Avoid Super8 Motels
 

What ever you do do not book on line for reservations at Super 8. I booked Woodburn for the divisional but won't be able to make it and was told because I booked online, its a prepayed non-refundable room. (new internet booking policy) For all the times I have stayed at Super 8 you would think that they would refund me my credit card. I even talked to managment and was basically told to pound sand. That is the last time I will ever stay at a super 8. $285 down the toilet.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Call your card issuer( the 1-800 number) and dispute the charge. Thay could stop payment. That sounds like some little twerpy manager that needs his face rearranged. That doesn't sound like he speaks for a reputable chain. I've never heard of that kind of thing at another Super 8.Better luck next time, and thanks for the warning about that one.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Some chains offer a discounted rate if you pay in advance. I guess it's to get your money right away. I ran into that problem before, and I made a big enough fuss that my money was refunded. I'd call the corporate office and see if you can get anywhere with them. Or hold your breath and wait for Obama to give you the money back. Good luck with the second one.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

You mean you can actually understand what he was saying?

I can never interpret what any hotel worker says..or his brother that works at the 7-Eleven.

Hilton it is! (Maybe I'll see Paris there).

Andy Stone A/S 1102 SS/C 1112

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Bob,
Sorry to hear you can’t make it and lost your money. I think some of the chains have “internet only rates” with those you get a better rate but its either non refundable or minimum 7 days cancelation. I booked at the very same hotel today through the Wyndham Rewards Program website below is what I cut and pasted out of my confirmation email. Maybe the rules are different for the rewards program members???

Rate Description: Best Available Rate Free Continental Breakfast Free Internet Access Destination Super

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, you must do so by 4:00 PM local hotel time on July 8, 2009 or your credit card will be charged for one night's stay.


1 Queen Bed Room Best Available Rate

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Bob, I would contact Super 8 Corporate and complain.

All hotels I've ever used had the cancel by a certain time/date or
be charged for the first night's stay even if you do not use it.

I hope you can get some satisfaction out of Super 8 Corporate.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

I booked a Days Inn for last weekend and it was stated on their site that it was non-refundable. I don't believe its right if a timely cancellation is done. I agree that you should contact your cc company and see if they can help.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

You have to look very closely when booking rooms online these days. Several chains do offer special rates that are paid in advance and/or non-cancellable. We book 90% of our rooms at Hilton properties (Mostly Hampton Inns) and many times the best rate they offer is non-cancellable and paid at the time of booking.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

When you are booking a "paid in advance" rate, your credit card will be charged immediately, and it states right on the website that it is non refundable; that is the price you pay for the lower rate. When you book any of the other rates, your credit card isn't charged until you checkout. I am always very careful when I am making my online reservations in order to avoid the problem that you are having. Definitely call your credit card company and dispute the charges, but I don't know if it will do any good. Good luck.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

I've booked rooms this way, and something came up and I needed to change my reservation.
They wouldn't let me cancel and do a refund (of which I was well aware of),
but they allowed me to change it to another night at the same place.

Ironically, I changed it three times, and by then, I was able to cancel the room, and not be charged...

Will it work again, don't know 'til you try.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Thanks for all the replies. I call Visa today and they are looking into it. I'll let you know how it turned out.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

bob, since i work at a hotel as a night auditor, i'll through in my two cents; there are alot of fine prints when it comes to booking a hotel online. yes you can get a better rate that way but as you found out the hard way non refundable. most hotels would be more forgiving if you booked directly with them. most if not all hotels do not charge the c.c until you check out. and if you don't need the room and cancel by 3 pm, no charge. always ask when booking direct. i work for microtel, and we have just been bought by wyndom. i'm trying to find out from corp. who to talk to about a "racer discount" for all wyndom rewards customers. have not found out yet to talk to, but i will, and i will do my best to have it added. its not going to be an instant thing, so guys and gals, when i do find the right people to talk to, i will be calling on all of you for stats. stats like how often do you stay at there hotels when you go racing, things of those nature that pertain to getting them to give a "racers discount". i'll let you all know. rick.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Rick,

Thanks for trying to get them interested in a racers discount. Wyndham does have a variety of hotels/motels to choose from. But they also offer discounts to AARP members, gov. employees, etc. that racers should look into.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

.......................La Quinta Inns, WOODBURN, Oregon..........Area code 503-982-1727......................Slightly closer to the track [3minutes away], nicer rooms, better amenities!! AND, I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night!!

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Stayed at Super 8 in Adel Ga. Nice place no problems.

Hammer

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Good information....reading and understanding all the various hotel/airline cancellation policies out there is important in determining which are cash grabs and which are reasonable to protect the hotel.
Will certainly avoid Super 8.....

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

A room reservation made online through either Wyndham Rewards or Super 8 can sometimes have separate Advance Purchase rates that are lower (usually around $5/night) than their other special (I book AARP/Senior) rates. If you book the advance purchase room rate, you buy it the minute you click the complete the reservation button. No refunds. Period. If you use another travel site (like Yahoo/Travelocity or Orbitz) to book Wyndham or any other chain, they are almost all prepaid, no refund reservations. This is standard practice and not specific to any motel chain.

I have run into circumstances where calling the hotel to cancel or change a reservation resulted in confusion by the desk clerk who answered the phone. He/she thought that because the reservation was made online, they couldn't cancel or change it. Wrong! This also isn't specific to any hotel chain.

There's nothing wrong or different about Super 8's reservation system. Read what you're reserving before you reserve it. Individual hotels will have different cancellation policies, i.e., it might be 3:00 (or 4:00 or 6:00) p.m. local time the day of check-in or you will be charged one night, all the way to having to cancel the day before arrival, but advance purchase for an entire stay is always spelled out before you make the reservation.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

As Bob stated, all motel chains that offer an online "advance purchase rate" will charge your credit card as soon as you make the reservation; and it clearly states that the charge is non-refundable. That is the price you pay for the lower rate. Like Bob, I also use the AARP/Senior rate, and all motel chains offer discounted rates for certain groups such as AAA. I personally would never use the "advance purchase rate" because you never know when you may be forced to change your plans and a cancellation may become a necessity.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

I use a hotel for my hunting besides racing and have become friends with the family managing it. Their advice is call the hotel directly. They have to pay those on line fees, even if a couple of bucks, and even offered to find better rates for me elsewhere. Now I look on line, get the general price range, call the hotel directly and most will match or come very close. They are also very understanding if there needs to be a cancellation. Just my experience.

Update!
 

Alls well that ends well. After a very nasty email to Corperate Super 8 the cancelled the reservation and refunded my money! Thanks to every one for their comments and advice.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

Glad to hear it all worked out for you.:)

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

As another note, when you book a room, ALWAYS check the rate on the signature sheet vs. the booked rate when you check-in. I can't tell you how many times I've seen them try to sneak a different rate in there at check-in time. And this is no mistake, it's a game they play. My wife is in the travel industry and you wouldn't believe the stuff that goes on.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

every hotel sells there rooms thru .com sites, and they must pay a fee. as most have learned by now, call the hotels directly, 75% of the time they will match .coms price , even beat it. most hotels will tell you when your making the resv. over the phone that cash payment is an option, but you must ask if there is a deposit, we are not required to tell you about the deposit. when you do check in and the front desk clerk ask you to read and initial, read before initialing. look for rate, and no, if rate is different on reg. card than quoted over the phone, 9 times out of 10 its a computer error, not all hotels are trying to get you for a couple of bucks. we want your return business, we will go out of our way to make you feel at home, we are sinsere when we say things like thank you and come back soon. if you come in with an attitude, you will get ****ty service, we will be as rude to you as you are to us, and we will care less if you come back because you did nothing but complain and bitch and moan and grone. we remember the good ones just as much as the bad ones. if the staff did a good job, tell the manager, they want to know, we do strive to do a great job and treat you well, and a good comment from the guest makes us feel good about our job. also ask when making resv. if hotel takes dogs, some do some don't. don't just show up and say "when i made the resv. she/he did not tell me i couldn't bring my dog", its your responsibility to ask. if you get a non-smoking room, don't smoke in it, not cool man, and we will charge your c.c 100 bucks for a cleaning fee, all hotels will. we want you to feel at home, but don't treat us your personal maids, if you don't leave trash on your floor, don't do it at a hotel. and one more thing before i get down off my soap box, your kids are still your responsibility, if your asleep and your kids are running the halls and waking up our other guest, don't be suprised if we wake you up and tell you you have 5 minutes to leave due to the fact your kids have been a problem the whole stay. i have done this once in my hotel, even had to call the police because the parents threatened me. when we tell you 10 times to control your kids or your gone, we mean it and we have every right to do so. i did finally talk with somebody with wyndham, there interested, but its not as simple as yes or no, it will take time, so if you stay at a wyndham property, tell them your there because of the race, it will get back to them. rick.

Re: Avoid Super8 Motels
 

I never use any of the .com sites such as Orbitz or Expedia, but I don't like to call the hotel either. I always use the hotel's website, ie. redroof.com, microtelinn.com, etc. This way, I can choose exactly the accomodations that I want including any options that I may want, ie. microwave, refrigerator, etc. Also, I can print a confirmation of my reservation, and receive a confirmation E-mail from the hotel. This eliminates the possibility of an error by the hotel personnel which can happen if you make the reservation on the phone. Just my personal experience; it works fine for me.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.