Agoda Booking online

[lavieenrose]

(Note: I posted this in a few review sites as well.)

While Agoda prices can't be beat, the system is very misleading. I had stayed at at least 7 hotels via Agoda (over $1000 worth) and was asking why my rewards points have not been published yet. Turned out they suddenly just removed the rewards program sometime this year. (But the rewards points FAQ is still on their page!!!)

I also wrote feedback on an Agoda hotel which mentioned that the Agoda booking system is confusing and misleading (I booked a room for 4 and upon arrival at the hotel, there is no room big enough for 4 people - we checked all the rooms). Agoda grossly edited my negative feedback about them and published only the positive points.

One of the hotels I stayed at was rated "fantastic" but when we arrived, it was the worst we've been to in the country where we stayed. We didn't enjoy our 2-night stay and we were basically in low spirits most of the time we were there.

Hotels will almost always treat you like "second class citizens" when you book via Agoda.

Be wary as well of the cancellation and rebooking rates (I think it is $15), and check if breakfast is included.

[mameejhy]

Agoda has an ongoing 10% promotion now! The code is: yourock500

[Lianne@TheWiseLiving]

Hi mga sis, in my case, whenever I book thru Agoda, I get upgraded. This happened to me twice already.

[kukii]

^when will agoda charge my credit card? Magrereflect ba agad sa bill pagkabook and pay ko? Thanks!

[mama squeak!]

^Depends on the kind of rate that you booked. Meron kasing book and pay, usually these rates are the cheapest ones and can't be cancelled. Meron naman na book and pay later. Before booking read the conditions/restrictions to be sure.

[simang]

^with my experience yung book and pay yun yung mga free cancellation and they'll refund you of the full payment when you cancel i think at least a week yata before the date. Yung book and pay later, may $15 cancellation fee.

[mama squeak!]

^They have different book and pay schemes. Meron na you really have to pay outright (this is sometimes dictated by the hotels they are selling). Meron naman like the one you cited na one week before arrival or whatever the hotel's policy is with regards to free cancellation.

Here are the different payment schemes from their FAQ page:

That depends on the type of booking:
1) Rate per room per night - Pay online: If a room is available and you've submitted your credit card details and agreed to the booking conditions on the booking form, the reservation is then confirmed and a hotel voucher will be automatically sent to your e-mail address. The hotel voucher is only issued after we have verified and charged your credit card. The hotel voucher AND credit card must be presented upon check-in at the hotel, together with a valid form of photo ID.

2) Book Now Pay Later - Pay online: Book Now Pay Later is just that, make a booking now, pay for it later. The booking will be instantly confirmed. The booking conditions (cancellation policy) will determine when you are billed. The actual charge date will be approximately 2-3 days prior to the hotel booking conditions becoming active. At that time you will be charged the full amount. This option is only available for Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and JCB. Please make sure you select "Pay Later" when you input your credit card details.

3) Special Rates - Pay at the hotel: Agoda.com works in partnership with other companies to ensure we offer the best rates. If you choose to stay at a hotel where an agoda.com partner has provided the lowest rate, we will confirm your reservation and issue a confirmation email. In such cases we will not charge your card. You will be required to pay the hotel directly upon check-out and the hotels own cancellation policy will apply. The title of the rate section for these hotels is 'Special Rates' instead of 'Rate per room per night'.

Dagdag ko pala I availed of the 1st type of book and pay during our trip to Boracay last year where I booked rooms at their cheapest rate (book and pay outright). Unfortunately, one of my siblings couldn't make it and since the restriction was non-refundable/non-cancellation we had no choice but to use the rooms we booked/paid for.

 

[kukii]

^I also booked and paid outright my only problem is wala pa sa online billing statement ko yung chinarge ni agoda.

Thanks for the replies

[anndimay]

Mga Sis, pwede bang gamitin yun ATM card ng Metrobank na may Mastercard(Debit card ata ito) sa pag book sa Agoda? Wala kasi akong Credit Card. TIA

[simang]

^pwede sis. Pero be wary lang of using your debit card online, mas mahirap kase pag debit card ang na-fraud since may actual money involved unlike pag credit card

[airish_2]

^or why not get BPI Myeprepaid i also use it paying only just reload it so mas safe sya it's not a credit card but you can use it on any online purchases.

[-munchkins12-]

Ok naman sa agoda. I tried it last year for our honeymoon. No hassle ang booking. Payment was via credit card. I won't mind to book again in the future.

[abbeydasassy]

i love Agoda. Ever since I found out about it lahat ng bookings ko for my trips are thru agoda. hassle free talaga

[mom.of.inchikoy]

I haven't tried Agoda or any site like agora offering good rates in hotels. But I'm considering it to try this month for my family's travel.
question: this is related to travelling w/ a big family. it's noted there that children 2yrs and above are considered adult. are the hotels strict with this? how about if we don't plan to add mattress and the children will just sharing? is it also possible to request a room with connecting doors?
any tips on how to start w/ agoda and if with a big family?
tia

[abbeydasassy]

^sis there are hotels that offers family room and when you do a booking you'll see how much pax is allowed  ex 5 plus kids or 2 plus infant,etc. Also once you do  a checkout you get to have a space where you can type in any special request if you have such as early check in , late checkout, extra bed, large bed, hotels with connecting doors etc.. I did that when we travelled out of the country with family din and then 2 days after my checkout the hotel personnel emailed me regarding my request naman. may hotels din that do not make pansin to your requests.

try to do a mock booking din maybe that helps if agoda system will allow

[mom.of.inchikoy]

^thanks sis! the hotels i like to book kasi has "max of 2" and 0-1yro are free. gyro up are considered adult. kapag ganun ba sis meaning when we checked-in magbabayad ako for my children? i'm familiar with these hotels kasi that accept children as free as long as  they share the bed w/ the adult. there will be charges only once asked for extra bed. dito sa agoa ang iba

[tisaygirl123]

Agoda is good I booked na 2x. ok naman so far no problem.
 

[abbeydasassy]

^thanks sis! the hotels i like to book kasi has "max of 2" and 0-1yro are free. gyro up are considered adult. kapag ganun ba sis meaning when we checked-in magbabayad ako for my children? i'm familiar with these hotels kasi that accept children as free as long as  they share the bed w/ the adult. there will be charges only once asked for extra bed. dito sa agoa ang iba

I can only speak based on my experience sis ha, may nakasabay ako dati ng checkin sa a hotel na agoda voucher din and they booked a room for 4 pero kahit 5 sila. they did not ask for an extra bed but were still charged. kasi in agoda diba you put an option of how many kayo magstay and if infant kasama so I guess hotel's discretion na talaga un ganon case like yours. I think it is better to call nalang the hotel or email them beforehand para naman di masayang

[luvko23]

In my experience local hotel. As long as hindi kayo lahat sabay mag check in it's okay. We booked a room which was good for 2 but the actual persons in the room were 4 adults with 1 toddler. We did not pay anything extra. We have another upcoming trip sa Macau on oct 11 same setup rin. I'll update here how it goes

[riandrew]

i have to commend Agoda for the superb customer service.

our trip to Boracay was cancelled due to the super typhoon Hagupit. i thought it would be a huge problem since I booked Alta Vista thru AGODA. The FlashDeal I got was non-rebookable, non-refundable, and no cancellation are allowed.

i just took chances and emailed Agoda, and surprisingly they said they would email Alta Vista. so thankful to Agoda and Alta Vista for giving us a special consideration. they agreed to rebook our stay on January, without additional fee even when the january rate is 2,000 pricier.

kudos to the CS of Agoda! ang bibilis magreply! hindi paasa...