Do hotels have hidden prices? Netizens share room booking tips

▲ Illustration (Image / Provided)

ReporterYan Xintong/ Comprehensive Report

Why do hotel room prices vary throughout the year? Why does the phone say no rooms are available, but there are vacancies online? Many booking issues are truly puzzling. NetizenManuelon the 12thon the PTT HOTEL boardposted an article titled “Hidden Hotel Prices & Room Availability Tips”, sharing insights on four common questions. The post received widespread praise in the comments, with some industry insiders even chiming in to express agreement.

▲ Many netizens in the comments agreed and recommended it,manueland continued explaining in their posts. (Image / Screenshot fromPTTthe website)

Manuel used his own experience to answer questions in a Q&A format. The original text is as follows:

A1
Why does the phone say no rooms are available, but there are vacancies online?
Q: Most hotels partner with online booking platforms.
Sometimes the hotel says there are no rooms available over the phone,
but there are still rooms shown online. Possible reasons include:

1. The online room availability isn’t updated in real time — securing a room online doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get one.
Usually, you’ll be transferred to another hotel.
2. To improve the appearance of room availability online.
3. The no-show rate for phone bookings is too high.

Many people make reservations by phone but don’t show up.
Online bookings require credit card details,
so the hotel is guaranteed to receive payment even if the guest doesn’t arrive.
This makes hotels feel more secure about online bookings.

A2
Hotel prices are so rigid — why won’t they offer any discounts?
Q: Hotels have their own rules. If they offer too low a price,
You have to cover the price difference yourself / absorb it on your own.
When you're out and about working, nobody wants to end up losing money, right?

And if there are discounted prices, well, that's just how Asians tend to think.
If you get a discount, there’s definitely an even cheaper price out there.
I often hear people say: I’m staying at XX hotel,
and they only charge X amount there, why are you charging so much?
Seriously, if you have a discount somewhere, just go with that place.
Don’t assume every hotel will offer you the same deal
as some particular one — this bad habit needs to change.

A3
Group vs. individual rates, what’s the difference?
Q: Usually, hotels offer group rates for bookings of eight rooms or more,
and even better deals for sixteen rooms or above.
So anything under eight rooms falls under the individual traveler rate.

Individual room rates are usually the most expensive when booking by phone or via the official website,
for the same room type, the online booking price can be 10–50% cheaper than booking by phone or through the official website.
It can vary by as much as 10–50%!
So why can online room bookings be priced so low?
Because it helps attract travelers from all over the world to book,
and secondly, credit card payment guarantees the booking goes through,
preventing losses from empty rooms due to last-minute cancellations.

A4
Hotel prices fluctuate — why is that?
Q: Hotels adjust prices based on low/high seasons, consecutive holidays,
peak travel days, special event periods, or concert schedules.
So the higher the hotel class, the more volatile the pricing,
and the less room there is to negotiate — prices become firmer.
They’d rather leave the room empty than give in to price bargaining.

Usually, it’s a mindset thing — often, if you’re polite,
they might be more willing to help you out
and even show you how to book at a better rate.

But usually, it’s just that there are too many guests coming from Australia,
The attitude was just terrible. Even if they were completely empty, they wouldn’t take you.
Because Accommodation Aokè will look for trouble even when there’s none.
I think no service staff wants to deal with troublesome customers.
It just creates unnecessary trouble for their own work.

Speaking of which, let me share a principle with everyone:
If you’re an aokè (troublesome customer), you will definitely run into bad luck.
Many times, it’s about your own state of mind.
If you’re in a good mood, good things are more likely to happen.
If you’re in a bad mood and go looking for trouble, trouble will come find you.
This is called Murphy’s Law.Please put yourself in others’ shoes..

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask.
As long as it’s something I, Xiao’r, can answer, I’ll be happy to help.
I hope everyone can develop good habits.
Don’t always haggle? Don’t always look for trouble? Keep your tone light..
That way, service staff can serve you with a happier heart,
and you won’t feel like all sorts of misfortunes are targeting you.
Going out to have fun isn’t war—why not make it pleasant? (kisses)

Original source, used with the author’s permission, please do not reproduce without authorization::
https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Hotel/M.1442058313.A.3EC.html

Manuel’s Little Profile
Currently the small boss of a seal engraving shop, previously worked at a hotel front desk for one year and in travel agency room reservations for ten months. Usually books accommodations and shares reviews on the PTT HOTEL board.a stamp engraving shopThe young owner once worked at a hotel front desk for a year and in hotel reservations at a travel agency for ten months. He usually books accommodations and shares his experiences on the PTT HOTEL board.

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