Booking online

Want to stay at Intercontinental Barclay, Manhattan. Anyone know if it is cheaper to book online with them or through another online service?

Stayed there this year for 3 nights through an agent would like 5 nights as cheap as possible.

Booking online

Hi Annlin,

My advice would be this,

Check the prices on the 3rd party online booking sites,

Expedia, Travelocity, bookings.com, ect.(these are meant as examples)

Then check the prices on the hotels website.

You will often find that the hotel website is the same or less then some of the other online sites.

I would also call the hotel. If a 3rd party online site is less expensive mention this to whom ever you speak to. They may be able to match it.

I prefer booking my travel through the hotel themselves. I think that you generally get comparable rates, also, I think that a hotel is more likely to upgrade you if you%26#39;ve booked through them then through another online site. I believe, and I%26#39;ve read that properties make more money without the 3rd party site involved. Therefore they are more likely to nurture the relationship with the guest who has booked directly through them.

It has worked for me getting upgrades several times when I%26#39;ve traveled having booked everything directly with the hotel.

Booking online

Agree with everything ICB has said. ;) Try quikbook.com too

PS, that hotel is a Priceline hotel which means when they%26#39;ve got unsold rooms, they will release them at very low rates. Before phoning the hotel, look on the win calendar on betterbidding.com and see if anyone has gotten the hotel for your dates on either Priceline or Hotwire. If they have, you might want to consider doing that (bidding) but ofcourse there%26#39;s no guarantee that you%26#39;d get that hotel.

Agree with all. I actually booked a hotel on hotwire a few months ago. Although it was a great deal, when I booked the hotel and researched the hotel on it%26#39;s site the price was the same no extra savings. It was a Holiday inn express and if you became a priority member the room would of been even less.So join all those clubs for points.

I think hotwire just maybe brings hotels you may have not recognized to your attention.Well in my case. I am sure there is a savings but sometimes not. I spoke to the owner of the hotel and if someone just comes in with out booking, that really won%26#39;t be a good idea in NYC. He said then he charges top rates. Always book something you can cancel.

So yes compare!

After reading the most recent threads on this post, I did call the Barclay directly. The rates they were offering were no where close to what my travel agent had in her system.

Also asked about government rates. After putting me on hold for a minute, I was told that government rates would not apply. The attendant was candid and admitted that during the summer months, they%26#39;re very picky about giving out gov%26#39;t rates.

Many thanks to you all, I will try everything and see what comes up best!!

Many thanks to you all, I will try everything and see what comes up best!