me in!I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
I loved using booking! It was very convenient! I booked all my rooms before flying and didn’t need to change one but if I had needed to it would have been easy.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
Amen!...and I don't live with a guilty conscience for using booking.com.I loved using booking! It was very convenient! I booked all my rooms before flying and didn’t need to change one but if I had needed to it would have been easy.
This is why I avoid sites like booking.com wherever possible. https://www.9news.com.au/national/d...on-rates/59171b53-4caa-41d6-9bac-4847bf00ff0a I have spoken to a motel owner in NSW who confirmed what Smith is saying, so while I may use these sites to find somewhere, I try to contact the venue directly.
Yep totally agree!Amen!...and I don't live with a guilty conscience for using booking.com.
My post #24 gives my own personal reasons why I continue to appreciate it.
I used booking.com for most of the CF and found it a great tool. I really appreciated the comfort of knowing I would have a bed on arrival.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
I agree to a point and also prefer to support my local businesses. I shop for my groceries at my local family owned store even though I pay more; I also meet friends at a privately owned coffee shop in the next village. I do get a Starbucks coffee when at an airport waiting for a flight...my bad.Thank you! I want to support businesses where the money goes back to the local economy/ community and not towards some big players who will do their best to avoid paying taxes and treat their staff like ****!
Just like I will take my coffee at an independent bar and not in a chain one. Same for buying books.
Good for you, Molly. My husband uses Amazon in our family, but I occasionally ask him to order something for me.I don't use Amazon. I prefer to spend my cash locally.
FWIW, according to an April 2021 news item, Booking.com is prohibited from using these "parity clauses" in their contracts in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy because of consumer law or anti-trust court decisions in these countries. In Spain, a hospitality association introduced such a request with CNMC last year (see Booking com: Spanish hotels revolt against its abuses) and demanded similar regulation or enforcement in Spain.the ‘same price’ comment - at least as regards Germany
I needed to hear this positive info from the Albergue’s perspective. I just finished an almost three month camino where I used a variety of booking sites not all of them honourable. I finally returned to Booking.com because even it thought it still has problems, it is more trustworthy than other sites. Booking.com has much to improve but it remains an invaluable service.I recently returned from volunteering for two weeks in an Albergue. All bookings were handled by B.com. Two beds were held back from the service in case someone needed to stay over (sick) or travel snafus.
I developed a real appreciation of the convenience of the service. We were able to clean, cook, and interact with the guests without the tyranny of answering the phone. We were freed from the legal burden of safeguarding credit card details. Our “Front Desk” was available 24/7 365 should someone halfway around the world need to book a room at 3am on a whim.
Judgement of our services was based on our guest’s happiness and their feedback to the site. Not on our skill with marketing materials and misleading photos.
Sure it’s not perfect but before you assume they are taking advantage of Albergue owners know that many innkeepers appreciate their services. They do all the marketing, communications, and financials. In a time of world wide labour shortages, especially in the hospitality industry, they provide all us wandering souls a great convenience.
I needed to hear this positive info from the Albergue’s perspective. I just finished an almost three month camino where I used a variety of booking sites not all of them honourable. I finally returned to Booking.com because even it thought it still has problems, it is more trustworthy than other sites. Booking.com has much to improve but it remains an invaluable service
From that link:I don't know what this is about, though.
[Investigators]...found "reasonable grounds" to believe Booking.com may have infringed Spain's antitrust laws as well as article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which bans companies from abusing a dominant market position
Booking.com may have also exploited Spanish hotels that are financially dependent on the popular accommodation services website, it added.
The watchdog did not mention any specific examples of these alleged practices
To be fair, they always add "on booking.com" or "on our site."Can't possibly be true that every place in every city on any day always has "only two rooms left!"
Then you missed the best placesI used booking.com for most of the CF and found it a great tool. I really appreciated the comfort of knowing I would have a bed on arrival.
I have heard …
that if a place offers a room/bed on such an aggregate site, that they aren't allowed to sell that room directly.
Don't know whether that's true.
It's not true. Not only has it been mentioned in previous posts that hotels can sell beds on the websites of other OTA (online travel agencies) but also on their own hotel websites. It is useful to actually read the conditions when one makes a booking although lots of people apparently don't do this. Booking.com has a "We Price Match" policy: You can claim a refund for the difference if you happen to find your reservation cheaper on another website.
But why would you do that when you could just book through the other website?It's not true. Not only has it been mentioned in previous posts that hotels can sell beds on the websites of other OTA (online travel agencies) but also on their own hotel websites. It is useful to actually read the conditions when one makes a booking although lots of people apparently don't do this. Booking.com has a "We Price Match" policy: You can claim a refund for the difference if you happen to find your reservation cheaper on another website.
In my country, Switzerland, there were the same discussions. The hotel industry lobbied and railed against B.com - unsuccessfully.This is why I avoid sites like booking.com wherever possible. https://www.9news.com.au/national/d...on-rates/59171b53-4caa-41d6-9bac-4847bf00ff0a I have spoken to a motel owner in NSW who confirmed what Smith is saying, so while I may use these sites to find somewhere, I try to contact the venue directly.
I can't speak for others but I personally could not be bothered to chase all OTA websites known to me to save one euro or even two for a booking.But why would you do that when you could just book through the other website?
It’s like Uber and the taxi industry. I don’t know how many times in the past that I called for a taxi and was told that it was on the way and then waited and waited while they obviously made other pickups or stops. Or was surprised when I got the bill for a cab ride. Uber shows exactly when the driver is going to be there and how much it’s going to cost. Does this challenge the taxi industry? Of course it does. Are there reputable cab drivers out there? Of course. But in the end consumers are going to choose the most convenient option.In my country, Switzerland, there were the same discussions. The hotel industry lobbied and railed against B.com - unsuccessfully.
My opinion: When the opportunity arose to create a national booking platform for tourists, no one was willing to give up their short-sighted, narrow-minded attitude in order not to admit the same advantages to the competition.
The interests of their own clientele were completely ignored.
Likewise, the innkeepers along the Camino - especially the CF - could have joined forces long ago to form a common platform. But instead of thinking of the convenience of the peregrinos, each of them preferred to be an island. To complain that B.com and consorts have seized such an obvious and logical opportunity is therefore incomprehensible. It was the hospitality itself that created the booking monsters.
Two different kinds of complaints are aired whenever Booking.com turns up in a thread: those from the view of the customer and in particular the customer on Camino and those from the viewpoint of the accommodation owner with which we identify although most of us don't own an albergue, casa rural or small hotel on a Camino and have formed our opinion on what we read and don't know first-hand. Then there are also subcategories of the complaints: some are ethical / philosophical (how you behave and how, ergo, others ought to behave), some refer to taking in money, saving money or dispensing money (one's own and others) and so on. In a forum thread, all this gets mixed up of course.I don't understand the complaints about booking.com. Nobody is putting a gun to the head of the hotel owners and making them use the service. I've booked via phone calls, emails, and booking.com. I definitely prefer booking.com. [...] If I'm paying a little more more for this convenience, it's worth it to me.
Unlike Amazon, though, Booking.com does not push small businesses out of the market as they don't compete with them by selling the same products or services. Booking.com actually brings customers to them ...The market dominance of Booking.com is an issue, just like the market dominance of any other mega-large company
I, like you, only use booking.com. I do no price comparison even though I am familiar with the names of several others in the competition. I like B's website layout and am very familiar with it. Like you have said, to save a few dollars is not worth it to me. I do not care if they only get a few rooms to advertise. If it shows they are "full" I choose another property they offer. It is the only comparison shopping I do for cost.I can't speak for others but I personally could not be bothered to chase all OTA websites known to me to save one euro or even two for a booking.
I agree and have thought of this myself. On this forum, the booking.com users are often made to feel like we are "lesser" by many "pilgrims" who feel that it is wrong to use it and we are taking money away from Spain's private albergue owners. Like @Bristle Boy has said, those owners make their own choice to be involved with the service or not.I have started to wonder whether it has also to do with how we like to see ourselves on Camino: We don't like to see ourselves as customers in an economics context but as a different kind of being, as a pilgrim.
And let us not forget the other side: Spanish owners of albergues, casa rurales and small hotels on The Camino who struggle with incomprehensible requests written in Google Translate Spanish or are hard to understand on the phone when guest and host don't share a common language ... we don't hear from them because, evidently, they are not posting on this forumEdit...and for those of us who do not speak Spanish, booking direct would be a much bigger hassle. My guess is that a large number on this forum who book direct with the owners know a fair amount of Spanish.
Speaking of just happening on it, out of curiosity I looked at accommodation options in Granon, and found this. Booking through the 'official website' does suggest you could get a discount of almost 13.5%. Surprized? Not by that discount, but check out its absolute value.Lol, I just happened to see this on a hotel's website: Why book directly? And among their reasons given: Minimum €10 cheaper compared to booking sites. I wasn't looking for a hotel room, I just happened to see it.
And only four rooms left!Speaking of just happening on it, out of curiosity I looked at accommodation options in Granon, and found this. Booking through the 'official website' does suggest you could get a discount of almost 13.5%. Surprized? Not by that discount, but check out its absolute value.For all that I like and use Booking.com, this is one time that I might have chosen to book directly.
You mean €3100 versus €3500 for a room and one night? It is superweird and I don't know which algorithm generates this and why. I remember a similar case some months ago. When you look at the monthly overview, you can see that their price for a room is €192 until 30 March 2023 and then it jumps to €3.5K until 31 December 2023.check out its absolute value.
I was so stunned by the price that came up on booking.com that I didn't do any more than check that it matched the property website for the same dates. I will take your advice on booking early.When you look at the monthly overview, you can see that their price for a room is €192 until 30 March 2023 and then it jumps to €3.5K until 31 December 2023.
I'll book two.Speaking of just happening on it, out of curiosity I looked at accommodation options in Granon, and found this. Booking through the 'official website' does suggest you could get a discount of almost 13.5%. Surprized? Not by that discount, but check out its absolute value.For all that I like and use Booking.com, this is one time that I might have chosen to book directly.
Of course you can't reserve on Booking.com at Grañón in the Hospital San Juan Bautista, however, they will be there and open for pilgrims in need of a warm meal, place to sleep, and hospitality. Simple, but a wonderful experience for many.I was so stunned by the price that came up on booking.com that I didn't do any more than check that it matched the property website for the same dates. I will take your advice on booking early.
Yes. And it's complicated. If they're not involved, a lot of business probably goes elsewhere, where it's more convenient. So it's 'choice' rather than choice - in the same way as someone being held hostage has 'choice.' Damned if you do and damned if you don't.those owners make their own choice to be involved with the service or not.
Really? It's easy to check Gronze or even Google maps, and then contact the places directly.Wouldn’t find lots of accommodation without it.
Maybe this is more the sticking point.No back and forth needed,
When the language is a problem, use google translate on your phone. Once you are used to it, it is a matter of a copy/page and a swipe. Or ask hospitalero´s or Spanis speaking pilgrims to make a phonecall for you.
Fortunately we consumers probably have more choice than the businesses using booking. If convenience is a priority, we can follow that. If it's less important than other things we can vote with our feet.I grudgingly turned into a stubborn Booking.com customer with a guilty conscience.
True. However, the issue here is not whether to book or not to book (where booking is available). It is whether to book on Booking.com (or another OTA website) or directly with the owner or manager of the accommodation.One thing that strikes me about this conversation is that several years ago we'd never have been having it. Booking ahead has become normalised, at least on the Camino Francés - a huge shift from a time when just walking spontaneously was what we all did.
Yes, absolutely. And those who book the whole journey are more likely to feel stressed by the chore, and thus go with the easiest way.True. However, the issue here is not whether to book or not to book (where booking is available). It is whether to book on Booking.com (or another OTA website) or directly with the owner or manager of the accommodation.
Not really, there's still room for a mix. We meet pilgrims who ask if we have booked ahead and why or why not. It is a good conversation and not an uncomfortable one. We can explain our reasoning about not all places being listed and they can explain their reasons as well. The forum can turn into something adversarial at times, but sitting and really listening to each other is part of what I enjoy about the Camino.One thing that strikes me about this conversation is that several years ago we'd never have been having it. Booking ahead has become normalised, at least on the Camino Francés - a huge shift from a time when just walking spontaneously was what we all did. So there is a disconnect between those who still never (or rarely book) and those who can't imagine walking without booking their whole Camino ahead of time. Neither can possibly understand the experience of the other.
Lovely. Good to know, thanks, Janet.Not really, there's still room for a mix. We meet pilgrims who ask if we have booked ahead and why or why not. It is a good conversation and not an uncomfortable one
That latter part is something that hopefully changes when boots hit the ground. So I guess one good thing about Booking is that reservations can be cancelled easily, when reality proves less scary than the imagined camino.Often those who book everything are most comfortable with that at home or have been scared into it by the accounts of others.
Please have a look at my post before. I am an owner of an albergue.And let us not forget the other side: Spanish owners of albergues, casa rurales and small hotels on The Camino who struggle with incomprehensible requests written in Google Translate Spanish or are hard to understand on the phone when guest and host don't share a common language ... we don't hear from them because, evidently, they are not posting on this forumbut the OP pointed out in the first post how much of a time-saver a third party booking service can be, plus it lets them tap into the attention of international guests from around the globe who they would not reach otherwise.
I had read you earlier post. You are obviously not one of the albergue owners I had referred to, namely those who speak only Spanish and with potential guests who speak no Spanish at allPlease have a look at my post before. I am an owner of an albergue.
That is not at all the idea that I am getting from this thread. Besides, the thread starts with the premise that there is a positive side to using Booking.com, that it is not all bad. Numerous posters have walked already, they know what it is like and they make their choices based on their own previous Camino experience.The idea I get from many posts here is that there is a misunderstanding (and fear?) for many readers here that a camino without booking.c is a difficult one.
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