Hi,
As some of you know I was doing a survey on travel motivations of people from different cultures. Thanks to those who participated. The results are still being compiled and I will share them soon. One striking thing that came out was that only 5% of the participants said they book their flight, hotel etc. online. This was quite surprising, as other studies put this number as high as 39%, even 56%. So I wanted to ask here - how the avid travellers here book their flights and hotels?
For me - I always book them online - either though sites like orbitz / kayak / booking.com / hotels.com or directly through airlines or hotel website. Want to hear what others do.
thanks,
Reply to this I book online with Kayak.com, Booking.com, and a few others that are specific to the location I am traveling to. I also don't believe your results are accurate. I know there are travel agents, and other off line methods to book travel, but I also thought these were dying.
Reply to this I suspect how people book travel heavily depends on where they are, and their destination. I book airline tickets, chain hotels, and many campsites online. I tend to book independent hotels, hostels and many activities over the phone because this can uncover deals. I normally leave some things to the last minute to keep the schedule flexible and this requires either a phone booking or just showing up.
Reply to this I always book flights online, but almost always call in terms of accommodation.
This didn't used to be the case. There was a site that I loved to use, but after an experience with a scam accommodation -- not the fault of the site, but they did nothing to resolve the fact that said accommodation would continue to scam other users if allowed on the site (and for legality's sake, I can't say the name of either), so I decided to call accommodations directly in order to make sure that there was somebody present and get a good idea of their policies. I've also found that a lot of small accommodation business owners love this and I love to support the mom and pop joints -- plus they often have great insight into what's available locally.
I will also occasionally book directly with bigger chains on their websites when I know that their offerings are pretty predictable based on experiences at their other locations. It's really a coin-toss.
Reply to this Yes, flights I always book online. Air Asia has a great system here for people without credit cards, where you reserve the flight and then pay in cash at 7-11. Do they do that elsewhere?
For accommodation, I regularly use Booking.com and *touch wood* to date I've had no problems with it. However, sometimes I book with smaller businesses direct, because not everywhere good is on booking.com, especially over here.
Reply to this I book flights online, usually direct with the airline. Likewise hotels wherever possible. Some smaller hotels don't have a direct payment option so then I book through an agency, but still online. I use booking sites such as Expedia and Bookings.com to compare prices, and if it's cheaper, book through them rather than direct. But I note they generally have a more limited range of room options on offer, and sometimes a room is available when booking direct rather than through a 3rd party.
I honestly can't remember the last time I booked travel other than online!
Reply to this Flights always on-line. I get some flash sales every year, return fare Calgary (Canada) to any point in South East Asia around US$300 - 350 all inclusive (tax, surcharge etc.). Yes, I know, it's hard to believe and hard to refuse. And they are good airlines like Delta, ANA etc.These sales usually last for half-a-day if you are lucky. Once the main air hub done, the rest of the itinerary, I book airlines on-line, mostly directly from the airlines web-sites, because they are too small airlines sometimes. Hotel usually through Booking.com as I can select 'no-pre-payment' required; specific tours, car when needed through local travel companies after checking them in Trip advisor. It has worked pretty good for me so far. And I start planning the whole trip 6-7 months in advance.
Reply to this We decide where we are going; then look at transport and accommodation and if everything fits in we then book online. Only when we had multiple people coming and going at different times did we book through a travel agent. Even then, we knew where we wanted to go and day trips we booked from where we were located.
Reply to this I found a great place to book my airline, hotel or even rental car. I find it has been easier, faster and much cheaper to go thru these people. We've been real pleased with them...<snip>
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Reply to this I book everything online and it is a lot more easier. Sometimes I ask my native friends and others before planning any trip.
Reply to this I have always booked online. I find the best hotel and rates through the hotel comparison site and I call the hotel to see if the rate is cheaper direct. I have to be honest usually it is not cheaper direct with the hotel for some reason, but occasionally I have been offered better rooms instead etc.
Flights, I always find the best rates through comparison sites, and find the choice booking this way much better.
Places like booking.com, kayak.com and ahotelprice.com (my website)
Reply to this We always book our flights online. Our favourite source of information for flights being Skyscanner.
For accomodation: it depends where we travel and how long. If it is a longer trip, we check some reviews on tripadvisor to have an idea what to expect. But then we go there in person and look what is available. If we are on shorter trips, in big cities or in India, we always book accomodation beforehand via booking.com or tripadvisor or directly via email.
We nearly never use any travel agents (only sometimes local agents - i.e. in India it is sometimes the only possibility to get decent transportation). Transport we always organise when we are there. We never do any bookings for excursions (we always do them on our own). In case we need a car, we hire it online.
Reply to this In response to: Msg #197491
I book everything online. Allows you to comparison shop and select what is right. I use the main sites and lots of them.
I find the price and availability vary considerably.
In particular for flights I check overtime as things change by the minute. I get a sense of the baseline price and when I see the good price I book.
Lowest price guaranteed means nothing and usually is not.
All my bookings are made prior to departure so while travelling I know what/where and when. Piece of mind to me is worth the loss in flexibility.
All about planning.
Reply to this We book almost all of our travel on line- transportation and accommodation.
We prefer to plan ahead .... on occasion we wing it and do a walk in and negotiate when we arrive. We do not do this very often.
There are several good booking sites these days.
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