Hi fellow Ozbargainers,
When I book accommodation via booking sites, e.g. booking.com, agoda, hotels.com, etc., is credit card the only method of payment accepted and it seems that they charge surcharge?
Also, if this is for overseas accommodation, if I pay using normal credit card rather than 28 Degrees for example, will I get slugged with Foreign Transaction Fee and/or bad Conversion Rate?
Thanks
hotels.com, booking.com and agoda don't charge a surcharge. It is your credit card that is imposing the surcharge (foreign transaction fee probably).
Agoda and hotels.com should be Australian currency. booking.com will charge in the foreign currency so you should use a Citibank Plus or 28 Degrees (as you mentioned) as neither charge a fee and offer close to market rates. AMEX cards generally charge a 3% variance in market rate (Visa/MC I think 1%) and possibly a fee depending on the card.
How can one tell which currency the booking site will charge me with?
In booking.com, I can change the currency on the top right to AUD. If I do this first before booking, does that mean I will get charged in AUD, which means I can use my normal credit card (rather than 28 degrees)?
I prefer to use normal credit card due to the Complimentary Travel Insurance (Westpac Altitude)
How can one tell which currency the booking site will charge me with?
In booking.com, I can change the currency on the top right to AUD. If I do this first before booking, does that mean I will get charged in AUD, which means I can use my normal credit card (rather than 28 degrees)?
It says it on the last step that they will be charging in the currency of the hotel. Try it out.
Other sites will list the price and currency as well.
I prefer to use normal credit card due to the Complimentary Travel Insurance (Westpac Altitude)
You should read the policy. Some policies only require a set amount (e.g. $500) to be spent to activate the insurance and some require everything to be charged on the card.
You should read the policy. Some policies only require a set amount (e.g. $500) to be spent to activate the insurance and some require everything to be charged on the card.
Yes, for Westpac CC, I need $500. I wonder though, say I plan a trip to Europe (UK and Italy). If I pay the $500 accommodation for UK, will I get covered for the Italy leg as well or just the UK? It does not seem to specifically mention it (not that I can find anyway).
It says it on the last step that they will be charging in the currency of the hotel. Try it out.
Other sites will list the price and currency as well.
OK, so even if it's booking.com and at the payment page, it lists the total price in AUD, and if I use normal credit card, I will get charged with foreign transaction fee (and bad conversion rate), correct?
or Westpac CC
Just pay the flights on the card?
OK, so even if it's booking.com and at the payment page, it lists the total price in AUD, and if I use normal credit card, I will get charged with foreign transaction fee (and bad conversion rate), correct?
On the left hand side is a box that says your price summary.
For example a Singapore hotel:
Your price summary
Room AUD xxx
7 % Tax AUD xx
10 % Property service charge AUD xx
Price
(your currency) AUD xxx *
Property currency
in SGD S$ xxx
(for 2 guests and 2 nights)
*You'll pay xxx Hotel in the property's currency (exchange rate may vary): Today's exchange rate: AUD xxx = S$ xxx
Your card issuer may charge you a foreign transaction fee.
and if European it would say Euro, etc.
Do not use booking .com if you want to prepay your accomodation, because booking .com does not take any money…you pay for your accomodation when you check-in at the hotel, in the local currency.
Incorrect. Booking.com charges you on behalf of the hotel in the hotels currency. For some hotels, you may need to pay directly to the hotel. For the 5 bookings I did in September all were charged via Booking.com.
@neil: I usually pay at the hotel when using booking.com, some hotels do allow for prepayment at the beginning of the stay, but I find using a seperate debit MasterCard with an extra $100 loaded for unexpected costs and having all spending money on a different card. Keep the hotel card in the hotel safe til you leave.
@neil:
I have booked with booking .com many times and always had to pay at hotel.Currently have two bookings for next month to pay on arrival,so you have to make sure what the conditions are when booking if you need an amount spent on cc before leaving Australia.
I have a c/c with CBA with no spend required for insurance.
The website actually says"Book now,pay at hotel "
They do require your credit card details as security in some cases.
Guess it depends where you stay but for my bookings throughout Europe and Singapore I prepaid. There was a choice at many of the hotels where you could pay at the hotel if you paid a little bit more but didn't see the point of paying more at the hotel.
Booking.com dont charge cc surcharge, hotel them self sometimes charge. Usually you can see it when you about to pay.
Overseas booking, I use 28 Degrees, and no surcharge for overseas booking. (booking.com)
I always book my accommodation direct with the hotel. I find the less companies I have to deal with the smoother the transaction. In my experience by booking direct via phoning the accommodation house I always get a better rate. They also quite often reward there direct guest with free upgraded and free breakfast etc. I normally book over 100 room nights a year so I am well qualified regarding this.
I saw this on The Checkout however when I went to try it on a couple of properties, the person on the phone couldn't offer a price near what I got from the aggregator however maybe that was my experiences. EDIT: Got confused with a IHG hotel story.
At the time being, the huge cashbacks from Booking.com can't come close to what hotels can offer.
Far enough if u get a cheaper deal with the cashbacks but always a good idea to try the hotel first. I always tell them that I'm about to book on booking.com and they normally offer me a better price so they don't have to pay commision. I find the small places are better at offering a deal than the bigger places as you are normally talking to the manager/owner on the phone
Bit of an old post.
I used booking.com for a place in Aus recently and currency was AUD and paid via Paypal.
The Paypal charge to my CC came with Intl Trans fee.
Directly with the hotel were more exp via their site, but didn't call them to price match to the Booking.com listing.
I always thought any payment method needs to allow for a non surcharge option? But maybe I'm thinking of rental only.