Mar - after much to-ing and fro-ing we decided to cancel our reservation with Bookinhotels and make other arrangements (we got another hotel across the road cheaper!). I don't think the problem we had was with bookin themselves but with their agents in US - however, thats no comfort if your hotel isn't booked when you arrive! I would suggest that you ring their helpline and try sort it out that way. If not, don't hang around and just cancel the booking. The refund was returned to our credit card within 3-4 days as promised. Hope this helps

Thank you so much for this, I have gotton on to them since but believe me I wont be using them again they are very scattery and take ages to get back to you. Its good to know about the cancellation fee been returned to credit card, may do that yet.

Thks again

Hi - Can anyone let me know if BookInHotels is reliable. We have booked a hotel in late September but when I called the hotel they have no booking for us but told us that they may not have the names until a few days before the booking.

thanks juju

Yes. I have used BOOKINHOTELS, but never again! I booked via their site in DEC 07 for a 3night stay in FEB 08 at the `GRAND MOOV` hotel in Dubai, it was the final leg of a Thailand/Hongkong/Dubai holiday. I was looking for a 4star hotel that included breakfast for my family . Their search engine listed lots of hotels in Dubai and I chose the `GRAND MOOV HOTEL` as the BOOKINHOTEL site said ` BREAKFAST INCLUDED`. Having paid by C/C I was asked to print off the confirmation that I was to present to the hotel. But when it printed off,the `BOARD BASIS` on the form was blank, so I rang BOOKINHOTELS London TEL` tel number straight away. Their man- (HIS ACCENT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND)that is how their confirmation forms print out, he added that all would be ok, as the hotel knew that our booking was including breakfast. One day later I received an Email with a link to their site, to print off another confirmation. This print said that we only had room only. I should have rung them again,but as I had already been told before that the hotel knew that we were breakfast included,I didnt bother ringing-BIG MISTAKE. On arrival at the GRAND MOOV they knew nothing about the included breakfasts, and would only honour the `ROOM ONLY` confirmation . At the GRAND MOOV I went on the internet-to the BOOKINHOTEL site, and searched again for the GRAND MOOV HOTEL. Again, their site said BREAKFAST INCLUDED for the hotel, I made a printout of the page and I rang BOOKINHOTELS from DUBAI to try and sort the mess out, but the man I spoke to said that the GRAND MOOV didnt include breakfast on their site. I told him that I had a page print from their site, stating that it was included and thet I would fax it to him. This I did,and I then waited for his return phone call (10 MINS HE SAID) One hour later I had to ring HIM back FROM OUR ROOM, HE SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE, AS I HAD ONLY BOOKED THE ROOM ONLY PRICE EVEN THOUGH HE AGREED THAT THE PRINT SAID BREAKFAST INCLUDED. SO... MY HOTEL COSTS SOARED AS I HAD TO PAY THE HOTEL FOR 3X BREAKFASTS PER DAY OVER THE 3DAYS. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME ,I WROTE TO BOOKINHOTELS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN,I ENCLOSED THE RECEIPTS THAT I HAD FOR THE 3DAYS BREAKFASTS ALSO RECEIPTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PHONE CALL COSTS TO THEM AND FOR THE FAX AND INTERNET USE IN TRYING TO SORT THE PROBLEM OUT. I SAID THE I WANTED RECOMPENSING FOR MY EXTRA COSTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A REPLY FROM THEM. IN CONCLUSION, DONT BELIEVE WHAT THE BOOKINHOTELS SITE SAYS ABOUT `BREAKFAST INCLUDED`. YOU PAY FOR THEM ON THE SITE BUT BOOKINHOTELS DONT PAY THE HOTEL FOR THEM.

Used bookinhotel.com for a Ventura hotel this morning, then got leary when confirmation email said credit card was being processed in Istanbul. Furthermore, I got a very cheap rate on a room for 4 when the hotel website & other travel websites said there were no rooms available. After reading some complaints, I got real nervous, so I called the hotel direct.

Prepared for a problem, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel confirmed my reservation & all was good. They gave me their own confirmation # & I expect no problems.

So, it appears bookinhotel.com is a legitimate travel site that got me a room that was unavailable through other sites, including the hotel, at the cheapest price on the Internet (I do very thorough research for the best price). Maybe others with problems was with the hotel, not the travel agent.

I used them to book a hotel in Tokyo, yes my card was processed in Istanbul, but had no problems, I asked a couple of questions before I booked via email and they were replied to quickly. The only thing to watch out for is that the prices change throughout the day, I'm in the UK and the prices got cheaper after midnight!

Bookinhotels.com is a legit site and is based in Istanbul, I work in the Travel industry and I know them very well. the way they work is that their booking engine is connected to various wholesalers who holds what we call an "allotment contract" with the hotels, so sometimes the hotel itself do not have rooms available however they still have those "allotment Rooms" that they put aside for these wholesalers that guarantee them business year around that's why the prices are so much cheaper that what other sites.

that why if you call the hotel and ask them about a booking you did with www.bookinghotels.com they wouldn't know who are talking about because the contract is with hotel is hold by the wholesalers like: Tourico Holidays, GTA, Hotel Beds, AlliedTpro, Travco, Miki... you probably never hear of these names but these are the people behind the scene that negotiates the deals with the hotel and sell them to their clients like: bookinhotels.com, gtahotels.com, lastminutetravel.com, easyclicktravel.com, budgethotels.com, bookit.com...

I hope this will clear some of the fog you guys had.

Cheers Travel B2B

Interesting. I have just booked two nights at a hotel in Bournmouth and felt EXACTLY the same when I saw the Istanbul credit card debit information. I'm taking the family so we will be well stuffed if there is a problem. bookinhotels have a great site but the emails and telephone calls just make it feel very dodgy.

I spoke to the hotel in Bournmouth today and they have not record of the booking at all. Thought we were stuffed until I read Travel B2B excellent explanation which makes it very clear what is going on.

All we can do is keep fingers crossed and not lose to much sleep over it. After all, this is where credit card booking come in handy, we can always get a full refund via the credit card company.

I'll report back for completeness, but many thanks to the original poster and some of the great answers (particularly Mr Travel B2B. Oh and the fantastic google search engine ;-)

Thanks

Craig

Just so say the hotel has confirmed the booking now and say it is through Gullivers Travels - work that one out.....anyway, thought I'd post in case I forget, will let you know if booking goes well.

Just a tip. The danger of the internet is people generally report the bad stuff and you get heaps of negative reviews.

Lets just say you get back from a wonderfull two week holiday - do you turn your PC on to write a review, or crack open a nice bottle of vino and reminisce?

Now lets say you get back from a nightmare two week holiday. Fed up, broke and ripped off. Do you turn on your PC the next morning and make sure everyone knows how crap that company are.....sure you do....

People rarely report the good stuff in my most humble opinion, and often use the internet as some kind of therapy.

Happy holidays

Craig