The Dark Side of ‘Cheap’ Online Hotel Deals

SYDNEY - So you think you’ve found a “cheap” online hotel deal. Then came the hitch of booking fees, taxes and other sneaky fees. For some unexpected reason you now need to cancel your reservation only to learn that your “special” hotel rate was non-refundable. Sometimes “cheap” online hotel deals just don’t turn out that cheap after all.

HotelsCombined.com, a global hotel price comparison website, discovered this sticky situation by polling its users with a simple question: “What frustrates you most about booking a hotel room on the Internet?” 1,528 users from US, UK, Canada and Australia were surveyed with 25% of respondents electing “high hidden taxes and fees” as the number one source of frustration. Next on the list was “unclear and restricting cancellation policies” at 20%. Also of mention was “having to make a full prepayment upfront” and “confusion with currencies.”

In recognition of the growing consumer preference Orbitz.com has recently announced the “total price hotel search results” and now displays the all-inclusive price on hotels. While another major online travel site - Hotels.com advertises fee free cancellation as one of the key benefits of their service.

What does this mean for you? While plenty of websites advertise cheap online hotel deals, the team at HotelsCombined.com advises all bargain hunters to pay close attention to the fine print. Keep a close eye out for the mention of booking fees, government charges, accepted currencies and cancellation policies to understand the full cost of the stay before handing over your credit card details.

About HotelsCombined.com

HotelsCombined(R) is the world’s leading hotel price comparison company, empowering business and leisure travelers to find the optimal hotel deals from prominent online travel brands. HotelsCombined.com’s portfolio of supply partners includes: Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz Worldwide and many more. For more information visit www.HotelsCombined.com

CONTACT: Media Enquiries: Vicki Byrne Director of Business Development Phone: +61-2-8011-4192 Email: Vicki@HotelsCombined.com Website: www.HotelsCombined.com

Source: HotelsCombined.com

Vicki Byrne, Director of Business Development, HotelsCombined.com, +61-2-8011-4192, Vicki at HotelsCombined.com