During the summer holiday season, many people choose to make reservations online because it saves time and provides a convenient view of the available accommodation benefits. However, an ever-increasing number of consumer disputes have arisen, and the Executive Yuan's Department of Consumer Protection (hereafter referred to as the DCP) has collected the various reasons for these consumer disputes in order to remind people that they should carefully scrutinize the terms regarding free cancellations as well as regulations regarding refunds and other related matters prior to using international reservation websites. People should also confirm in advance whether or not they will be able to stay in the accommodations. Moreover, consumers should not fail to be careful about any additional foreign credit card fees associated with paying international reservation websites with their credit cards.

The DCP has stated that the primary reasons for collecting consumer disputes that stem from international reservation websites are as follows:

1. A consumer has successfully made a reservation, but the hotel claims that it never received the reservation date information to begin a stay at the accommodation from the international reservation website (no booking record), so the consumer cannot stay there.

2. A consumer makes a mistake in filling out mailing information when making the reservation, despite the mistake the international reservation website still accepts the reservation as successful. However, due to the mailing mistake, the consumer is unable to verify the booking via the webpage, and their credit card has still been charged.

3. The international reservation website has already charged the credit card, but when the consumer goes to stay at the hotel, the hotel claims that it has not received payment and charges the consumer for the accommodation fee.

4. The international reservation website informs the consumer that due to an error in the pricing, the booking has been automatically cancelled.

5. The consumer has exceeded the "free of charge cancelation" deadline and yet is still charged when the booking is cancelled.

In regard to international reservation website regulations, currently each website has different ones. Taking pricing as an example, the rates on the Agoda webpage do not include taxes and service charges (although an APP can be downloaded that allows you to enable a "tax included" mode). On the other hand, Bookings.com's pricing does include a tax fee. In addition, the booking cancelation stipulations of each site are different. Prior to making a reservation, people should first carefully read over the free-of-charge cancellation clauses, refund information and any other relevant provisions, and pay attention to the following items:

1. When choosing a payment plan, carefully check whether the type of hotel room under consideration provides a "free cancellation" time period. Make good use of it within that time frame, and give serious consideration as to whether or not you plan to check in on the date reserved.

2. Cancellation conditions may vary for different room types in the same hotel. Before making a reservation, you should carefully confirm the information displayed on the webpage.

3. When paying with a credit card via an international reservation website, it is possible that there will be an additional fee charged to your credit card whether it is for a domestic or an international hotel stay.

4. There are some hotels and types of hotel rooms that take credit card payment on the day of arrival and do not charge for your hotel stay through an international reservation website payment system. This allows you to avoid circumstances under which your credit card is charged with a foreign service fee.

5. International online reservation websites often offer discounted rates. For example, Agoda's Class A special price does not in general offer conditions such as a "free-of-charge cancellation time period" or a "deferred charge". Therefore, prior to booking, please first confirm that you can check in to the hotel on the original scheduled booking date so that you can avoid any booking cancellation disputes from happening later.

In regard to lowest price guarantees, quick rates of exchange and special offers advertised by international reservation websites intended to convince consumers to make a booking, the DCP advises consumers when doing so to reflect carefully in advance and confirm that they can check in to the hotel on the actual prearranged booking date. Moreover, in order to ensure that you have a convenient and enjoyable stay, you should carefully confirm the information displayed on the webpage.