Agoda Payments.

[TsukiSG]

it is getting very annoying using Agoda

i searched and the amount is in SGD throughout

selected "Pay later option" (not pay at property), but after confirmation, the Amount show in USD Equivalent !!

another earlier booking, same property, the Amount was showing JPY Equivalent (a Japanese hotel)

it says my CC will be charged on 23 Oct 22 in USD, at the USD FX rate at that time !

while 1st booking on this property is to be charged in SGD (also Pay Nothing until X date option)

i think it depends on how I was directed/re-directed onto Agoda

Is your card support both USD and SGD? Then after keying in your credit card number there should be an option 'Charge me in' for you to select SGD or USD.

Or you can check bottom-right corner after keying in your credit card number, there should be something like

You chose a future price: payment by you in SGD will be due on November 12, 2022; On that date, a SGD amount will be calculated from (HOTEL_LOCAL_CURRENCY) and charged to you, subject to these terms affecting your price.​

By the way, generally speaking you should never let Agoda do currency conversion when using pay later option, unless you don't mind paying additional 5% to Agoda.

 

[oceanicmanta]

After keying in your credit card number, what are the options for currencies? And have you selected SGD?

By the way, generally speaking you should never let Agoda do currency conversion when using pay later option, unless you don't mind paying additional 5% to Agoda.

my Base currency is SGD (top right corner of page)

at payment page, there is no option to select Currency, but Yes, by default, it was showing SGD throughout

now I see there is a note below the SGD Amount

"You chose a future price: payment by you in SGD will be due on October 24, 2022; On that date, a SGD amount will be calculated from ¥27,953 and charged to you, subject to these terms affecting your price."

 

[TsukiSG]

my Base currency is SGD (top right corner of page)

at payment page, there is no option to select Currency, but Yes, by default, it was showing SGD throughout

now I see there is a note below the SGD Amount

"You chose a future price: payment by you in SGD will be due on October 24, 2022; On that date, a SGD amount will be calculated from ¥27,953 and charged to you, subject to these terms affecting your price."

Yes. Because you choose pay later, so SGD amount you need to pay cannot be determined now. That's the reason why after submit the booking you can no longer see SGD amount.

The amount charging to your card will be converted to SGD using Agoda JPY-SGD rate (the rate used when you change display currency) on payment date plus 5% fee.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Yes. Because you choose pay later, so SGD amount you need to pay cannot be determined now. That's the reason why after submit the booking you can no longer see SGD amount.

The amount charging to your card will be converted to SGD using Agoda JPY-SGD rate (the rate used when you change display currency) on payment date plus 5% fee.

Is it Correct that the SGD amount shown at the booking page already included this "5% fee" ?

eg) my booking was SGD 278 based on JPY 27,953 (ie SGD 1 to JPY 100.55) while the Spot Rate is about JPY 104

if so, it may be better to Pay At Hotel using a "no fee" CC such as Trust, YouTrip or Revolut, if that option is available ?

 

[TsukiSG]

Is it Correct that the SGD amount already included this "5% fee" ?

eg) my booking was SGD 278 based on JPY 27,953 (ie SGD 1 to JPY 100.55) while the Spot Rate is about JPY 104

if so, it may be better to Pay At Hotel using a "no fee" CC such as Trust, YouTrip or Revolut, if that option is available ?

No, the SGD amount showing on webpage does not include 5% fee.

For example, on the payment date, you display the webpage in JPY and price is 27,953, then display the webpage in SGD and price is 278.00, then for a pay later booking done previously, it will be charged SGD 278.00 * 1.05 = SGD 291.90. And from previous discussion, the transaction may take place in Hong Kong if you use MasterCard, which may incur another 1% oversea transaction fee imposed by your bank.

For payment handled by Agoda, exchange rate works like this:

1. If you select SGD as display currency
   1. If you choose pay now: What you see is what you pay [1].
   2. If you choose pay later: You will pay using payment date Agoda exchange rate [2] plus 5% DCC fee [3].
2. If you select foreign currency as display currency
   1. If you choose pay now
      1. After key-in your card number, if you select pay in SGD: You will pay using current Agoda exchange rate [2] plus 5% DCC fee [3].
      2. After key-in your card number, if you select pay in foreign currency: What you see is what you pay [1].
   2. If you choose pay later
      1. After key-in your card number, if you select pay in SGD: You will pay using payment date Agoda exchange rate [2] plus 5% DCC fee [3].
      2. After key-in your card number, if you select pay in foreign currency: What you see is what you pay [1].

[1] Exculding fees charged by bank. Credit cards issued by Singapore banks usually have 2.5%-3.5% foreign currency transaction fee or 1% oversea SGD transaction fee, but some cards can get this fee waived.
[2] Agoda exchange rate is the rate used when toggle between currencies on Agoda website. It is usally better than bank rate.
[3] Agoda does mentioned this fee in a very secret place: https://www.agoda.com/info/termsofuse.html.


In conclusion:

1. If you want to pay now in SGD: Display the price in SGD and choose pay now.
2. If you want to pay now or pay later in foreign currency: Display the price in foreign currency and choose pay now or pay later, and select pay in foreign currency after key-in your card number.
3. If you want to pay later in SGD: Display the price in SGD and choose pay later. In this case you must pay 5% more to Agoda.

Actually pay later in non hotel local currency is quite nonsense, because if you pay later in hotel local currency, most credit card only charge 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee, less then Agoda 5%.

For me, I always pay now in SGD using Visa, and usually what you see is what you pay. If the exchange rate drops, you can cancel and rebook. If must pay later, maybe consider pay in hotel local currency and use some no fee cards or cards that can give you positive cashback (e.g. DBS Visa Debit, ICBC Global Travel, YouTrip, etc.).

I'll never select pay at hotel also, because in that case you cannot use any promos (bank promo or promo codes), which I think it's the only advantage of using Agoda. (Their service really sucks.) This month most banks is giving 18% discount (except UOB), do check your bank's website for the link.

 

[oceanicmanta]

No, the SGD amount showing on webpage does not include 5% fee.

For example, on the payment date, you display the webpage in JPY and price is 27,953, then display the webpage in SGD and price is 278.00, then for a pay later booking done previously, it will be charged SGD 278.00 * 1.05 = SGD 291.90. And from previous discussion, the transaction may take place in Hong Kong if you use MasterCard, which may incur another 1% oversea transaction fee imposed by your bank.



Actually pay later in non hotel local currency is quite nonsense, because if you pay later in hotel local currency, most credit card only charge 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee, less then Agoda 5%.

For me, I always pay now in SGD using Visa, and usually what you see is what you pay. If the exchange rate drops, you can cancel and rebook. If must pay later, maybe consider pay in hotel local currency and use some no fee cards or cards that can give you positive cashback (e.g. DBS Visa Debit, ICBC Global Travel, YouTrip, etc.).

I'll never select pay at hotel also, because in that case you cannot use any promos (bank promo or promo codes), which I think it's the only advantage of using Agoda. (Their service really sucks.) This month most banks is giving 18% discount (except UOB), do check your bank's website for the link.

thanks !

I tried using Trust Bank, supposed to have 18% .. but I think Agoda system does not calculate the discount properly ... Amount of $130, the discount given was only $0.58

 

[TsukiSG]

thanks !

I tried using Trust Bank, supposed to have 18% .. but I think Agoda system does not calculate the discount properly ... Amount of $130, the discount given was only $0.58

Shouldn't like that. Maybe your hotel is not eligible?

If eligible, it will show this line in property details page:

Save an additional SGD X using your C_TrustSG eligible card​

and these in price summary after keying in your card number:

C_TrustSG 18% -SGD X​

Room price (1 room x 1 night) SGD X​

Taxes and fees SGD X​

Booking fees FREE​

 

[oceanicmanta]

Shouldn't like that. Maybe your hotel is not eligible?

If eligible, it will show this line in property details page:

Save an additional SGD X using your C_TrustSG eligible card​

and these in price summary after keying in your card number:

C_TrustSG 18% -SGD X​

Room price (1 room x 1 night) SGD X​

Taxes and fees SGD X​

Booking fees FREE​

yes .. it shows these details ... BUT

C_TrustSG 18% -SGD X .... X is just $0.58

"You saved $0.58"

 

[wongkc]

checking with AGODA guru here...

I have made my "Pay at Hotel" reservations and confirmation using my CC... but can i use my Youtrip card when i make payment at the hotel? Or do i need to cancel my reservations and book again?

 

[oceanicmanta]

checking with AGODA guru here...

I have made my "Pay at Hotel" reservations and confirmation using my CC... but can i use my Youtrip card when i make payment at the hotel? Or do i need to cancel my reservations and book again?

shld be able to ... just make sure Hotel charges u in JPY (not in SGD)

I see that if I take the Pay At Hotel option, I get both Agoda Cash (with short expiry) and CashBack to my CC at a later date ... quite substantial ..

 

[TsukiSG]

yes .. it shows these details ... BUT

C_TrustSG 18% -SGD X .... X is just $0.58

"You saved $0.58"

Maybe it's because now there is a limit time offer for this hotel so causing some bugs?

I don't have card BIN for Trust Bank so I tried with DBS, same. But looks like your total price is not correct? Even before promo $66 per night x2 should be around $132.

 

[oceanicmanta]

But looks like your total price is not correct? Even before promo $66 per night x2 should be around $132.

I chosed the Room with Breakfast option

Thanks for checking on your end too

 

[g_t2006]

checking with AGODA guru here...

I have made my "Pay at Hotel" reservations and confirmation using my CC... but can i use my Youtrip card when i make payment at the hotel? Or do i need to cancel my reservations and book again?

the cc is just to hold your reservation. in the event that you don't turn up, they will charge to that cc.

you can make payment in any form, cash or card. if you make payment by card, you can use any card, not necessarily the one you used to hold the reservation.

 

[oceanicmanta]

yes .. it shows these details ... BUT

C_TrustSG 18% -SGD X .... X is just $0.58

"You saved $0.58"

Agoda with OCBC/Trust Bank /DBS 18% discount promo is now working properly !

It was clearly a system issue. I had feedback to Agoda (FB, email, call) but they did not acknowledge anything, just reply that the promo only eligible on the correct sites .. I tried 2 days later and it worked

going to agoda.com.sg/ocbc gave me lowest rates after the 18% discount (although list price may be higher) for ALL except 1 hotel. (I dont think I can stack with ShopBack even with it Activated, and there is usually no Agoda Cash or CashBack to CC)

The 1 exception, I got lowest price going to TripAdvisor, input Location, view Hotel Map ... then select from the various booking options (without 18% discount, this is how I usually scan for best deals) ... I can stack with ShopBack 5.5% and also get some Agoda Cash + Cashback

I also used Agoda App .. only Trust 18% is there. On the App, they have time limited Promo ... I missed a very good as I was not aware it was time limited.

Agoda Cash is valid for a very short period only

Agoda CashBack will be available within 60 days after checkout, and have to request via Agoda App to be credited back to a CC of your choice

 

[endori]

Anybody has the same issue? I dunno why there is a charge of 1% (on top of price shown in agoda in sgd) when I used a particular credit but this does not happen for other credit cards used for agoda (charged exactly what is shown).

 

[oceanicmanta]

Anybody has the same issue? I dunno why there is a charge of 1% (on top of price shown in agoda in sgd) when I used a particular credit but this does not happen for other credit cards used for agoda (charged exactly what is shown).

someone reported earlier MasterCard got extra 1%

i used VISA for all my bookings, no extra 1%

 

[endori]

someone reported earlier MasterCard got extra 1%

i used VISA for all my bookings, no extra 1%

Ah I see. Yes, you are right. It happened to my booking using MC. The visa ones are not affected.

 

[Jeanrc]

shld be able to ... just make sure Hotel charges u in JPY (not in SGD)

I see that if I take the Pay At Hotel option, I get both Agoda Cash (with short expiry) and CashBack to my CC at a later date ... quite substantial ..

Anyone know or tried the agoda cashback pay at hotel before?
the cashback different for pay now can be $20+ lesser compare to pay at hotel for $200+ hotel booking payment.

 

[swordspirit]

Anyone know or tried the agoda cashback pay at hotel before?
the cashback different for pay now can be $20+ lesser compare to pay at hotel for $200+ hotel booking payment.

same pricing? normally paynow can avail to the 18% bank discount which should result in a lower price overall.

 

[Jeanrc]

same pricing? normally paynow can avail to the 18% bank discount which should result in a lower price overall.

Just about $3 more for pay at hotel