Booking methods |
On this page: Introduction | Payment | Cancellation policy
Introduction
As we do not sell accommodation ourselves, remember you are dealing with a separate company.
N.B. Make a clear note of the company name and remember to take down any reference number.
Bookings are usually made in one of two ways:
A. Telephone bookings
You will need to secure the booking with a credit/debit card.
Most companies will write to confirm full details.
B. Online bookings
A credit/debit card will be requested to confirm the booking.
We recommend that you print out a copy of the confirmation details, showing the reservation number/reference.
Online reservations take three forms:
1. Email booking
This is the most basic method and may be an advantage if you need to find out specific details, such as whether the room has a bath or shower or if the property provides parking.
2. On-Line Booking
This is usually via an online booking form.
You will need to enter details such as dates, room type, party size, postal address and credit card details.
Once completed, there is usually a "submit" button, which will send the form to the company where the request is dealt with manually.
Response time can vary between a few hours and a couple of days.
Be aware that once the form is submitted you will be committed to taking the booking, if availability is confirmed.
Check the terms of each company, but remember that the golden rule is "If you submit, then you commit".
3. Instant Confirmation
The third and by far best option is Instant Confirmation. This allows the hotel to tell you immediately whether or not a room is actually available and at what price.
Payment
Payment methods vary between companies.
In most cases, full payment will be required in advance of arrival at the accommodation. Many companies now use systems which allow reservations to be secured with a credit card - this means that you will only need to commit to the first night of your stay, but always check that this is the case before confirming the reservation.
Cancellation Policy
Make sure that you are aware of the company cancellation policy before confirming your reservation.
Generally, the better the deal, the heavier the cancellation penalty. This can be as high as 100% of the amount paid.
Some companies have a sliding scale of cancellation charges, increasing the closer you get to the arrival date.
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