| Cheap Travel Network : Hotels FAQ |
Making a
Reservation
How do I
reserve my hotel room?
Our reservation process is very
simple. After you fill in the fields marked in bold on
the Search Form, click the Browse All Hotels button or the
Search Available Hotels button. A list of hotels will appear
on the left side of the screen. For more information, click the
hotel's name or the Info button below the name. When you
select your hotel click the Prices and Availability button to
see if the hotel is available on your dates, and what rate types are
available.
- After room
types and rates are returned to your screen, you will be able to
choose the rate you desire by reading the room information in the
center of the screen, then clicking on the "Book It" button on the
right side of the screen.
- After you
have selected your desired room type, you will be taken to a
"Travelnow Secure Reservation Request" form. Then you will need to
review the "Reservation Information" and fill in the blanks on the
"Customer Information" section. Be sure your name and email
address are spelled correctly.
- The "Special
Requests" part of the "Customer Information" section will allow
you to request special amenities or other specific needs from the
hotel. If you select "Send request directly to hotel," your
request will be forwarded directly to the hotel. The hotel
WILL NOT respond to the request, but it will appear on your
reservation. If you select "Send request to Travel Agent, "
your request will be forwarded to a Travelnow travel specialist
prior to making this reservation with the hotel. If further
correspondence is necessary prior to confirming the reservation, a
travel specialist will reply back to you via email within 24
hours.
- After you
fill out all of the needed information, press the "Submit
Reservation" button. [top
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When do I
have to include my credit card number?
In some cases
you will be required to submit a credit card number at the time of
booking. The majority of the hotels will not hold rooms without a
credit card number. Your credit card will not be charged until you
check out of the hotel unless the type of room you selected states
that a deposit is required. We recommend using a credit card to
guarantee your reservation. [top
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Is it
safe to use my credit card?
Yes. Travelnow takes
this matter very seriously. To ensure your security, Travelnow
utilizes Netscape's secure commerce server which encrypts the credit
card number and encodes it into a non-usable form. [top
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What
credit card types are accepted for
guarantee/deposit?
The card types accepted for
guarantee/deposit will be listed in the Info section of the hotel
description. [top
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My credit
card number is correct, but the hotel is not accepting it.
Why?
There are a few possibilities:
- Your card
type is not accepted at the hotel.
- The card
expiration date precedes the reservation date.
- You have
reached your credit limit.
- There is a
computer error. [top
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What is
the cost for using Travelnow's service?
There is NO
CHARGE or service fee to use Travelnow's hotel reservation service
or search engine. [top
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Are taxes
included in the rate?
Taxes and miscellaneous charges
are NOT included in the room rate. The tax rate at the hotel is
listed in the Info section of the hotel description. [top
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Can I
specify where I would like my room located (preferred floor, next to
pool, etc.)?
The hotel staff will do their best to
accommodate special requests. We cannot guarantee room location
because it is subject to availability. [top
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Is the
room rate per person or per night?
The quoted room
rate is per room per night. The rate will reflect the number of
persons you entered on the Search Form. It is for one person if you
selected one person and it's for two people if you selected two
people. [top
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What
about the special discounts?
Most of the participating
hotels offer "Special Internet Rates" or "Featured Rates" to our
users. These rates offer substantial savings but are subject to
availability and may carry certain restrictions. In general, quoted
rates do not include taxes and may vary due to seasonal changes or
special events. Due to the nature of the hotel industry, rates and
applicable discounts are constantly changing. [top
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I should
receive a discounted rate. How do I get this?
The
rates displayed are the only rates available to Travelnow for
reservations. These rates may include government, corporate, or
senior discounts. If a rate is marked "ID REQ," you may
need special documentation at check-in to confirm you are qualified
to receive that rate. [top
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Is there
a waiting list for sold out hotels?
In certain
instances, Travelnow can make reservations at sold out hotels. Often
hotels identified as "Special Internet Rates" or "Featured Rates"
are providing sold out availability. If you want to be placed
on a waiting list, you will need to contact the hotel directly. [top
of page] Confirming a Reservation
When I
submit my reservation, where does my request go?
All
reservation requests will result in a new screen showing an
Itinerary Number which should be kept and used with any future
correspondence with Travelnow. Additionally, all reservations will
be followed up within 24 hours with an email using the same
Itinerary Number and, if available, a confirmation number.
Some hotels do not confirm reservations immediately (most foreign
and some domestic). In this case, the email you receive from
Travelnow will not contain a confirmation number; however it will
contain an Itinerary Number. Your reservation IS NOT confirmed
until you receive a confirmation number from us. When we receive the
confirmation number, it will be emailed to you. [top
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How long
will it take Travelnow to respond to my reservation
request?
All reservation requests will result in a new
screen showing an Itinerary Number which should be kept and used
with any future correspondence with Travelnow. Additionally, all
reservations will be followed up with an email within 24 hours using
the same Itinerary Number and, if available, a confirmation
number. [top
of page]
How do I
check on my request for a hotel?
All reservation
requests will result in a new screen showing an Itinerary Number
which should be kept and used with any future correspondence with
Travelnow. Additionally, all reservations will be followed up with
an email within 24 hours using the same Itinerary Number and, if
available, a confirmation number. Always feel free to contact us with any inquiries
regarding your request. For fastest service, please include your
"Itinerary Number" which you will receive after you submit your
booking. [top
of page]
I don't
have 24 hours to wait for a confirmation. What can I
do?
Typically, all hotel reservations are made in real
time and your confirmation should only take a few seconds. However,
there can be delays. In this case, you will receive an email from us
without a confirmation number. When we receive the confirmation
number from the hotel, it will be emailed to you. If there is a
special request or rate change associated with your reservation, the
request will be sent to a Travelnow agent for processing. While we
ask for your patience for 24 hours, it usually doesn't take that
long. If you cannot wait, you may need to contact the hotel
directly. [top
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When will my reservation be at the hotel?
- Special
Internet Rates or Featured Rates:
As these rooms are
booked through a consolidator, your name will not appear at the
hotel until 72 hours before your arrival date. Rest assured, the
room is booked; however, the hotel just does not know that you
will be the person staying in it.
- Standard
Travelnow reservations identified as "Additional Rates":
It
takes a minimum of 24 hours before your reservation details reach
the hotel computer system. Rest assured, the room is booked;
however, the hotel simply has not entered your details into their
system yet. [top
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Once I
have made my reservation, will I receive any written confirmation
from the hotel?
No. The email confirmation you receive
from Travelnow is all you will need. It displays your Travelnow
Itinerary Number, the hotel information, the rate, confirmation
number, and the hotel's cancellation policy. [top
of page] Canceling a Reservation
What is the
cancellation policy on my reservation?
When you are
completing the Travelnow Secure Hotel Reservation Form, the
Cancellation Policy will be provided in red. You can also read the hotel
description to determine the cancellation policy of your hotel.
These policies will vary, so you must read each one carefully.
The standard increments are you must cancel the room(s) by 4 or 6
PM, or 24, 48, or 72 hours prior to your specified arrival. If you
cancel before this, generally you will not be charged a penalty.
Canceling after this period will result in a cancellation penalty
fee. Special sold out availability reservations, identified as
"Special Internet Rates" or "Featured Rates," will apply a $50.00
cancellation fee regardless of the timeframe of
cancellation. [top
of page] Miscellaneous
I'm
looking for a hotel in Los Angeles. Can you help
me?
Our reservation agents are unable to do individual
searches for clients due to our high volume of reservations. Use the
Hotel Search Form to identify availability and rates at over 30,000
hotels around the world. [top
of page]
Is there
a hotel shuttle service to/from the airport?
Many hotels
offer shuttle service to and from the airport. This may be listed in
the Info section of the hotel listing. There may be a charge by the
hotel for this service. [top
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Is
parking available? Free parking? Long-term
parking?
Most hotels offer free parking to their
guests. Long-term parking is offered at the discretion of the hotel
(often in conjunction with park and fly rates). This may be listed
in the Info section of the hotel description. [top
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What if
there will be more than two adults in the room?
Most
hotels allow additional adults to stay in the rooms, at a charge
(usually between $5.00-$20.00 per person). Some hotels have a limit
on how many people can stay in a room. This may be listed in the
Info section of the hotel description. [top
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Our
children will be with us... do they stay free?
Usually
children under 12 years of age stay for free in their parent's room
using the existing bedding. The age requirement differs depending on
the hotel's policy. This may be listed in the Info section of the
hotel description. [top
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Are
rollaway beds/cribs available?
Most hotels offer
rollaway beds and cribs (typically at a charge- $5.00-$20.00 each).
Some hotels have restrictions on what room types will allow rollaway
beds. This may be listed in the Info section of the hotel
description. You can request these items in the Special Requests
section of the Reservation Request Form. [top
of page]
What are
the directions to the hotel?
The location information
of the hotel is sometimes listed in the Info section of the hotel
description. This can identify the distance from the hotel to
certain landmarks or the airport. [top
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Is
breakfast included?
Many hotels offer free breakfast.
Often this is a continental breakfast or sometimes just coffee and
donuts. This should be listed in the Info section of the hotel
description. [top
of page]
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