An informal survey of travel auction Web sites by Australia’s Sun-Herald has found the sites yield dramatically varied results, including excellent bargains, mediocre deals — and a few nasty traps.
The results reflect the experiences of American travelers, who for the better part of the last decade have been bidding for travel on a variety of so-called “opaque” Web sites such as Hotwire and Priceline.
According to the Australian survey, travelers are attracted to such sites by the promise of a bargain: the potential to either spend less or get a more luxurious holiday for their money. But it advises travelers to check the bid against published rates.
Many prices found on auction Web sites turned out to be the same or similar to those available through other sources, including booking directly with the hotels. What were being held up as cheap auction prices were, in fact, standard low-season rates or routine promotional offers from the hotels.
There are other traps. One offer on a popular auction site looked like a great deal but had a condition that the buyer must attend a “presentation” during their vacation. Such presentations usually prove to be pressure-selling sessions and should be avoided, according to the report.
The lesson? Look before you book.
And if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
