www.CostaRicaTicas.com

is it better to book directly through the TAORMINA or go through Expedia? any horror stories with using your card to book directly out the country?

No difference. When booking months in advance, the dates may not be available on the Taormina website. But the dates are available on Booking.com & Expedia. Their rates/rooms may be different due to promotions. For my trips, I usually end up with Booking.com.

On my last trip, the Taormina rates when finally posted where only $4 less on a week stay. And the room you want may not be available.

No horror stories, Taormina is a professionally run hotel. Use only a CC with no foreign transactions fee even when paying in USD. I made this mistake once & the bank charged $20.

I just booked and ended up going through the Taormina directly. I always book for two people just so I don't get crap from the front desk for having a guest. It usually doesn't make a difference in price unless breakfast is included.

On Agoda and Booking (same company I believe) all of the refundable rates included breakfast. When I selected two guests it really jacked up the rate. I booked the King Deluxe on the Taormina site for 2 guests and it was $90 plus tax. They didn't have any of the larger King rooms available.

Another issue is that they do not take Amex.

Booking a room with a guest (+$10 day) may or may not work in avoiding the chica fee. In my case, it didn't work.

I was told the guest had to be registered with you & booking a room with an unnamed guest does not give you unlimited free guests.

In Nov 22, there were two guest fees. $12 for under four hours from registering. $22 for over four hours. So, your chica may cost you an extra $10 if she delays getting her cedula.

It does NOT work. You book for two, you still have to pay the guest fee unless she checks in with you. But I have been in hotels where you could not bring ANYONE up to the room, guest fee or not if the room isn't booked for two people. They state that the maximum occupancy of the room is ONE person since you booked it that way.

I am not saying the Taormina will pull this sh#t but it has happened to me in Asia when I made a mistake of only booking for one. And on their site, booking for one or two was the same price since it doesn't include breakfast.

How is it if you book frim Seoul?

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Always better to book direct with a merchant, more control when problems arise.

I had an issue when I booked a flight through a third party website and when i went to check in at the airport, i was told that my flight had been canceled by that website (and by me apparently).

I stayed at Taormina 1 night over the summer and I had a guest and wasn't charged any guest fee. I did register the chica in at the desk.

I agree that you should always book flights directly through the airline. Too many horror stories dealing with a third party booking, e.g., Covid, cancellations, Southwest meltdown. Basically you're out of luck when you call an airline about a third party booking, they refer you back to the third party which may not have the same cancellation benefits.

On hotels, I somewhat agree. I have not had a problem yet with Booking.com & Expedia when booking in advance. But I always check booking directly with the hotel & again if it is near my reservation date. The hotel's rates might not be posted for the dates you want or their rates may be cheaper when posted or the hotel rooms previously listed on third party sites are not available.