Comments on: Have Hostel Booking Sites Changed The Travel Experience? http://www.travmonkey.com/2009/09/03/have-hostel-booking-sites-changed-the-travel-experience/ The Best Online World Travel Magazine Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:39:22 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Josh http://www.travmonkey.com/2009/09/03/have-hostel-booking-sites-changed-the-travel-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-3346 Josh Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:45:59 +0000 http://www.travmonkey.com/?p=1488#comment-3346 Booking engines have definitely changed traveling. Some travelers now book their entire trips before they go. In general, a good hostel will attempt to treat all guests well because all guests are capable of making reviews. There are plenty of sites like Tripadvisor, Yelp, Bug.co.uk, Hostelz.com, etc., that anyone can leave a review on. From the hostels' perspective, they typically prefer that guests book directly. It costs the hostels 10% or more of the total booking cost if travelers book through a booking engine... Booking engines have definitely changed traveling. Some travelers now book their entire trips before they go.

In general, a good hostel will attempt to treat all guests well because all guests are capable of making reviews. There are plenty of sites like Tripadvisor, Yelp, Bug.co.uk, Hostelz.com, etc., that anyone can leave a review on.

From the hostels’ perspective, they typically prefer that guests book directly. It costs the hostels 10% or more of the total booking cost if travelers book through a booking engine…

]]> By: milene http://www.travmonkey.com/2009/09/03/have-hostel-booking-sites-changed-the-travel-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-2757 milene Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:49:32 +0000 http://www.travmonkey.com/?p=1488#comment-2757 Hello! I was about to post something like David did. Usually people who had a bad experience will have plenty of time to describe in detail why they didnt enjoy their stay. (Once our staff was accused of stealing the guest´s wallet in one of the reviews!!!!) and whatever nice happened isnt taken into account. And people who are having fun and still on the road only post short comments or none but good ratings. I reccommend booking only the first couple of nights on these websites which are no doubt, handy, but usually you get better rates and deals when you book over the phone or in person. Hello!
I was about to post something like David did. Usually people who had a bad experience will have plenty of time to describe in detail why they didnt enjoy their stay. (Once our staff was accused of stealing the guest´s wallet in one of the reviews!!!!) and whatever nice happened isnt taken into account. And people who are having fun and still on the road only post short comments or none but good ratings.
I reccommend booking only the first couple of nights on these websites which are no doubt, handy, but usually you get better rates and deals when you book over the phone or in person.

]]> By: TravMonkey http://www.travmonkey.com/2009/09/03/have-hostel-booking-sites-changed-the-travel-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-2735 TravMonkey Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:43:01 +0000 http://www.travmonkey.com/?p=1488#comment-2735 Hi Dave, How do you feel about people who have booked through one of the booking sites getting a far superior room to you? In an attempt to get better reviews? Is that fair? Thanks, Paul @ TravMonkey.com Hi Dave,

How do you feel about people who have booked through one of the booking sites getting a far superior room to you? In an attempt to get better reviews?

Is that fair?

Thanks,

Paul @
TravMonkey.com

]]> By: Dave http://www.travmonkey.com/2009/09/03/have-hostel-booking-sites-changed-the-travel-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-2734 Dave Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:37:56 +0000 http://www.travmonkey.com/?p=1488#comment-2734 Hmm, I never felt like a second-class backpacker during my recent RTW trip. I barely booked in advance during 15 months of continuous travel, though the 2-3 times when I felt it was appropriate (ex: Christmas Eve/Day), I was glad to have the hostel booking sites. The reviews were a big factor for me deciding on a place, though it seems as though there are a lot of finicky backpackers out there. Also, the reviews can easily skew negative, because people with bad experiences are more likely to leave comments. Hmm, I never felt like a second-class backpacker during my recent RTW trip. I barely booked in advance during 15 months of continuous travel, though the 2-3 times when I felt it was appropriate (ex: Christmas Eve/Day), I was glad to have the hostel booking sites.

The reviews were a big factor for me deciding on a place, though it seems as though there are a lot of finicky backpackers out there. Also, the reviews can easily skew negative, because people with bad experiences are more likely to leave comments.

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