Be careful with the "secret deals" in Agoda. I just made a booking for a supposedly 4-star hotel as stated in the description. After I received the hotel name post booking, I was shocked at what I was being offered (did not look like a 4 star hotel at all). After some checking, it turns out the hotel is a 3-star hotel (according to Booking.com, Ctrip, Hotels.com, Tripadvisor). I feel scammed making a booking under false pretense.
Not only did the customer service not apologise for the incorrect information, they justify it by the fact that ratings on their site are purely based on supplier's submission and not independently verifiedbu Agoda. (Reply below)
From now on, it will hard for me to trust and rely on the hotel information listed on Agoda. SHOCKING
"With regards to your email, The Accommodation star or other denoted ratings (“star ratings”) are provided for your information only. The star ratings are based on information we have received from our suppliers, including the Accommodations, and may take into account the Accommodation’s facilities, rates, reviews, and services. Star ratings may be unrelated to any other ratings assigned by government tourism authorities. We do not independently verify star ratings. A star rating is only indicative of the level of comfort you can expect to find in a particular Accommodation, with a higher star rating generally being indicative of a higher level of comfort and amenities. For more detailed information, please check the detailed description on the Site. Please be aware that star ratings can vary greatly on the basis of location, available alternatives, local market conditions, practices or other circumstances. Thus, it is possible that a star rating in one particular country or city is not comparable to the same star rating in another country or city due to such circumstances. Star ratings do not necessarily reflect all the amenities or services that might be available at an Accommodation, and some amenities and features may not be available in every room or at every property with a particular star rating. If there are particular amenities or features that are important to you, please contact our Customer Service and inquire as to the availability of such amenities or features."