Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Middle East > The Sand Pit
Reload this Page >

hotel deals - good web portal?

hotel deals - good web portal?

Old Oct 17th 2010, 6:38 am
  #1  
Perky but sarky
Thread Starter
 
lullabelle's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Limboland
Posts: 608
lullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond repute
Default hotel deals - good web portal?

Hi there y'all

thinking of taking my kids to the mad mentalist hotel on the top of Jebel Hafeet for the Halloween weekend (Mercure Jebel Hafeet). We popped in on the way to do our visa run and it reminded me of a seveties Bond film. Ive googled some web portals but not convinced that would be the best way to get a good deal here.

Better to go direct? Through an agent? Online? I've asked around at the office but our own hosp department seems to quote more expensive prices...
lullabelle is offline  
Old Oct 17th 2010, 11:36 am
  #2  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
lionheart is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

We have stayed there several times. The current rate is about Dhs550 for a double room but may rise for Halloween and/or Eid. Try http://www.booking.com/hotel/ae/merc...hafeet.en.html
lionheart is offline  
Old Oct 18th 2010, 7:57 am
  #3  
BE Enthusiast
 
weescot's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
weescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond reputeweescot has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

First time I went I was expecting Don Johnson to step out. Amazingly though it was only built in 2004 or thereabouts! It is a nice enough hotel but pretty quiet at night!

I think the best rates are direct.
weescot is offline  
Old Oct 18th 2010, 12:50 pm
  #4  
Perky but sarky
Thread Starter
 
lullabelle's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Limboland
Posts: 608
lullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

thankyou for this. There's something so
surreal about that hotel. And that's with my surreal-ometer going continually bonkers on a daily basis here...
lullabelle is offline  
Old Oct 18th 2010, 1:24 pm
  #5  
ex-expat
 
Hello.Kitty's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Hello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond reputeHello.Kitty has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

I use booking.com as a good starting point...
Hello.Kitty is offline  
Old Oct 20th 2010, 11:08 am
  #6  
Down and out
 
ctfc's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Re-Expated
Posts: 872
ctfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond reputectfc has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

www.laterooms.com now covers the UAE and can have some great deals.

www.wego.com uses 10,000 squirrels to quickly search a whole range of sites and aggregate the reponses. Very good for both hotels and flights.
ctfc is offline  
Old Oct 20th 2010, 3:53 pm
  #7  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
lionheart is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

Originally Posted by weescot
I think the best rates are direct.
You would probably think so but in the UAE that is rarely the case. Where in Dubai can you go to a decent hotel and stay for less than Dhs225? Using booking.com and others, there are dozens of such places.
lionheart is offline  
Old Oct 20th 2010, 5:32 pm
  #8  
BE Forum Addict
 
Oyibopeppeh's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,308
Oyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond reputeOyibopeppeh has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

Originally Posted by lionheart
You would probably think so but in the UAE that is rarely the case. Where in Dubai can you go to a decent hotel and stay for less than Dhs225? Using booking.com and others, there are dozens of such places.
I agree...I've recently stayed at the 5* Shangri La in Muscat and the Merweb in Doha for 40-50% less than their own online booking sites. I used booking.com
Oyibopeppeh is offline  
Old Oct 20th 2010, 6:33 pm
  #9  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Millhouse's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Millhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

Originally Posted by Oyibopeppeh
I agree...I've recently stayed at the 5* Shangri La in Muscat and the Merweb in Doha for 40-50% less than their own online booking sites. I used booking.com
I love phoning hotels and asking how much for a room. When I say, but it's only XXX on booking.com... it goes like this:

'yes Sir, that is the internet price, I have given you our best price already'...
'but that isn't your best price is it?'...
<giggles>
'yes Sir, that is our best price but it's cheaper on booking.com already'...
'so it isn't your best price then?... oh, I give up, I will just book online'...
'thank you Sir, is there anything else I can help you with today?'...
'No, thank you, you have been most unhelpful'...
'you're welcome'
Millhouse is offline  
Old Oct 20th 2010, 7:18 pm
  #10  
BE Forum Addict
 
Grace O Malley's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Khaladiya Abu Dhabi
Posts: 4,181
Grace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond reputeGrace O Malley has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

[QUOTE=EmiratesMillhouse;8931558]I love phoning hotels and asking how much for a room.

You need to get out more...
Grace O Malley is offline  
Old Oct 21st 2010, 4:25 am
  #11  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Millhouse's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Millhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

[QUOTE=Grace O Malley;8931633]
Originally Posted by EmiratesMillhouse
I love phoning hotels and asking how much for a room.

You need to get out more...
well, yes that is true. something has to pass the time.
Millhouse is offline  
Old Oct 22nd 2010, 4:21 am
  #12  
Perky but sarky
Thread Starter
 
lullabelle's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Limboland
Posts: 608
lullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond reputelullabelle has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: hotel deals - good web portal?

Ok so say I use booking.com to get a room for 550 dhs. And the hotel website says two kids can stay in the hotel for free. Booking.com has only two little people icons. Does it matter? I'm such a pathetic little rule follower... But then again even I'm floored by the rate and regularity of rule chnging that goes on here.
lullabelle is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.