Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Interesting thing happened with my hotel reservations for the St Louis Divisional this year. I had rooms reserved at the Holiday Inn express in Troy Illinois for the up coming LODRS race in St Louis. I reserved the rooms over the internet. When the race was cancelled I immediately canceled the rooms via the internet. Got my cancellation notice via Email . Noticed few days later that the full amount of the rooms were charged to my credit card. I called and was told I reserved the rooms at a advance purchase rate which means whether I show up or not the room is charged to me. Buyer Beware I guess read the fine print etc.. I will tell you it must have been ultra fine print as I sure missed it. I guess I have stayed the last time at a Holiday Inn property. Just want to make sure everyone knows to be careful and not fooled by this. I asked the lady if there was some big corporate exec who thought this was the coolest GOTCHA idea ever I could speak with. You know how that went LOL Holiday Inn See Ya . Worse part is they have great hotels and staffs
I followed up with a email to their customer care department. Got a fast Auto Response saying we will be back to you in 48 hours. Well it has been a week almost LOL

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Most of the hotel/motel chains do the same thing, Don, it's not just Holiday Inn. You can make a reservation at the standard rate with the payment due when you check-in, or you can make one a certain number of days prior to your arrival, but at a significant discount, with the payment due at the time of the reservation. The only problem with this arrangement is that the room charges are not refundable under any circumstances, so like you found out, if your schedule changes you still pay for the room. You have to weight the convenience of the discount against the possibility of your travel plans changing. There are also chains who lower prices a few days prior to your planned arrival, but then you have to gamble that they have a vacancy at the last minute! Have you ever tried the website Trivago? There are some bargains to be had there as well!

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Executive Contacts

Primary Contact
Chris Zoloth
Director, Global Guest Relations
3 Ravinia Drive
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30346-2149
(801) 887-7407
chris.zoloth@ihg.com

can`t hurt to let him know...

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Don thanks for the info. I just had a bad experience with Hotels.com. Reserved a 2 night king room with living room in San Diego. Comi-con was in town and a estimated 130,000 people invaded the city. I called the hotel twice to inform them of late arrival. 11:30 show up and I was give a room with a double bed. By the time I went back to office it was closed and a phone number to call. No answer so I went went back to the room to see window screen off and window unlocked. Checked room and stayed. Next morning I raised cane and exchanged room for a king bed and couch, but now no cable TV, no working phone and the patio view was over looking the dumpster in court yard.
Hotel stated I had to take it up with Hotels.com and hotels.com stated I have to take it up with hotel. 2 nights $587 and I will never book with Hotels.com again. They represented room and was not given what was paid for. I did try and go to another hotel but all I could find over $500 for 1 night plus tax. Discover card is now checking into refund which I doubt will happen because I stayed in rooms. NO MORE HOTELS.COM

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

I experienced the same thing at another name brand hotel. The problem is it's there on their websites. The cheapest rate s advertised are the pre purchased ones. The way I found out was my credit card was charged before I stayed. I called and got much the same information. Thank goodness I was able to make the reservation so I lost no money. But I did learn to look before I click on that "Book Now" button. Don't blame Holiday Inn, all hotels do it now. The saying buyer beware is never been true. I learned to review every reservation before I set them in stone and I stay in a hotel 3 to 4 nights every week.

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Thanks Mike I sent him a email. It is my fault for not being more careful when making the reservation. Between work and race prep it gets crazy. But it is their fault for allowing a long Term customer to feel abused and to let them just go away.

Thanks Again
Don

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Yea,I got screwed by hotels.com,it was just one night,called to cancel and was told to take it up with hotels.com.I will never use hotel.com again !

Re: Careful Making Online Reservations at Holiday Inn
 

Don, I hope it helps
Mack Reeves has the best advice
Good luck
Mike