Avoid Super8 Motels

[Bob Gullett]

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

[rick lester]

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.

[Myron Piatek]

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.

[savoyracer]

Originally Posted by Bob Gullett

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.

.......................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!!

[John Leichtamer Jr]

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

Hammer

[Mike Brogniez]

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.....

[BobOrme]

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.

[Superfan1]

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.

[CycloneFE]

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.

[Bob Gullett]

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.