...
I used Hostel World (via Flybe.com) to book a bungalow at a camping village in Rome. I found the website excellent to use, and there was certainly a lot of information about the camping village, including, crucially, transport information. The pricing for the accomodation was competitive, ... Read review
Splendia, a unique selection of luxury and design hotels with character in the most beautiful locations: Marrakesh, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Dubai.... Book directly online or contact our customer service available any day of the week.
SOL Spain On Line. Spain tourist guide and reservation center with over 3000 establishments in Spain, from budget to luxury. Online reservations and full information of each establishment with prices, photos and location maps. No booking fees.
Record Rent a Car is present in the main spanish airports and has a very wide fleet. We offer: exceptional discounts, free additional drivers,
unlimited mileage... subscribe to our Club Record and take advantage of special offers.
Advantages: when it works - fast, convenient Disadvantages: Didn't work for me
.../>
I used Hostel World (via Flybe.com) to book a bungalow at a camping village in Rome. I found the website excellent to use, and there was certainly a lot of information about the camping village, including, crucially, transport information. The pricing for the accomodation was competitive, with a small booking fee of USD2, which I was quite prepared to pay for the convenience, plus a 10% deposit. I like not having to pay the full amount, ... ...the email address provided by Hostel World. I never received a response, but assumed that it was simply due to staff at the village not checking their email or being short-staffed over the Christmas break.
Unfortunately, when we arrived they had no record of our booking. Luckily, they still had bungalows available and so we were not left homeless for the evening. They also very kindly agreed to take into account the deposit we had ... more
I have only used this website once, but share my experience in case it assists others.
I used Hostel World (via Flybe.com) to book a bungalow at a camping village in Rome. I found the website excellent to use, and there was certainly a lot of information about the camping village, including, crucially, transport information. The pricing for the accomodation was competitive, with a small booking fee of USD2, which I was quite prepared to pay for the convenience, plus a 10% deposit. I like not having to pay the full amount, as I often book quite some time in advance, plus it gives you the flexibility to change your plans without losing vast sums of money. I've also generally found that handwritten entries in paper diaries tend to go wrong more often than computerised systems.
I booked about 3 months in advance. I had attempted to confirm the booking 2 days before we arrived, and obtain some further information about facilities, directly with the village, using the email address provided by Hostel World. I never received a response, but assumed that it was simply due to staff at the village not checking their email or being short-staffed over the Christmas break.
Unfortunately, when we arrived they had no record of our booking. Luckily, they still had bungalows available and so we were not left homeless for the evening. They also very kindly agreed to take into account the deposit we had paid to Hostel World when charging us, even though the camping village had no record of receiving it.
Whether the lost booking was the camping village's fault or Hostel World's fault I'm unable to say. The village was extremely well run, with a computerised system and I was very impressed with their set up. I certainly didn't get the impression that this was a regular occurance.
I have written to Hostel World pointing out the failure of the system, requesting a refund of my booking fee and requesting some feedback as to whether they can identify where things went wrong. If they can show it was the village's fault, or that it was a one-off fault at their end, I'd be happy to use them again. If they don't reply, I won't. I arrive in cities too late in the evening, and have too small a budget, to run the risk of lost bookings and facing the ordeal of trying to find a room. So far I've had no response.
It's very easy for things to go wrong when using the internet, particularly internationally. I guess this is just an example of the fallibility of internet booking systems. My rating is based on my experience, which I accept is limited. I will update this review if and when I receive a response from Hostel World.
----------------------- UPDATE 10 FEBRUARY 2005
According to my bank statement, my booking fee has been refunded, atlhough I've had no contact from Hostel World.
Advantages: Everything was excellent Disadvantages: Could not fault
Stayed at the Hoang Phong Hotel for 3 days starting May 31st 2009.
Very clean, comfortable, great location, friendly,etc.
We did not realise but we had left our passports in the Hotel and when we arrived at the airport the friendly young man was there waiting for us.
I still cant believe that this Hotel drove out to the airport to return our passports.
Wifi in room was also fast and also were given onward travel information without the hard sell.
...
jockeygirl 15.06.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hostel World
Advantages: Cheap, reliable accomodation all over the world Disadvantages: First choice not always available unless you book early
I have used hostel world several times to plan trips away and found it very useful and completely reliable.
When you enter a destination you are given a list of hostels and cheap hotels. There are reviews and ratings from other members which is a really useful guide. You are also told details of facilities and location and there are often photos of rooms and a map indicating exactly where it is.
When you log on you can see all the bookings you ... ...You make a booking through hostel world and they take a 10 % deposit which secures your room. You pay the rest to the hotel when you arrive. You can cancel your reservation and recieve your deposit back until a few days before your stay. There is a $2 booking fee which isn't refunded if you cancel but you can become a member for $10 which means you don't pay the booking fee. Worth it if you are going to stay at more than 5 different places in a year.
...
surfingcat 11.12.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hostel World
Advantages: none????? Disadvantages: avoid if you dont want to donate them your deposit, fee and no show change.
...INTERSOF HOSTEL, SOFIA, BULGARIA with hostel world and was greeted at the hostel with a demand of a bill upfront that didnt deduct my £13 deposit, I tried to argue this with the hostel owners(which was hard due to language), but could only get the reply that hostel world takes your deposit and that I must agree to pay that £13 over what I owed. After having an arguement for about 1/2 hour with agressive bulgarians I was told to take my baggage and ... ...to England I find card billed for an extra no show charge of £9.50 by hostal world and absolutely no method of complaint on their website.
Aswell as being left in the lurch financially of having to find the nearest place available to stay after a very long journey, I had to donate in exess of £24 to this attrocious company! ...
nevergo2fleasingbulgaria 26.12.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hostel World
Advantages: You can book a room before you leave, knowing you have somewhere to stay when you arrive in another country Disadvantages: there is a small transaction fee
I used Hostal World to book into a hostal in Russe, Bulgaria. Using their website, I was able to see a detailed description, and more importantly for me, reserve the room over the internet. This meant that when I turned up at some ungodly hour in the morning, I knew that the room was mine.
The room was excellent value for money, but, it wasn't really a hostal in the traditional sense, more of a Soviet era government issued flat. The owners were ...
scarylookingthug 24.01.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hostel World
Advantages: good location, great staff Disadvantages: not so clean, a lot of street dogs near
...city. the atmosphere in the hostel is the best, form all the hostels i've ever been, because nowhere the staff talks with you all day long. next time in Bucharest, i'll definitivly choose funky chicken (by the way, nice name!) regards for Miki and Andrea! good job with the hostel! ...
midinim32 23.02.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hostel World
