Anyone ever have any joy with a Best Rate Guarantee
Jan 6th, 2007, 09:00 AM
#1
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Anyone ever have any joy with a Best Rate Guarantee
Are Best Price Guarantees worth the paper they are printed on?
I am going to Key West in March 2007 - and found a rate of $429 at the Casa Marina Resort per night.
I booked this rate and as always had a look to make sure I could not get it cheaper else where - especially since they had a best price guarantee - where they would discount a better rate by 20%.
I found a better rate at www.ghahotels.com - where it is available at $319 per night for the same dates.
I called up as instructed to on the best rate guarantee website - they had no idea what I was talking about - but I eventually pointed them at the website - and they disappeared for about 5 mins - only to come back and say they would not match it - as they could not compete with that price!!
I pushed them for a reason - to be told it was a hotwire website. I told them this was not the case - as it told me which hotel I was getting. I then got put through to a supervisor - who told me it was rejected under "Negotiated / Contracted rates or group rates".
Does that not mean any travel website - as they will all negotiate there own rate?
I am going to Key West in March 2007 - and found a rate of $429 at the Casa Marina Resort per night.
I booked this rate and as always had a look to make sure I could not get it cheaper else where - especially since they had a best price guarantee - where they would discount a better rate by 20%.
I found a better rate at www.ghahotels.com - where it is available at $319 per night for the same dates.
I called up as instructed to on the best rate guarantee website - they had no idea what I was talking about - but I eventually pointed them at the website - and they disappeared for about 5 mins - only to come back and say they would not match it - as they could not compete with that price!!
I pushed them for a reason - to be told it was a hotwire website. I told them this was not the case - as it told me which hotel I was getting. I then got put through to a supervisor - who told me it was rejected under "Negotiated / Contracted rates or group rates".
Does that not mean any travel website - as they will all negotiate there own rate?
Jan 6th, 2007, 09:10 AM
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I learned long ago that the meaning of guaranteed varies according to who uses it. I always loved the idea that you "guarantee" a hotel room or rental car with a credit card. What that really means is that you are guaranteed to pay if you don't show up, but it has no meaning if you arrive and they don't have a room or a car.
And what in the world does "satisfaction guaranteed" mean? Are places really saying they will make sure you are satisfied if you simply don't like the place or else they'll give you your money back? Hardly.
I think the sort of thing you are talking about is indeed a joke. They have a million reasons not to match whatever they claim they will match.
And what in the world does "satisfaction guaranteed" mean? Are places really saying they will make sure you are satisfied if you simply don't like the place or else they'll give you your money back? Hardly.
I think the sort of thing you are talking about is indeed a joke. They have a million reasons not to match whatever they claim they will match.
Jan 6th, 2007, 09:54 AM
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I've found that most hotel "best price guarantees" only count if that actual hotel offers a better price. They usually don't accept ANY third party prices and use that "negotiated/ contracted rates or group rates" as their out.
Jan 6th, 2007, 10:53 AM
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Kay, it sounds like www.ghahotels.com offered you a rate that was wrong.
If you try and book that rate, you probably will not be able to. It will show 'sold out' but show additional higher rates.
Even the superisor told you they would not honor that rate.
If you try and book that rate, you probably will not be able to. It will show 'sold out' but show additional higher rates.
Even the superisor told you they would not honor that rate.
Jan 6th, 2007, 11:24 AM
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Actually I did have sucess once with Day's Inn best price guarantee. It states that if you find another cheaper rate then the night is free. My dad was teaveling to Hersey, PA once night and I found a cheaper rate for the Day Inn on the internet. I contaced the "rate guarantee" section and filed a claim form just for the heck of it. I received an email stating the claim was being checked for accuracy and I would hear from them again.
Magically after I contacted the Days Inn the competing hotel rate was taken off the internet and the Days Inn denied my claim. I then faxed Days Inn a copy of the room reservation at the lower rate as proof. I told them I had a pretty good idea that Days Inn was responsible for the sudden "new" room price on the other website and I received the room for free. We accepted the free room as a matter of principle because I know the agent knew we booked a lower rate and he/she was being dishonest in denying the claim. My dad liked the hotel and in the end I was very satisfied with Day's Inn keeping their end of the bargain, my dad uses Days Inn regularly as he visits a lot of small towns where only Days Inn's are availible.
Magically after I contacted the Days Inn the competing hotel rate was taken off the internet and the Days Inn denied my claim. I then faxed Days Inn a copy of the room reservation at the lower rate as proof. I told them I had a pretty good idea that Days Inn was responsible for the sudden "new" room price on the other website and I received the room for free. We accepted the free room as a matter of principle because I know the agent knew we booked a lower rate and he/she was being dishonest in denying the claim. My dad liked the hotel and in the end I was very satisfied with Day's Inn keeping their end of the bargain, my dad uses Days Inn regularly as he visits a lot of small towns where only Days Inn's are availible.
Jan 7th, 2007, 07:11 AM
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The rate at gtahotels.com is available - I even called them to check. Seems that unless the website matched the price offered by Casa Marina - they advise you the price is specially negotiated - making the price guarantee a complete waste of time.
Jan 7th, 2007, 07:34 AM
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I guess I don't get the problem however. Why don't you just book the lower rate with the other company? Or can you not cancel the reservation you have? Is that one of those prepaid deals? It seems to me if they can't match another price, their guarantee should at least let you cancel if you find a better one.
Jan 7th, 2007, 07:38 AM
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I think the issue is that the OP is saying that according to their Best Price Guarantee, they would give an additional 20% off the better rate.
No wonder they're not so eager to honor the guarantee.
No wonder they're not so eager to honor the guarantee.
Jan 7th, 2007, 08:14 AM
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I looked on their web site to find out the details and couldn't find any info on it other than the words "Best Rate Guarantee" on the reservations page. I just sent them an email that says "Can you please tell me the details of your "Best Rate Guarantee"? When is this guarantee applicable and what is it?" I'll let you know if they respond.
Jan 7th, 2007, 08:50 AM
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I agree--regardless of whether they'll honor the additional 20% off, the OP should book the lower rate ASAP. That is, unless as you mentioned, it might be a prepaid/noncancellable deal.
I'd also be curious to know if the gtahotels deal is prepaid or noncancellable.
I'd also be curious to know if the gtahotels deal is prepaid or noncancellable.
Jan 7th, 2007, 10:50 AM
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I did indeed cancel the booking with Casa Marina - going to book elsewhere - the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth and I would rather not stay at this hotel to be honest - what else do they try and wriggle out of.
They opted out on
Negotiated/Contracted rates or group rates
To me - this means any rate which is lower than their rate - which makes the whole thing null and void - it will never work.
There conditions are below
Our Best Rate Guarantee assures you that the best place to shop for the best rates for our hotel is right here on www.CasaMarinaResort.com There is no need to spend any more of your valuable time searching alternate travel websites to find a better deal. With our guarantee, you will not find a lower qualifying Internet rate available to the general public. If you find a rate lower than the rates shown on www.CasaMarinaResort.com that is viewable and bookable on another website for the same dates, same room category, length of stay and number of guests, please contact us at 866-397-6342. If the claim can be verified, we will honor the rate shown on the other website plus discount the rate 20%. It's that easy!
Terms and Conditions
The reservation must be made on www.CasaMarinaResort.com for the Casa Marina Resort in order to qualify.
Rate must be available to the general public and does not apply to:
Negotiated/Contracted rates or group rates
Opaque rates booked on an auction site where the consumer does not know the hotel being booked until confirmation. Examples of these types of sites are (but not limited to) Priceline and Hotwire.com.
Package websites or wholesale websites where room rate are packaged with other travel components, such as air or rental cars.
Hotel package rates that include additional amenities such as meals, parking, etc.
Discount rates that are offered to select groups of individuals such as Senior Citizen rates and Government rates.
Rates extended to long stays over 30 days.
The comparison rate on an alternate site must be found within 24 hours of booking or at the same time of booking. Each night will be considered individually when evaluating the comparison rate.
The 20% discount will be taken from the lower rate found and verified on the other site. The lower rate must be bookable.
The guarantee does not apply to taxes, gratuities, guest incidental charges, food and beverage charges, resort fees or any other fees you may incur during your stay.
They opted out on
Negotiated/Contracted rates or group rates
To me - this means any rate which is lower than their rate - which makes the whole thing null and void - it will never work.
There conditions are below
Our Best Rate Guarantee assures you that the best place to shop for the best rates for our hotel is right here on www.CasaMarinaResort.com There is no need to spend any more of your valuable time searching alternate travel websites to find a better deal. With our guarantee, you will not find a lower qualifying Internet rate available to the general public. If you find a rate lower than the rates shown on www.CasaMarinaResort.com that is viewable and bookable on another website for the same dates, same room category, length of stay and number of guests, please contact us at 866-397-6342. If the claim can be verified, we will honor the rate shown on the other website plus discount the rate 20%. It's that easy!
Terms and Conditions
The reservation must be made on www.CasaMarinaResort.com for the Casa Marina Resort in order to qualify.
Rate must be available to the general public and does not apply to:
Negotiated/Contracted rates or group rates
Opaque rates booked on an auction site where the consumer does not know the hotel being booked until confirmation. Examples of these types of sites are (but not limited to) Priceline and Hotwire.com.
Package websites or wholesale websites where room rate are packaged with other travel components, such as air or rental cars.
Hotel package rates that include additional amenities such as meals, parking, etc.
Discount rates that are offered to select groups of individuals such as Senior Citizen rates and Government rates.
Rates extended to long stays over 30 days.
The comparison rate on an alternate site must be found within 24 hours of booking or at the same time of booking. Each night will be considered individually when evaluating the comparison rate.
The 20% discount will be taken from the lower rate found and verified on the other site. The lower rate must be bookable.
The guarantee does not apply to taxes, gratuities, guest incidental charges, food and beverage charges, resort fees or any other fees you may incur during your stay.
Jan 7th, 2007, 10:57 AM
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Oh, wow. I never realized the rate you were complaining about was the hotel's OWN site! I thought Best Rate was some sort of other internet discount site.
It sure doesn't sound like the rate you found fits any of those exclusions they mention. Yep, I'd avoid the hotel too.
It sure doesn't sound like the rate you found fits any of those exclusions they mention. Yep, I'd avoid the hotel too.
Jan 7th, 2007, 10:57 AM
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Sounds to me as the room rate you found did not meet met the criteria because it is a "specially negotaited" rate. The top right hand corner of ghahotels.com advertises "over 24,000 negotiated hotels". I'd keep the hotel if it has the crietria you're looking for.
Jan 7th, 2007, 11:00 AM
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The hotel direct was $429/nt and ghahotels.com was $319/nt but the ghahotels.com website advertises that they are negotaited prices. The Casa Marina resort does not honor a best rate guarantee with negotiated price websites. It is still $100/night cheaper though with more searching one may able to even beat that price but I'm not sure.
Jan 7th, 2007, 05:00 PM
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So let me get this straight. Does any website ever offer a discount that isn't a "negotiated rate" with the hotel? If they didn't negotiate that rate how could they offer it? In other words what the hotel then is really saying is they won't guarantee ANY other rates, because any other rates would have to have been negotiated with them therefore exempt. Right? I think they've got you.
Jan 7th, 2007, 05:08 PM
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That's exactly it Patrick. It sounds great "Best Price Guarantee" until you read the fine print and then you realize it was just a gimmick. I actually think the gimmick is that by posting the guarantee on their website they convince people not to bother checking another website and think they're automatically getting the best rate out there.
Jan 7th, 2007, 06:14 PM
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I actually just had success with a Best Rate Guaranteed Rate. We are going to Vegas for 1 night on March 2 and are staying at the Flamingo. The best rate posted on the hotel website was $170. Expedia had the same hotel for $156. I did the paperwork and got a screenshot of the rate from Expedia, faxed it all to them and just received confirmation that my new rate at the Flamingo would be $117 - 25% off the lower rate. So, Harrah's Hotels do honor their guarantee.
Jan 7th, 2007, 07:20 PM
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To get the best rate guarantee you need to find an independent online travel agency w/o the negotiated rates. I agree, it's very hard to do. And make sure you get proof of the rate because the hotel chain tries to make sure no travel agencies rebate their comission back. In my case I'm guessing the online agency was quickly told they couldn't advertise lower than the hotel direct because the rate was there for 1 1/2 days before it disappeared after I contacted Days Inn for the Best Price Guarantee.
Ocasionally a hotel will make a mistake so I always try to beat it through checking as many other rates as I can. Nice to hear someone could beat a best hotel price through Expedia.
Hotwire used to be really, really good for honoring double the difference when finding a lower hotel rate, through ANY avenue. There's a section devoted to it at www.biddingfortravel.com:
http://p070.ezboard.com/Hotwires-Dou...picID=75.topic
Some travelers were lucky enough to actually make money and stay at a hotel for free. It's much harder to do now as Hotwire has gotten much better with competing prices. The deals are still there, but you may only save $15 or so. Still, it's better than nothing.
Ocasionally a hotel will make a mistake so I always try to beat it through checking as many other rates as I can. Nice to hear someone could beat a best hotel price through Expedia.
Hotwire used to be really, really good for honoring double the difference when finding a lower hotel rate, through ANY avenue. There's a section devoted to it at www.biddingfortravel.com:
http://p070.ezboard.com/Hotwires-Dou...picID=75.topic
Some travelers were lucky enough to actually make money and stay at a hotel for free. It's much harder to do now as Hotwire has gotten much better with competing prices. The deals are still there, but you may only save $15 or so. Still, it's better than nothing.
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