Originally posted by SEAJ at 29-1-2011 22:14
Question - when you say that you got $1,450 from a travel agent, is it for him to just make a reservation for you or is it the actual sale of a pre-paid voucher that you would use to check in and cover ALL the charges (except of course bar, telephone and other incidentals) for the day?
I got prices from Cathay Pacific (pre paid, I pay Cathay and they give me a voucher that I present on check in) and also 2 of the biggest agencies in my home country. I got a price from a HK Travel agent as well. I usually wouldn't bother getting so many quotes but I have had a few people "promising" they could get me fantastic deals in emails so I thought I would give them a try. Travelling on my own is no big deal but when I am travelling in a group and we are staying 7+ nights I try and ensure I am getting the best deal.
Dont get me wrong, the deals are good, much better than walk up but not as good as I can get from other means.
Originally posted by SEAJ at 29-1-2011 22:14
Also, your $1,080 and $1,250 - was that net net or is it plus plus - the Hotel tax (is it 18%?), service charges/other charges?
All the prices I quoted were plus tax so level playing field... obviously. For many years the tax in HK was +10% service charge and 3% Govt Tax, (13% total). The 3% was removed a couple of years ago so now it's just the 10%. I should add that my corporate rate included daily breakfast and a good chance I would get upgraded.
Originally posted by SEAJ at 29-1-2011 22:14
BTW - which online service did you use that would quote you in HK$ i/o in the currency of the country where it's domiciled at? Except for Price line, I'm not aware of a local Hong Kong Internet site that is in HK$; would be great to double check my travel agent's prices - for indeed, I haven't really double-checked his prices for a long time.
I use sites like wotif.com
LINK, lots available if you google. Most I look at either default to the "local currency" or give you the option to select the currency you want to use.
As mentioned, I don't book through these online sites to book. If their rate is better than my corp rate I take their rate to the hotel and the hotel matches it. This info relates specifically to HK though. I dont use this system in China. I go to China 4 - 6 times a year but not to the same place each time so I don't have the same kind of relationship with China hotels. In China I usually ask the "Partner" I'm going to see if they have a deal with a hotel in their area. I usually find they do and I get a deal I am happy with.
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Last edited by TonyToro at 30-1-2011 07:54 ]