No free cancellation

[Long John 1,619]

Just booking a few hotels for my upcoming trip and booked one that looked ok. Did the deed but later found a better option. I am a Genius 3 level and get between 10 and 20 % discount on Booking.com.

Went to cancel the first booking and then found out that on that particular hotel there was a cancellation fee. 100%!!!!!

I contacted the hotel directly and they agreed to refund the money,(phew). Never before had I come across that situation. Usually pretty careful on reading the small print.

On booking hotels for January. Wow, do they know it is high season! As we all know these days, LOS is no longer a cheap place. Mind you, compared to Aussie it still is as far as hotels go. Stayed at a couple here the other day and their rates make your eyes water!

[Danum99 617]

Well the rates are certainly on the rise. I no longer stay at my go-to as I no longer can afford their rates. All I do now is check rates on Agoda as frequently as I can just to have a idea and make tentative bookings when the rates go down. 

Bangkok ain't what it used to be. 

[Jonard 478]

I book an airbnb condo. Get to know the owner and book the same condo until the owner sells the condo.
Been doing that for years.
Usually I only pay like 1000-1500b/day for very nice condos with seperate bedrooms and a pool when the price on airbnb is like 2500b.

[CJ-BLF 333]

I would have just used the original booking. It is easy to overthink things. In the end, I need a bed and a shower. Everything else will sort itself.

[Jeff_LBL 2]

I use Agoda as I have never had a problem with them and I have used them in the UK, Europe and SE Asia, they also give different price options for the cancelation or date change options as well as pay in advance or on arrival.
Of course the less options the cheaper the price but I believe that is the same everywhere.
I always look for a Bangkok or Pattaya hotel with a gym and a Pool as I cannot spend 24/7 in a bar no matter how hot the girls and or LB's are
I have been using either the Four Points by Sheraton or the Night Hotel Bangkok both of which are in Sukhumvit 15 and so it is more or less over the road from the Check-in bar and a short walk down to soi 11 for Cindy's secrets although I have never been there as I always go to the Why Not Bar and Nana but it is on my list to do when I come back in April
If anyone has any good recommendations for other hotels or LB bars I am all ears

[oliver17 12,596]

On 11/27/2024 at 8:00 PM, Long John said:

I contacted the hotel directly and they agreed to refund the money,(phew). Never before had I come across that situation. Usually pretty careful on reading the small print.

Another alternative is to directly ask for your credit card company for the refund instead of hoping booking sites or the hotel will do the right thing.

American Express in particular is very good about protecting their cardholders. Over the years I have cancelled 5 or 6 "non-cancellable" hotel reservations with Amex and gotten my money back every time with no questions asked.