Anyone booked Vijaya through their website

[Tech303]

Was going to book through the hotel website, but found out when they
authorise your card they block a nights fee. When you check in you must pay the full
amount, then they return the blocked fee 30 days later.

Never heard of this before, anyone had any problems getting money paid
back?

Also is a deposit taken on card from this hotel, if you book through a
third party hotel booking site?

[Roccy Tittzenbeer]

Hello T303 , I stayed there in January and booked through their site, they took the card reference but no money.
When I arrived I paid in full for the whole of my stay and they did not keep a retainer or anything, the prices are plus 5% tax though.
If you do it through bookings.com or similar no payment is taken upfront for sure, again you give your card details to confirm the reservation and you pay upon arrival at the hotel reception plus 5%.
There is no price benefit either way so I would use an agent as they can find a room when the hotel site says there isn't one - they must allocate a few to agents?
I have just booked another hotel through an agent (easytoboook) and once again although the hotel website said no rooms the agency said there was so I booked and have got confirmation.
Not all hotels are with every booking agent so have a surf first.
If you haven't been there before it is basic and OK, the Indian men who run it are OK too, it's safe, convenient but nothing special, for the price worth it as a base camp for sleeping,resting and washing. If you want a quiet time choose somewhere else as there is a lively music bar immediately below the first floor rooms which stays open late (after 1am) and the bass speakers vibrate the floorboards.
Went on a bit there
If you want to know any more please feel free to ask.
RTnB

[Tech303]

Thanks for the info Roccy, just looking for somewhere cheap and central.