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July 16th, 2021
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]There is a lot the average traveler does not know about booking with third-party online travel agencies.
We’ve all had those advertising tunes from the online travel agencies stuck in our head: Hotwire.com, Expedia, Priceline, Hotels.com, AirBnB…and more. What do all these travel sites have in common? All of them offer a one-stop shop for airfare, accommodation, and even car rentals, but is the convenience and price too good to be true?
How are they really offering these “amazing deals” and where does Globeo fit into the world of online affordable rates?
Truth is, you can find some awesome deals on travel sites and they can be easier to use than piecing together a trip by yourself. At the same time, don’t forget these sites are in business to make money. As industry experts, Globeo has learned a thing or two about how these third-party reservations work— and we are sharing them with you right now!
Keep reading for 5 of the best-kept secrets of online travel sites.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#4a0d66″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]
1.) No Wiggle Room
Change of plans? We definitely understand, but third-party online travel agencies like Expedia, Priceline, and Orbitz don’t. When you book a reservation with an online travel site consider it “locked-in”. The hotel will not be able to make changes or modify any part of your reservation from dates, location, room type, etc. You will have to contact the third-party OTA directly to update your reservation. If you’re lucky enough to find a 1-800 number and speak with a real person about your change request, it’s possible the hotel might not be able to make changes to your reservation due to availability. Before confirming through an OTA, triple check your reservation information from guest names to dates, and even room type to avoid unnecessary headaches.
The Globeo Advantage: DIY booking leaves no room for flexibility. What happens to your hotel bookings when jobs are pushed back, extended, or canceled? Changes and cancellations can prove to be quite costly with big-name booking services. Whether it’s one room or 30+ rooms, our team of industry specialists are available 24/7/365!
4 Ways You’re Leaving Money On The Table While Traveling[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#4a0d66″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]
2.) Get Walked This Way…
Your confirmation from an OTA might seem like you’ve got a room, but you could show up to the property to find out they’ve actually oversold. What does “getting walked” or “bumped” mean in hotel lingo? It means the hotel sold more rooms than they actually have available because they expected a certain number of cancellations. So, in real life, this leads you being turned away from the hotel you “reserved”, bags in hand, and being relocated to a similar hotel nearby. If this ever happens to you, make sure you ask about your options from there.
Questions to ask:
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- What comparable property will the hotel/OTA be placing you in?
- What other perks will they provide for the inconvenience?
- Will the hotel/OTA be providing you complimentary shuttle service to that property?
The Globeo Advantage: The first guests the hotel will move to another property are the OTA bookings. Whenever you book with Globeo, rest easy knowing you’ll be receiving the best service because we partner with your favorite hotel brands across the U.S. Because of our personal relationships with hotels, we help you avoid the “walk of shame” so you can simply enjoy the stay you booked.
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3.) You Deserve Better Than Leftovers
Large hotel chains often offer online travel agencies discounted rooms that have not been previously booked directly through the hotel or their website. We call these, “the leftovers”, because they are most likely in less desirable locations. For example, facing the parking lot, next to an elevator or ice machine, or close to the lobby where people are checking in all hours of the night. Sometimes it’s better to call the hotel directly and negotiate the best room at the best possible price.
The Globeo Advantage: Who has the time to call hotels, negotiate the best price and make sure the hotel knows about any special room requests or requirements? The Globeo team! Imagine your requests handled quickly via phone, email or web. Easy access to a team of real people means your bookings are handled in real time 24/7/365.
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4.) It’s Tough to Find Discounts in a Blackout
Blackout dates are periods of time (usually major holidays and other peak travel seasons) when hotel companies raise prices and eliminate their deals because more travelers are traveling by necessity rather than choice. Even if you are able to find a room online during a blackout, an online travel agency won’t offer you any extra assistance to navigate bookings during high-volume times.
The Globeo Advantage: Blackout dates happen because hotel reservations are scarce on the busiest travel dates of the year, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way around the hiked prices and limited availability. Leverage a team of experts like ours to save you big time and money, even on blackout dates.
How to Score Points as a Perfect Hotel Guest[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#4a0d66″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]
5.) Search Habits Die Hard
Pretty much every website in the world uses cookies to track our online habits, travel sites included. OTAs track our browsing habits and then raise the price when they see us checking the same travel dates or destinations over and over again. You may have personally experienced this phenomenon. To avoid this possibility, turn on incognito or private mode and clear your cookie cache often for more secure and accurate pricing.
The Globeo Advantage: It’s our priority to get to know you: your preferences, your booking history, your work requirements, etc. We help you make lodging decisions based on your priorities and don’t raise the rates just because you’re comparing hotel pricing.
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Lodging Solutions That Work For You!
Our team of hotel experts are available 24/7/365 to help you with your lodging needs from booking to billing.
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]Want to learn more?[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][button target=”_self” hover_type=”default” text_align=”center” button_shadow=”no” text=”Go Globeo!” link=”https://globeo.com/free-demo/” hover_color=”#4a0d66″ border_color=”#f6b221″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#f5b21d” thickness=”2″ up=”20″ down=”20″][vc_column_text]
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