kari92037

Orbitz changed my hotel at the last minute! Without notifying me, leaving me in a foreign country with no room! Scary!! Warning to women travelers!!

Has anyone else had this experience? I was traveling to Greece for 18 days and on the way back to the US we stopped in London. I was with my 58 year old Mother who is diabetic. After an 8 hour travel day, we finally reached the hotel I booked through Orbitz and had a confirmation for. I was quickly told by the Staff that we did not have a reservation with them and they could not help me...after speaking with the Manager and pushing the issue, they finally found a fax from Orbitz's travel Agent that said we had been moved to another hotel on the other side of London! It was sent the day of our arrival. I had no idea where we were going or how we were going to get to this other hotel! The situation was made worse because my Mother is diabetic-she was low on sugar and needed to rest. I was appauled! I had not been notified via email or phone; much less-no where on Orbitz's website does it say they can do this!!! No compensation for our time, travel between the two hotels or extended cost to the airport in the morning was made. Instead of a 4 star hotel with four poster beds and historical relevance; we were put in a closet! This was supposed to be a special trip to London for my Mom. I really thought we were going to be left on the street with our luggage overnight! Imagine being in a foreign country with no room, tons of luggage because you are headed home, and a sick mom? I was frightened! I have asked Orbitz to remedy the situation and they have done nothing. Curious if anyone has had a similiar problem?

Christina

no, but I book my own hotels -- the only booking sites I use are specific to a place or hotel group (like Londontown).

That is pretty weird and I'd be really made, also. I imagine Orbitz has something in their terms that they are allowed to switch hotel on you, though. Was this some kind of package deal or just a single hotel you booked? Because if it were a package, those often have more rights to change.

The hotel should be comparable, and I think they should have paid for the transportation for you to get there.

I'll admit something is funny about this story, and I don't understand it. Mainly that Orbitz is FAXing a hotel and giving them stories about your plans and that they've moved you across town -- and they got that on the same day you were to show up? I guess Orbitz thought you would have to get the information somehow, and that was the way? What were the two hotels you had -- the reserved one and the closet? I think you should be more specific so folks can assess if they think they are comparable or not.

stardust

I'm sorry this happened to you, but I just don't get why the warning should only go to women ???

Dukey

I thought Orbitz provided a toll-free number you could call immediately to resolve issues such as this one. It is listed on the website under "Customer Service."

If you continue to book with Orbitz it might be a good idea to have that handy.

janisj

Sorry you had a bad experience but - your post is confusing.

First of all - what does this have to do w/ being a woman?? Just don't get that part of your title/story.

2nd - which two hotels are you talking about? Were you really in a "closet" sized room, and how do you know you would have had better/been in a 4-poster room in the first hotel? Were they really all the way across town from each other?

Give us some actual details/facts and we might be able to help you compose a clearer complaint to Orbitz.

saps

How dare Orbitz treat you like this because you are a woman!!!

(insert sarcastic face here)

zwho

My biggest problem is the way you refer to your mom as a 58 y/o who's diabetic. You mean if she was in her 20's or 30's being a diabetic would be soooo much easier or that 58 is sooo old and feeble? As with most of everything in my life, I'm older now and much smarter then I was when I was younger. Maybe you should have let your mom handle the hotel reservations!

ira

Hi K,

>...after speaking with the Manager and pushing the issue, they finally found a fax from Orbitz's travel Agent that said we had been moved to another hotel on the other side of London! It was sent the day of our arrival. <

I note that you have posted this message to more than one message board on Fodors.

I realize that you are upset and angry.

Have you notified Orbitz?

Cynic that I am, I have the sneaking suspicion that it was the hotel that screwed up.

Do you have the fax that they showed you?

Underhill

I suspect Ira is right: when any changes in my itinerary have been made by Orbitz, I get a timely message with the information.

Robespierre

Orbitz needs to get that damned gnome who fixes issues like this for the other guys.

barbmc

I don't know if this has anything to do with Orbitz but when we were checking into the Great Southern Airport Hotel in Dublin at 11 pm at night, the poor woman next to us was just about in tears because she had a confirmation from some on-line booking agent and was told it was not a valid confirmation number. For some reason the hotel was booked solid and they were sending her someplace else. I felt really bad for her.

I guess that is why I only book through the hotel websites or call direct.

Barbara

This exact thing has happened to me at a Best Western I booked myself in Los Angeles County. Stuff happens and you just have to deal with it.

kari92037

Yes, I do have a copy of the fax with the date and note stating we were to be moved. Orbitz does know about the error. I emailed them when I got home and called. I also sent them copies of pictures for the other hotel room including mold in the shower, stain on the floor, and over all filthy room. Orbitz said theyd look into it and get back to me. NO WHERE on there site does it say your room is "subject to availability" or that they can change your room. It is scary being in a foreign country not know where you are going to sleep or where you are going! Much less, caring for someone that isn't feeling well...

janisj

OK - I'll try one more time. Which two hotels are you talking about?? &quot;<i>Give us some actual details/facts and we might be able to help you</i>&quot;

Hotels do get overbooked. The hotel may be at fault, or possibly Orbitz may be the culprit - but they re-booked you. So, they moved you from which hotel to which hotel?

(still don't get the &quot;women&quot; connection/relevance)

kari92037

By the way, If you know anything about Diabetes-stress alone can trigger symptoms. Let alone just being worn out from a whole day of walking/traveling. Age is different for everyone but she has bad feet from the diabetes...

bettyk

Kari, believe me when I say I sympathize with your ordeal BUT perhaps an 8-hr travel day was too ambitious for your mother, especially if her diabetes isn't under adequate control. As a 57 year old diabetic, I know to have sufficient snacks and water for my journey as well as getting enough rest. Travel can be stressful even for a healthy person so please make sure your mother takes adequate steps to protect her health before taking another trip.

MaureenB

Did you pay Orbitz with a credit card so you can dispute the charges? Might be one way to get their attention, and maybe a credit on your next trip.

J_Correa

Yeah - I think getting the diabetes under better control and doing the necesary things to stay healthy is important. My mother-in-law is 67 and diabetic. If she takes care of herself, then she is fine and can go all day. She's always got snacks and water, does what she can to minimize stress, etc.

laclaire

This is still one of the strangest posts I have read on the board. I don't see the women connection, and though you are very aware of your mother's condition, Orbitz and the hotel were not, nor were they responsible for that. Yes, they dropped the ball on your room, and for that you have every right to be upset and complain, but whether that happened while caring for someone sick or not is completely besides the point and does not make your situation any more despairing than anyone else's. This happened to me last summer in Venice with my mother and though she is perfectly healthy, when she gets upset, you can just go ahead and call 911 because she is going to blow. Does the service owe me any more because my mother has a short and delicate fuse? Because she has bad knees and there were no cabs in Venice? No. I complained, got my compensation, and decided that the next time I go to Venice, it will be when my own children (yet to be born) can book and then deal with all the BS.

SeaUrchin

It has been my experience and those of some of my friends that sometimes women will be treated differently when not with a man.

We have been offered the worst table in a restaurant, the worst room, the worst cuts of meat, etc. And I say offered, not accepted.

I think it is because it is thought that a woman alone or with another woman will not speak up and complain but do as asked or directed.

It must have been an awful experience for you to be with an ill mother and have this happen. I do sympathize with you, please let us know what happens and if you get compensated.