Posted by Tom Shanks (134.159.124.202) on June 14, 2004 at 12:40:31:
In Reply to: Re: local police website? posted by Max on September 16, 2001 at 13:30:30:
I wouldn't like to say.
Tom
BTW, I wanted to share with people what an absolute rip off these hotel reservation (online) companies are. I not only wasted my time recently, as they are all agents for the same 3 or 4 room wholesalers, but I also got conned on my holiday accommodations. You see, when I booked a hotel using these reservation agents, I had to pay in advance, got the worst room in the hotel and actually paid more then if I had booked direct woth the hotel themselves (the booking agents all claim to save 70% but that is nonsense, it is false advertising).
I'll show you want I mean using the web site Hotels Reservations Organization as an example. Not because I am singling them out for any reason other than they use all four of the real wholesale booking companies. So they have the lowest wholesale prices (the point being these wholesale prices are expensive).
Their page for Argentina Hotels, the Bel Air Hotel in Buenos Aires they have for US$59 a night, the hotel direct offers US$49 per night for a twin room with breakfast. This is enough to fund another invasion of the Falkland Islands!
Their page for Australia Hotels, the Barclay Hotel in Sydney they have for US$61.50 a night, the hotel direct offers US$50 per night for a double room with breakfast. That is down and out, not down under!
Their page for Austria Hotels, the Atlanta Hotel in Vienna they have for US$95 a night, the hotel direct offers US$72 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Enough accommodations savings there for yodeling lessons.
Their page for Bahrain Hotels, the Al Safir Hotel in Bahrain city they have for US$98 a night, the hotel direct offers US$66 per night for a twin room with breakfast. You would have to be an oil rich sheik not to notice that one.
Their page for Bangladesh Hotels, the Best Western Hotel in Dhaka they have for US$80 a night, the hotel direct offers US$53 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That simply is not cricket!
Their page for Belarus Hotels, the Orbita Hotel in Minsk they have for US$57 a night, the hotel direct offers US$46 per night for a twin room with breakfast. I'll book direct, take the saving and buy myself a hat with that.
Their page for Belgium Hotels, the Hilton Hotel in Antwerp they have for US$179 a night, the hotel direct offers US$125 per night for a double room with breakfast. Save your money and spend it on Belgium beer.
Their page for Bolivia Hotels, the Plaza Hotel in La Paz they have for US$68 a night, the hotel direct offers US$49 per night for a twin room with breakfast. No wonder the goat herders do not book their holidays on the Internet.
Their page for Boznia Hotels, the Grand Hotel in Sarajevo they have for US$94 a night, the hotel direct offers US$76 per night for a double room with breakfast. With inflated hotel prices like that, it is enough to start another Balkans conflict.
Their page for Brazil Hotels, the Copa Hotel in Rio De Janeiro they have for US$58 a night, the hotel direct offers US$47 per night for a twin room with breakfast. How much coffee can you buy with these savings?
Their page for Bulgaria Hotels, the Rodina Hotel in Sofia they have for US$82 a night, the hotel direct offers US$54 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Save your money, buy a lovely Bulgarian wooden box with it.
Their page for Cambodia Hotels, the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh they have for US$180.81 a night (which is more then most Cambodians earn in a year), the hotel direct offers US$123 per night for a twin room with breakfast.
Their page for Canada Hotels, the Palliser Hotel in Calgary they have for US$161 a night, the hotel direct offers US$137 per night for a twin room with breakfast. You could buy the hotel with the money you save!
Their page for Chile Hotels, the Playa Paraiso Hotel in Concon they have for US$140 a night, the hotel direct offers US$70 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's half the cost!
Their page for China Hotels, the China World Hotel in Beijing they have for US$217.20 a night, the hotel direct offers US$104 per night for a twin room with breakfast. So why pay twice the amount with Hotels Reservations Org?
Their page for Colombia Hotels, the De La Feria Hotel in Bogota they have for US$63 a night, the hotel direct offers US$58 per night for a twin room with breakfast. More coffee money!
Their page for Croatia Hotels, the Marjan Hotel in Split they have for US$95 a night, the hotel direct offers US$49 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Hmmmm, I am really Split on that choice!
Their page for Cyprus Hotels, the Golden Bay Hotel in Larnaca they have for US$102 a night, the hotel direct offers US$67 per night for a double room with breakfast. Greece and Turkey (chalk and cheese).
Their page for Czech Hotels, the Ambassador Hotel in Prague they have for US$132 a night, the hotel direct offers US$100 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Enough saving for a real Budweiser or three.
Their page for Denamrk Hotels, the Comfort Europa Hotel in Copenhagen they have for US$93 a night, the hotel direct offers US$43 per night for a double room with breakfast. Booking direct with the hotel will save your bacon!
Their page for Ecuador Hotels, the Crespo in Cuenca they have for US$67 a night, the hotel direct offers US$35 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why pay so much more in South America?
Their page for Egypt Hotels, the Oasis Hotel in Cairo they have for US$59 a night, the hotel direct offers US$48 per night for a double room with breakfast. Enough saving for a guided tour of the pyramids.
Their page for Estonia Hotels, the Ecoland Hotel in Tallinn they have for US$48 a night, the hotel direct offers US$41 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Leaves the so called discount wholesaler pricing as cold as the Baltic Sea!
Their page for Finland Hotels, the Kamp Hotel in Helsinki they have for US$167 a night, the hotel direct offers US$101 per night for a twin room with breakfast. You would have to be nuts, not kamp to pay this much extra.
Their page for France Hotels, the Alycon Hotel they have for US$82 a night, the hotel direct offers US$36 per night for a twin room with breakfast. How come the French charge less?
Their page for Germany Hotels, the Alfa Hotel in Berlin they have for US$86 a night, the hotel direct offers US$69 per night for a double room with breakfast. The difference is enough for a trip to the beer kellar!
Their page for Greece Hotels, the Amalia Hotel in Olympia they have for US$87 a night, the hotel direct offers US$36 per night for a twin room with breakfast. How come they are so much more? It is all Greek to me!
Their page for Honduras Hotels, the Best Western Hotel in San Pedro Sula they have for US$73 a night, the hotel direct offers US$42 per night for a twin room with breakfast. President Reagan's favorite place, but cheaper if you book direct with the hotel.
Their page for Hong Kong Hotels, the Newton Hotel in Kowloon they have for US$49 a night, the hotel direct offers US$39 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Must be a case of British Imperialism.
Their page for Hungary Hotels, the Classic Hotel in Budapest they have for US$46.37 a night, the hotel direct offers US$40 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Hungary? You will probably be starving if you pay the reservation agent price!
Their page for Iceland Hotels, the Borg Hotel in Reykjavik they have for US$169 a night, the hotel direct offers US$87 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Captain Picard himself would have to be mad to pay the higher room prices.
Their page for India Hotels, the Best Western Hotel in Bombay they have for US$122.54 a night, the hotel direct offers US$87.50 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Think how many curries booking direct with the hotel will get you!
Their page for Indonesia Hotels, the Aneka Hotel in Bali they have for US$36 a night, the hotel direct offers US$27 per night for a double room with breakfast. They must be Bali bonkers!
Their page for Ireland Hotels, the Brooks Hotel in Dublin they have for US$198.90 a night, the hotel direct offers US$127 per night for a twin room with breakfast. You can not drink that much a saving in Guiness!
Their page for Israel Hotels, the Imperial Hotel in Tel Aviv they have for US$57 a night, the hotel direct offers US$50 per night for a double room with breakfast. That's saving enough to send you to the Wailing Wall and back.
Their page for Italy Hotels, the Ara Pacis Hotel in Rome they have for US$117 a night, the hotel direct offers US$95 per night for a twin room with breakfast. They should be thrown into the gladiator coliseum for these accommodation prices.
Their page for Japan Hotels, the Daiichi Hotel in Tokyo they have for US$259 a night, the hotel direct offers US$179 per night for a twin room with breakfast. So you can spend your money on sushi, not your room.
Their page for Jordan Hotels, the Marriott Hotel in Amman they have for US$78 a night, the hotel direct offers US$71 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's enough saving for a camel ride.
Their page for Kenya Hotels, the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi they have for US$96 a night, the hotel direct offers US$73 per night for a twin room with breakfast. They should be fed to the lions for hiking their room prices like that.
Their page for Kuwait Hotels, the Le Meridien Hotel in Kuwait City they have for US$303 a night, the hotel direct offers US$199 per night for a twin room with breakfast. No wonder Sadam Hussain invaded!
Their page for Laos Hotels, the Royal Dokmaideng Hotel in Vientiane they have for US$57.81 a night, the hotel direct offers US$32 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why pay more for your Laotian vacations?!
Their page for Latvia Hotels, the Konventa Seta Hotel in Riga they have for US$106 a night, the hotel direct offers US$72 per night for a twin room with breakfast. How come the discount site is more expensive??!!
Their page for Lebanon Hotels, the Riviera Hotel in Beirut they have for US$110 a night, the hotel direct offers US$67 per night for a twin room with breakfast. This is enough to cause another conflict there!
Their page for Lithuania Hotels, the Centrum Hotel in Vilnius they have for US$88 a night, the hotel direct offers US$53 per night for a twin room with breakfast. This country offered Prince Edward the monarchy, well this saving is a king's ransom alright.
Their page for Luxembourg Hotels, the Hilton Hotel in Luxembourg they have for US$116 a night, the hotel direct offers US$89 per night for a twin room with breakfast. A big saving for Europe's smallest country!
Their page for Macau Hotels, the New Century Hotel in Macau they have for US$68 a night, the hotel direct offers US$61 per night for a double room with breakfast. I bet the Portuguese colonists are laughing all the way to the bank.
Their page for Malaysia Hotels, the Capitol Hotel in Kuala Lumpur they have for US$46 a night, the hotel direct offers US$33 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Do you know how much seafood US$13 buys you on the beach in Malaysia?!
Their page for Malta Hotels, the Saint Patricks Hotel in Gozo they have for US$40 a night, the hotel direct offers US$27 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's enough to fund a naval blockade!
Their page for Mexico Hotels, the Posada Real Hotel in Cabo san Lucas they have for US$101 a night, the hotel direct offers US$62 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why do they think we want to pay more for our Mexican holiday?
Their page for Monaco Hotels, the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monte Carlo they have for US$267.24 a night, the hotel direct offers US$179 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's how o break the bank (your own) before you even get to Monte Carlo!
Their page for Morocco Hotels, the Sheraton Hotel in Casablanca they have for US$114 a night, the hotel direct offers US$70 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's a $44 saving by booking with the hotel direct; say that again sam!
Their page for Myanmar Hotels, the Savoy Hotel in Yangong they have for US$108 a night, the hotel direct offers US$87 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's enough to feed the Burmese army for a year!
Their page for Nepal Hotels, the Himalaya Hotel in Kathmandu they have for US$57 a night, the hotel direct offers US$43 per night for a twin room with breakfast. No wonder the Nepalese peasants are revolting!
Their page for Netherlands Hotels, the Tulip Inn Dam Square Hotel in Amsterdam they have for US$252 a night, the hotel direct offers US$137 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Are they crazy, do you know how many clogs or even windmills you can buy with the saving you make from going to the hotel directly?
Their page for New Zealand Hotels, the Rydges Hotel in Christchurch they have for US$127.71 a night, the hotel direct offers US$85 per night for a double room with breakfast. You could buy a genuine kiwi, let alone some kiwi fruit with that sort of accommodations saving.
Their page for Norway Hotels, the Radisson Sas Norge Hotel in Bergen they have for US$148 a night, the hotel direct offers US$101 per night for a twin room with breakfast. You could buy your own fiord reserving direct with the Norwegian hoteliers!
Their page for Oman Hotels, the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Muscat they have for US$202 a night, the hotel direct offers US$127 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Not even the Oamani sultan himself would sneeze at those room savings.
Their page for Pakistan Hotels, the Pearl Continental Hotel in Karachi they have for US$117.60 a night, the hotel direct offers US$85.50 per night for a double room with breakfast. I think Pervez Musharraf would not be so happy to pay that much more for his hotel room.
Their page for Panama Hotels, the Rainforest Resort Hotel in Gamboa they have for US$114 a night, the hotel direct offers US$72 per night for a twin room with breakfast. It would not take too long a vacation to save enough for a second Panama canal.
Their page for Paraguay Hotels, the Excelsior Hotel in Asuncion they have for US$102 a night, the hotel direct offers US$79 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That is enough of a saving to afford a real Paraguayan feast.
Their page for Peru Hotels, the Eko Hotel in Lima they have for US$59 a night, the hotel direct offers US$32 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Save enough by booking direct with the hotel to be able to afford a lama!
Their page for Philippines Hotels, the Edsa Shangri La Hotel in Manila they have for US$182.40 a night, the hotel direct offers US$91 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Even Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would complain about that room rate.
Their page for Poland Hotels, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Warsaw they have for US$119 a night, the hotel direct offers US$89 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Special Polish discount hotel room rate? I don't think so.
Their page for Portugal Hotels, the Tivoli Jardim Hotel in Lisbon they have for US$131.79 a night, the hotel direct offers US$85 per night for a double room with breakfast. That's enough for a bull fight and some port after.
Their page for Qatar Hotels, the Inter Continental Hotel in Doha they have for US$127 a night, the hotel direct offers US$65 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Those sort of hotel room savings are enough to start a gulf conflict.
Their page for Romania Hotels, the Sofitel Hotel in Bucharest they have for US$162 a night, the hotel direct offers US$88 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Imagine going on a Romanian vacation and then realising you paid much too much!
Their page for Russia Hotels, the Mezhdunarodnaya Hotel in Moscow they have for US$264 a night, the hotel direct offers US$112 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Contact the Kremlin, call out the KGB, a serious crime is being committed.
Their page for Saudia Arabia Hotels, the Golden Tulip Andalusia in Riyadh they have for US$110.14 a night, the hotel direct offers US$87.50 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why pay more for your Arabian nights?
Their page for Seychelles Hotels, the Hotel L Ocean Hotel on La Digue Island they have for US$175 a night, the hotel direct offers US$100 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Book with the hotel themselves and save money on your tropical island holiday.
Their page for Singapore Hotels, the Orchard Hotel in Central Singapore they have for US$105.02 a night, the hotel direct offers US$65 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Talk about Singaporian prices!
Their page for Slovakia Hotels, the Radisson SAS Hotel in Bratislava they have for US$120 a night, the hotel direct offers US$69 per night for a twin room with breakfast. The hidden gem of Europe, but only if you book direct with the hoteliers.
Their page for Slovenia Hotels, the Golf Hotel in Bled they have for US$79 a night, the hotel direct offers US$59 per night for a twin room with breakfast. I think that must be bleed, not Bled Slovenia!
Their page for South Africa Hotels, the Intercontinental Palazzo Montecasino Hotel in Johannesburg they have for US$204.22 a night, the hotel direct offers US$100 per night for a twin room with breakfast. I bet Bishop Tutu would lecture Nelson Mandela on that rate.
Their page for Argentina Hotels, the Grand Inter Continental Hotel in Seoul they have for US$306 a night, the hotel direct offers US$121 per night for a twin room with breakfast. No wonder the North Koreans are always so angry.
Their page for Spain Hotels, the Gran Versalles Hotel in Madrid they have for US$108.60 a night, the hotel direct offers US$57 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Book direct with the hotel for your Spanish vacation and say "Ole"
Their page for Sri Lanka Hotels, the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo they have for US$114 a night, the hotel direct offers US$81 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Now that is not cricket!
Their page for Sweden Hotels, the Bernes Hotel in Stockholm they have for US$197 a night, the hotel direct offers US$97 per night for a twin room with breakfast. If you book direct with the hotel and have a blonde Swedish girlfriend, you will have more for her!
Their page for Switzerland Hotels, the Beau Rivage Hotel in Geneva they have for US$354 a night, the hotel direct offers US$207 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's enough to buy a Swiss cuckoo clock.
Their page for Syria Hotels, the Cham Palace Hotel in Damascus they have for US$140 a night, the hotel direct offers US$83 per night for a double room with breakfast. You could buy some Syrian copper and silverware (Damascene) with what you save.
Their page for Taiwan Hotels, the East Dragon Hotel in Taipei they have for US$81.60 a night, the hotel direct offers US$53 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why pay some agent extra money on your business trip to the Orient?
Their page for Thailand Hotels, the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok they have for US$746 a night, the hotel direct offers US$449 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Why pay those Siamese agency rates for your luxury hotel room?
Their page for Tunisia Hotels, the Maison Blanche Hotel in Tunis they have for US$112 a night, the hotel direct offers US$93 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Enough savings by booking direct with the hotel to afford a magic carpet!
Their page for Turkey Hotels, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Istanbul they have for US$149 a night, the hotel direct offers US$112 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Book with the Turkish themselves and enjoy the Casbah more.
Their page for Ukraine Hotels, the Premier Palace Hotel in Kiev they have for US$166.80 a night, the hotel direct offers US$100 per night for a double room with breakfast. That save you enough for some genuine Ukranian chickin kievs!
Their page for UAE Hotels, the Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai they have for US$153 a night, the hotel direct offers US$113 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Enough savings to buy a camal and roam the desert!
Their page for UK Hotels, the Millennium Knightsbridge Hotel in London they have for US$197.74 a night, the hotel direct offers US$87 per night for a twin room with breakfast. That's a Kings ransom in old blighty.
Their page for USA Hotels, the Marriott Brooklyn Hotel in New York they have for US$168 a night, the hotel direct offers US$101 per night for a twin room with breakfast. Enough saving for a yellow cab ride to Washington DC.
Their page for Uruguay Hotels, the Nh Columbia Hotel in Montevideo they have for US$59 a night, the hotel direct offers US$49 per night for a double room with breakfast. Why pay agent profits for your South American vacation?
Their page for Venezuela Hotels, the Las Americas Hotel in Caracas they have for US$64 a night, the hotel direct offers US$37 per night for a twin room with breakfast. So don't go crackers in Caracus, book with the hotel not a travel agent!
Their page for Vietnam Hotels, the Hotel Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi they have for US$175.82 a night, the hotel direct offers US$97 per night for a twin room with breakfast. A Vietnamese is unlikely to earn that difference in a month!
So you see fellow travellers / travelers, it pays to book direct with the hotels themselves, not these reservation sites / travel agents. It is not just about saving money either. The reservation agents mostly require you to pay everything up front, the hotel when you check out. Now just imagine if the travel agent does not pay the hotel and is not a bonded IATA (with insurance) member!
Happy holidays!
Tom