Visit_Thailand - 10:57 am on Apr 14, 2006 (gmt 0)

anax wrote

I've read that the common travel sites that regular folks like me would visit (t----city, etc.) will take note of your visit in a cookie, and if you check back the next day the prices will have been raised because now you're regarded as an easy mark. Does anyone know for a fact whether this is so?

I would very much doubt it. They have nothing to gain, and hotels can change their rates as often as they see fit. But of course such a rumour may perhaps be something that the sites may not readily kill off as it could very well make many visitors book first time.

Fact is that the hotel industry is fast adopting serious yield management strategies and most major sites get their rates from GDS.

Because of that you can very easily see an hotel's rates and visit the next day to see different rates - either more expensive or cheaper.

Many global chains also only work with certain websites or GDS partnered sites etc. and many claim lowest rate guarantees etc.

The problem is mainly caused by wholesalers who in a way affiliate their contracted rates which are supposed to be part of a package (ie not visible to consumers) to third party websites. This is a serious problem for hotels and something which is quite difficult to defeat.

JLSeagull wrote

I wonder if FareChase offers the right pricing. I am from India and our inter-city air-fares are listed at 10-times the normal ticket price available right within India.

Visit most of the major travel websites and many that are not based in Asia offer ridiculous fares for travel within Asia.

They will catch up.