For our trip to Lucerne in March, we have decided to stay at the Grand Hotel National . It's the tail end of our trip, so we wanted to splurge a little.

Price checking showed the following, all for the same room type (deluxe, lake view with balcony):

441CHF/night - The hotel website
490CHF/night - direct email contact with hotel
390CHF/night - Travelocity

I've used Expedia extensively in the US. But have never used Travelocity locally or internationally.

Anyone have thoughts on using a broker for international tickets? The price is the best I've seen, by far.

Travelocity rate policies pasted below:

Extra person information

Extra person charges are $84.71 per person per night.
Cribs

This room type does not allow cribs.
Rollaway Beds

Rollaway bed charges are $84.71 per rollaway bed per night.
Main Policy

EXTRA CHILD - 100.00 CHF ROLLAWAY FOR CHILD - 0.00 CHF
RATES ARE GUARANTEED
CHILDREN STAY FREE -
PETS ALLOWED -
EXTENDED STAY OPTION AVAILABLE -
LONG STAY OPTION DIRECTLY AT THE GRAND HOTEL NATIONAL
AT REDUCED/DISCOUNTED RATE LONG STAY OPTION IN
NATIONAL RESIDENCES 25 6-8 ROOMS APARTMENTS
INTEGRATED INTO HOTEL
CORPORATE ID REQUIRED FOR CORPORATE BOOKINGS -
PROPERTY OFFERS COMMISSION - RATE OF COMMISSION
10 PCT
PROPERTY PARTICIPATES IN A CENTRALIZED COMMISSION PROGRAM
TRUSTCOM
ADDITIONAL COMMISSION PROGRAMS INFORMATION -
10 PERCENT ON ROOM RATE ONLY INCLUDING VAT NOT ON CITY
TAX EXCEPT WHEN NOTED NON-COMMISSIONABLE
1 NIGHT CHARGE FOR EARLY CHECK-OUT
OVER SOLD POLICY -
Cancellation Policy

BOOKING MUST BE CANCELLED 02-D PRIOR 12-00H LOCAL
TIME TO AVOID CHARGES
CXL PENALTY IS 1 NIGHTS
Guarantee Policy

ALL RESERVATIONS NEED A GUARANTEE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL BY
CREDIT CARD. DEPOSIT ACCEPTED FOR GUARANTEE.
AX, EC, VI, DC, CA
Deposit Policy
DEPOSITS TO BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE HOTEL, MONEY TRANSFERS ARE
WELCOME, 1 NIGHT ROOM CHARGE REQUIRED.

Room/Rate Code Policy

DELUXE ROOM/TWIN OR KING BED/30 SQM/
FIN DU SIECLE STYLE/BALCONY/LAKE VIEW
390.00 PER NIGHT STARTING 14MAR08 FOR 04 NIGHTS
1560.00 TOTAL FOR 4 NIGHTS
RATE INCLUDES SERVICE AND TAXES. BREAKFAST CHF 35.- P/PN AND
CITY TAX CHF 1.80 PP/PN NOT INCLUDED. FREE ENTRY TO INDOOR
SWIMMING POOL AND SAUNA. THANK YOU FOR BOOKING THE GRAND
HOTEL NATIONAL. 500 FREQUENT FLYER MILES INCLUDED.
EW EXCLUSIVE WORLDHOTELS
MASTER CHAIN CODE EW INCLUDES WW SR GV
CHECK OUT WORLDHOTELS BEST AVAILABLE RATE
WORLDHOTELS - BRINGING UNIQUE HOTELS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER
Tax Information

SALES INCL
1.80 CHF

Have you tried venere.com? You might find an even lower rate, say 350 CHF/room/night. I've used them, and they are very reliable.

Ann

I haven't used Travelocity, but have used numerous third-party booking agencies. Many times I have gotten significant discounts over what the hotel site offers directly. A couple times I asked the hotel to match, but they said they could not.

The main thing to worry about is whether the third party and the hotel communicate about the booking. So if you choose Travelocity, just email or call the hotel a few days later and confirm they have your reservation.

I went to the hotel's website. For March the rooms run from 216chf-495chf per night. The most expensive is a suite with a lake view at 495chf but the next most expensive is 352chf. I did not see any 441chf (unless that includes taxes, etc). There is a very good possiblity I am not using your criteria though.

There are a very limited (4) rooms available at this price each day, some are already gone.

http://www.national-luzern.ch/SiteGHN.html then click on English (upper right corner), then click Reservations. Enter the dates and the rates show up.

A shocker - 35chf (I think around $45) for breakfast? Wow.


Hope this helps.