I had a similar thing happen to me when I booked my accommodation in Saint Petersburg. They did say that they'll refund it if I had to cancel, but I guess they just want to be sure that people aren't are booking legitimately and aren't booking there for shits and giggles.
Well, I'm a bit worried about acommodations. So far nobody repplied my questions at VRBO, I almost haven't found anything decent at airbnb and hotel prices still prohibitives. I planned to stay for a month in Russia, but as far as the time goes by, I'm getting upset by these prices and no answers... =/ How you guys are dealing with that? Are you still waiting for low prices or already make all reservations?
I posted this in a TripAdvisor forum, but I'll post it here as well... One of the places I booked in Kaliningrad on Booking.com in June canceled the reservation two days ago and asked if I would be willing to pay 3x the price. I ended up taking it, as it was still significantly cheaper than other spots. Right next to FanFest... A suggestion if you're willing to "play" the Booking.com game: Book multiple "pay later/free cancellation" rooms to hedge your bet against a property canceling on you last minute. It's certainly not the most ethical approach, but it will definitely make things easier on you if a property cancels a reservation in April or May. It's also worth noting that I've only booked what appear to be privately-owned apartments. I would imagine that you'll have more luck with actual hotels. We're traveling as a group of four though, and it's not cost-efficient for us to book two separate hotel rooms.
IOW, the hotel probably realized that they shouldn't give free cancellation at a time when demand is likely to be sky high. But thanks for the heads-up. I will keep an eye out for similar emails (especially since I'm currently booked in 2 different hotels for the same nights in St. Petersburg. FYI in Cape Town in 2010 something similar happened except suddenly about 3-4 months before the World Cup they said I had to pay the whole thing up-front. And my reservation was for 16 nights so that was a lot! But whatever, had to pay it. By then all the other good hotels were sold out.
I had a hotel up in a Favela in Rio,cost an arm and a leg,room was damp and nothing like the photos,booked it 11 months before the tournament started,gunfire outside our bedroom every night,crazy!!
Exactly what I do, if a "superhost" cancels they lose superhost status for a year. It's not much but it's something.
I've found Moscow in particular to be an absolute shit show. You're either looking at super ridiculous prices (2K/night +) or at "value" hostels/hotels that haven't been updated since the Lenin era. I booked an AirBnB with a "superhost" and am waiting for the hotel chains to release affordable rooms next year so that I can hedge my bets against cancellation. The things we do for football ...
Yes, that it the problem. I don't know the importance of the "superhost" title, but I'll look for the ones that have it. Still looking for decent prices and waiting answers to the questions that I send through VRBO...
I'm happy I booked early thru booking.com and got a well rated place (8.7/10) in a great location at an OK price of US$200 a night. But I tried to extend 2 nights now that I know my schedule and it's sold out the extra 2 nights. I'm seeing that other available dates later in June are selling in the US$350 range so I'm a bit afraid they realized they can get a lot more and may cancel my reservation as I've heard was done to others. Browsing other Moscow hotels, I'm seeing prices at 3-4x normal rates during the tournament (comparing late May to June). My feeling is that this is an initial cash grab by the hoteliers and I'm hoping that there is enough supply that the prices will drop as they find out people won't pay these prices. But that probably won't happen for awhile.
That's really good to know thanks. Might need to book one more place later on (depending on the draw, my travelling group and getting tickets). I have booked and paid for the accommodation for Kaliningrad and Moscow group stage and five nights in Saint Petersburg around the Semi-Final (and flight home).
Booked a hotel in a great location on Nevsky Prospekt in St Petersburg,$US100 a night,basic but will do for me,won't be in the room much anyway. Booked 4 months ago via Booking.Com.
From my understanding the nearness to the centre is probably as important as anything. In don't think the various areas are as important as say Rio.
Oi, estou mesmo que vc. I'm in the same boat. have something booked through booking.com as a worse case scenario but everything is prohibited in prices and contacting via the usual sites has resulted in no replies or extreme gouging.
I used booking.com (paid for two places but have another three on hold in different cities depending on the draw.) If you can't find the perfect place, another site to look at is: ostrovok.ru
@themanlarry thanks for the site. I'm going with my family so that complicates things a bit because if it were just me it wouldn't matter much. I'm sure is the same for a lot of people.
I like to stay in hostels, and I can see that some of them didn't change the prices for the world cup period, yet - what is a bit strange. So I just booked a hostel in Moscow for about 12 USD a night, located between city center and Luzhniki Stadium. But I'm really worried that they will cancel the booking to adjust the prices.
I forgot to say here, but I rented an apartment through airbnb. I choosed a superhost that can make my registration when I arrive in Moscow. They charged me a little more than the normal price, but it was less than a hotel or even a hostel with 4 beds per room. So finally I have a "home" at Russia! =)
I am in the same boat. I have sent about 8 inquiries through VRBO but I am not getting any responses back. I'm guessing that some owners are possibly playing hard to get at this point. Maybe they are trying to gauge demand and then maybe adjust their prices accordingly. I did end up booking a 1 bed apt through booking.com and was also asked for a deposit but I am not able to make the payment for some reason.
I ended up booking via booking. com for a place that was "cancelation not possible" but not payment has been done. so... I don't know. I got 2 on hold just in case because is best to be a bit paranoid than not have a place to stay for weeks. Tried the airbnb and turnkey or whatever the site is but most didn't reply and the couple that replied wanted 3x or 4x more. I desisted.
Not sure quite what the obsession with Booking.com is. Go direct whereever possible - least then you have a point of contact as well. Booking.com isn't the best at customer service, especially if its last minute etc
I believe that the chances of getting in trouble is more or less equal for Booking.com and Direct contact with the hotel. All possible issues goes from The Hotel in the first place, Booking.com customer service can't do much about that. At least you can check the reputation of the place before placing your order.
Very true. Booking.com just have stuff listed now and before that weren't available in other things and is all in English and you don't have to decipher stuff which is good for the lazy and insecure. Just an opinion.