Be careful when booking hotels abroad
May 25th, 2008 | 11:47 PM
#41
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
We had a great time at Hotel Carmel in Rome
We stayed last April with our baby.
Our room was facing the street, but it was quiet.Beds were comfortable, bathroom clean, nice window, air conditioning and TV.
Staff was friendly helpful and spoke English.
Reception is closed during the night (8.00pm - 9.00am) but there is one person sleeping in the hotel in room #7
We asked to see the room before paying at arrival and they show us the room with no problem.
We loved the location.
Great restaurants and shops.
Tram nearby, but can walk everywhere.
We stayed last April with our baby.
Our room was facing the street, but it was quiet.Beds were comfortable, bathroom clean, nice window, air conditioning and TV.
Staff was friendly helpful and spoke English.
Reception is closed during the night (8.00pm - 9.00am) but there is one person sleeping in the hotel in room #7
We asked to see the room before paying at arrival and they show us the room with no problem.
We loved the location.
Great restaurants and shops.
Tram nearby, but can walk everywhere.
May 26th, 2008 | 12:56 AM
#42
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 0
Yes, a tough thread. But maybe the OP can take something positive from it.
Italian Traveler:
Don't go away thinking us a heartless mob. People on these boards bend over backwards to answer questions and provide excellent guidance. Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly a person gets specific info about a location---info that would take forever to research in a guide book (if ever found at all).
Unfortunately, you seem to have discovered Fodors <i>after</i> your trip. Had you been here before, I'm pretty sure you would have been warned (repeatedly) to take with you a list of pre-researched hotels for each optional location. Payment-in-advance hotels...well, you probably would have been warned about that too.
I agree it looks unlikely you will get your refund. I hope I'm wrong. But stick around and use this forum before future trips. And, as much as you've traveled, it sounds like perhaps you could chime in and offer some insights of your own!
Italian Traveler:
Don't go away thinking us a heartless mob. People on these boards bend over backwards to answer questions and provide excellent guidance. Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly a person gets specific info about a location---info that would take forever to research in a guide book (if ever found at all).
Unfortunately, you seem to have discovered Fodors <i>after</i> your trip. Had you been here before, I'm pretty sure you would have been warned (repeatedly) to take with you a list of pre-researched hotels for each optional location. Payment-in-advance hotels...well, you probably would have been warned about that too.
I agree it looks unlikely you will get your refund. I hope I'm wrong. But stick around and use this forum before future trips. And, as much as you've traveled, it sounds like perhaps you could chime in and offer some insights of your own!
May 26th, 2008 | 01:21 AM
#43
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Prepayment can be OK, for instance with Accor/Holiday Inn. Small private hotels/guest houses almost always have tough cancellation policies simply because it has a much bigger impact on them to have empty rooms that they cannot or are unlikely to resell. I had a lesson in this 15+ years ago where I had booked 2 weeks in a hotel in Anguilla but once checked in, decided to only stay 1 of the weeks and checked out on the last day. I got rather a big telling-off, deservedly so because I just left them with an empty room for a whole week. Hotels are wise to this, here is the cancellation policy of a hotel I booked in France:
"Every stay started, in case of early departure, all remaining nights will be charged in totality" plus they want 14 days notice for cancellation otherwise they charge 1 nights stay.
In Kauai last year, I also had the same situation, the hotel wanted the full balance on or before arrival, if you check out early there would be no refund.
"Every stay started, in case of early departure, all remaining nights will be charged in totality" plus they want 14 days notice for cancellation otherwise they charge 1 nights stay.
In Kauai last year, I also had the same situation, the hotel wanted the full balance on or before arrival, if you check out early there would be no refund.
May 26th, 2008 | 01:42 AM
#44
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Odin wrote: "Prepayment can be OK, for instance with Accor/Holiday Inn."
Agreed. Sometimes you get the best rates where you make a deal to pay in full at time of booking. If you are sure of your travel dates and have confidence in the hotel (because you know it, or have recommendations you trust, or it is a member of a group like Accor) then it can be a very good way of doing business.
Agreed. Sometimes you get the best rates where you make a deal to pay in full at time of booking. If you are sure of your travel dates and have confidence in the hotel (because you know it, or have recommendations you trust, or it is a member of a group like Accor) then it can be a very good way of doing business.
