You’ll save a fortune by booking your hotels online through third-party travel companies
November 20, 2008 under Hopia Encounters
I always thought that booking a hotel through third-party online would cost you more than booking directly with the hotel you would be staying. Well, I was wrong.
The last time we visited Hangzhou, I did not want to stay with my friend Elmer because at that time, a family friend and my mother-in-law were with us so having to stay in Elmer’s pad would be too troublesome for him and too shameless for us. So I booked a hotel instead.
My male Chinese housemate suggested that I book a hotel through CTrip.com where he usually books his hotels during his business trips so I could save more. I was hesitant but since I don’t know which hotel should I book in Hangzhou and how, I succumbed to his suggestions. I registered with Ctrip, found the cheapest but decent hotel and booked. And I was glad I did because for all my computations, I saved more than RMB 600 booking with Ctrip than I would have payed should had we registered in the SUNNY HOTEL directly. We were surprised to know that their lowest room rate is priced at around RMB 1000.
Let me reiterate at this point that this is N0T A SP?NS?RED REVIEW or whatsoever. I am only sharing to you how you too could save a fortune should you decide to travel in the future.
Anyway, SUNNY Hotel is a four-star hotel along JieFang Road and situated between the Hangzhou’s West Lake and the Central Train Station. About 10 minutes away from each location. The beds and facilities are good but I recommend you eat elsewhere to save even more.
thank you so much for this tip. we’re going to Shanghai this Dec 2008 and we have yet to find a hotel (any more tip?) and i’ll be trying your tip on CTrip.com:)
Imagine that!? may nagbabasa pala ng blog na’to. hahaha
anyway, where do you plan to stay in Shanghai. As I have said in a post that I have lost in my other domain (www.kotsengkuba.com), don’t arrange your trips with travel agencies so you could have better control of your time (to take massive amounts of photos, of course). And better buy an english Shanghai Map (available in airports and major bookstores in Shanghai). They would usually take you on a day trip which will include 3 spots that you’ll visit in a hurry. I also recommend that you use the subway for its convenience check this post. If you don’t mind eating at Turo-turo, there’s some Chinese turo-turo area near The Oriental Pearl Tower in Lujiazui (Lujiazui has a station in Subway Line 2) and beside it is a big mall - The Brand Mall. If you don’t speak Chinese, don’t eat at Chinese restaurants if you don’t want your nose to bleed just trying to exlain your orders. Nanjing East Road (take subway line 2) is a great place for shopping but they’re expensive. Just try haggling in the shops in some subway stations.