Going, going, gone. eBay launches hotel auctions
Auction-style website eBay has teamed up with an online travel agent to offer hotel rooms for the first time from as little as 99p per night.
Deals available this week include Valentine's night at the Paris Disneyland Radisson Blu Hotel, three nights in Florence at the Embassy Hotel, and half-term at the Ca'San Polo in Venice.
All the offers, available from both global hotel chains and independent properties, are being put up for auction by online hotel booking agent Octopus Travel.
A spokesman for eBay said the auction-style website planned to expand its choice of travel products later in the year.
On the Octopus-branded page of the eBay website, visitors can search for accommodation by date and location.
A spokesman for Octopus admitted the company might lose money on some sales through eBay, but it says it is worth taking a hit on some sales in order to increase its online presence.
Ebay claims it will have more than 50,000 hotel rooms on its website, either available for auction or for its Buy Now option.
While there will undoubtedly be some bargains amongst them, visitors should make sure they know what they are bidding for.
Elsewhere on the eBay website, on pages not linked to Octopus Travel, users may believe they are bidding for accommodation when in fact they are bidding only for a booking form that entitles them to discounted rooms.
Most of the accommodation is available only for specified dates and there may be special terms and conditions, such as a requirement to take meals in the hotel, which bidders should check out before making an offer.
Print this page | Send this article
Related Travel
- 09/03/2010 -
Flights to Chile resume but Foreign Office travel ban remains
Flights to Chile have resumed following last week's devastating earthquake, but the Foreign Office is still advising tourists to steer clear of parts of the country worst hit by the quake.
- 09/03/2010 -
No frills hotels to open in London
You've heard of no frills airlines, well now no frills hotels that charge guests for 'extras' such as clean towels and air-conditioning will be opening up across London.
- 08/03/2010 -
British Airways strike set to be announced on Tuesday
British Airways has until tomorrow (Tuesday) to reach a deal over staffing levels, pay and working conditions or its disgruntled cabin crew will announce strike action.
- 05/03/2010 -
Tickets on sale for World Cup in New Zealand
With all the fuss surrounding the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this year it's easy to overlook the fact that there's another sport in which England have been far more successful in recent history - rugby.
- 05/03/2010 -
Holiday company collapses
A long-established tour operator specialising in holidays to Scandinavia has become the latest victim of the credit-crunch.
- 04/03/2010 -
Cruises cancelled following crash
Costa Cruises has been forced to cancel its last two sailings onboard its ship the Costa Europa after the vessel crashed into a port in Egypt, killing three crew members and injuring at least three British passengers.
- 04/03/2010 -
ABTA calls on Europe to protect all airline passengers
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is calling for a compulsory financial protection scheme for all air passengers travelling within Europe.
- 03/03/2010 -
Tragedy strikes Red Sea cruise
Three British cruise passengers were injured and three members of crew were killed when a ship sailing the Red Sea crashed into a pier.
- 02/03/2010 -
Travel insurance gives better protection for winter sports than a woolly hat
London Mayor Boris Johnson has reignited the debate about whether winter sports enthusiasts should wear helmets after writing in the Daily Telegraph that he refuses to wear anything on his head but a woolly hat.
<< back to latest insurance news