Fort Lauderdale Travelers: DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO AVOID THIS HOTEL
Dec 4th, 2003, 08:54 AM
#25
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beach fort lauderdale. no i'm not going to sue them unless i need to. i bid $55 per night. was accepted. was really $65 a night if you count $10 day for parking.
sunniest - you're welcome. hope you have a great time.
sunniest - you're welcome. hope you have a great time.
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:06 AM
#27
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I've complained about a terrible Holiday Inn 3* stay before, and it was downgraded to a 2 1/2 shortly thereafter AND I was refunded my $$. I would check the BFT website & avoid any 3* area that includes Holiday Inn in the future. Holiday Inns must be a big PL supplier & they probably pressure PL to be rated as 3*. Again, in the future just avoid an area where Holiday Inns are 3*'s.
Dec 4th, 2003, 09:07 AM
#28
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Sorry about your experience, but suing isn't likely to work. What are you going to do, go down to F. Laud. to show up at a court hearing to get back $50? I doubt it.
You have two hopes for a refund: Holiday Inn or your credit card co.
Which reminds me of the time I stayed at a similarly horrible Days Inn in Benson, NC. I complained to Days Inn headquarters in NJ. Their response? They sent me a discount coupon to STAY AT THE SAME HOTEL.
I laughed for 20 minutes.
You have two hopes for a refund: Holiday Inn or your credit card co.
Which reminds me of the time I stayed at a similarly horrible Days Inn in Benson, NC. I complained to Days Inn headquarters in NJ. Their response? They sent me a discount coupon to STAY AT THE SAME HOTEL.
I laughed for 20 minutes.
Dec 4th, 2003, 10:51 AM
#29
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Although I'm not anyone's lawyer and I already posted my opinion regarding the likely outcome of suing PL, you would not have to sue them in Florida. The rules of venue are a whole class, but generally speaking you can sue them anywhere they do business. Like your hometown. You'd still almost certainly lose and deal with a lot of hassle for $60.
Dec 4th, 2003, 11:04 AM
#30
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mike, thanks for your 2c. i am lots of people's lawyer, and it's not a question of venue, but one of jurisdiction. PL is headquartered in CT, and I would have to serve them there, because it does not appear that they have an agent for service of process in each state. and i doubt very much that PL would defend the lawsuit in any event. When i was awarded this hotel i tried to dispute the charge because i couldnt believe any 3* hotel was a Holiday Inn, and PL's answer was basically to give me the middle finger. And it's not 50 or 60 dollars. it's $577. nothing to sneeze at.
Dec 4th, 2003, 12:29 PM
#31
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The last time I stayed at the Doubletree Surfcomber in South Beach, the price was $50 per night. I had to pay an additional $8.00 (I think) in tax, $7 resort fee daily, and $18 per day to park.
What I'm saying is my $50 hotel ended up being $83.00 per night. I don't think you can ask for a refund on resort fees or parking. I do know on parking, the hotels contract the parking to third party companies so you will not get that money back.
What I'm saying is my $50 hotel ended up being $83.00 per night. I don't think you can ask for a refund on resort fees or parking. I do know on parking, the hotels contract the parking to third party companies so you will not get that money back.
Dec 4th, 2003, 02:02 PM
#32
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Flop, with my issue regarding the Holiday Inn, I checked out immed. the following morning (2 days early) when I saw the hotel was not up to standard. I sent a letter telling them of my horrible experience and they refunded me the $$ for the last 2 nights I checked out. Since you stayed the entire time without complaining during the week you may have a harder time getting a refund, it sounds like buyer's remorse. In any event I hope Priceline compensates you in some way, call and ask to speak to a supervisor.
Dec 4th, 2003, 03:24 PM
#33
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travelinwifey,
thanks for the info on holiday inn.
i didn't stay the entire time, just 1 night. as i indicated in my first email, we checked out the next day into a hotel on the ocean in deerfield beach.
thanks for the info on holiday inn.
i didn't stay the entire time, just 1 night. as i indicated in my first email, we checked out the next day into a hotel on the ocean in deerfield beach.
Dec 4th, 2003, 03:45 PM
#34
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I have heard from inside sources that Priceline simply copied the AAA ratings guide. We were threatened with a lawsuit if we allowed hotels using our product to display AAA ratings, so we now pay for the privilege to use the official ratings. I have mixed feelings about the system because hotels have to pay to part of the program. Many hotels are AAA "Approved" and not rated because they do not subscribe at a level that allows a rating. 3 star ratings seem to be the most inconsistent of the AAA system. I do not believe they check all the hotels, either... if they do, it's one time, when the application is first submitted.
I believe downgrading is primarily a result of complaints.
I believe downgrading is primarily a result of complaints.
Dec 4th, 2003, 03:51 PM
#35
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flopmeister, was your reservation at the Holiday Inn only for one evening, or are you out of pocket money because you checked out early and had a lengthier reservation?
I am unclear how much you paid to Priceline for the room, taxes and $5.95 service charge, but is it really worth it to go for the jugular and sue Priceline? I don't think that Priceline misrepresented itself. Regarding the $10 for parking, many hotels in Priceline's inventory do not provide free parking, so I think that point is moot.
I'm just wondering whether it is worth your time to sue either Priceline or the Holiday Inn. You did stay overnight for the one night.
I understand your frustration, but at best you'll file suit in Small Claims Court. There is no discovery process in Small Claims Court. If you file suit in the county you live in, it's still going to be many months before your suit is heard. If the defending party does not show up, you will win by default, however, you're still going to have to have the judgment served upon the defendant. You'll be out of pocket more money and time going the route you are planning.
My suggestion is to contact both Holiday Inn's corporate office and Priceline and write about your dissatisfaction, but write calmly and rationally. Wait 15-20 days for a reply, and if that doesn't work, write a demand letter for a refund and send that by certified mail. If you don't get satisfactory resolution by then, go ahead and file a small claims action and go to court. However, if the defending party does send a representative to court, don't be surprised if you don't win your claim. The judge will say that you did stay at the Holiday Inn on the night in question and that you did not check out immediately. You really don't have any damages to be compensated for more than what you paid to Priceline.
As an FYI, I had a very bad experience at a Days Inn in Indianapolis. The hotel was a dive, but I had no choice but to stay there, as my vehicle had broken down, and it was after midnight. I immediately emailed Days Inn customer service department and received a response that my complaint would be investigated. Turns out, I was staying at a franchisee's property and not a corporate property. However, I received a further reply in 10 days from the corporate customer service department saying that I would receive a full refund for my stay and an apology for both the delay in getting back to me and blatant deterioration of the hotel. I received the check 5 days later.
By the way, you may need to do some further investigation. Is the Holiday Inn you stayed at a corporate property or owned by a franchisee. It will make a difference if you actually do sue the hotel.
I am unclear how much you paid to Priceline for the room, taxes and $5.95 service charge, but is it really worth it to go for the jugular and sue Priceline? I don't think that Priceline misrepresented itself. Regarding the $10 for parking, many hotels in Priceline's inventory do not provide free parking, so I think that point is moot.
I'm just wondering whether it is worth your time to sue either Priceline or the Holiday Inn. You did stay overnight for the one night.
I understand your frustration, but at best you'll file suit in Small Claims Court. There is no discovery process in Small Claims Court. If you file suit in the county you live in, it's still going to be many months before your suit is heard. If the defending party does not show up, you will win by default, however, you're still going to have to have the judgment served upon the defendant. You'll be out of pocket more money and time going the route you are planning.
My suggestion is to contact both Holiday Inn's corporate office and Priceline and write about your dissatisfaction, but write calmly and rationally. Wait 15-20 days for a reply, and if that doesn't work, write a demand letter for a refund and send that by certified mail. If you don't get satisfactory resolution by then, go ahead and file a small claims action and go to court. However, if the defending party does send a representative to court, don't be surprised if you don't win your claim. The judge will say that you did stay at the Holiday Inn on the night in question and that you did not check out immediately. You really don't have any damages to be compensated for more than what you paid to Priceline.
As an FYI, I had a very bad experience at a Days Inn in Indianapolis. The hotel was a dive, but I had no choice but to stay there, as my vehicle had broken down, and it was after midnight. I immediately emailed Days Inn customer service department and received a response that my complaint would be investigated. Turns out, I was staying at a franchisee's property and not a corporate property. However, I received a further reply in 10 days from the corporate customer service department saying that I would receive a full refund for my stay and an apology for both the delay in getting back to me and blatant deterioration of the hotel. I received the check 5 days later.
By the way, you may need to do some further investigation. Is the Holiday Inn you stayed at a corporate property or owned by a franchisee. It will make a difference if you actually do sue the hotel.
Dec 4th, 2003, 04:13 PM
#36
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Flopmeister, I can't believe PL won't refund your money. Unfortunately I threw away the copy of the e-mail where PL issued the refund for our stay. You might mention that you KNOW others have received refunds for checking out early from substandand accomodations. My letter from PL did state that they called the Holiday Inn and HI admitted they gave me a bad room. When speaking to PL I would mention the filth factor which is the main reason you checked out. Hope this helps.
Dec 4th, 2003, 04:15 PM
#37
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Leslie: Flop only stayed one night but he paid almost $600 for x number of nights. Doing your "calm, rational" letter is a waste of time. All that does is give PL & HI a chance to push the paper around. File the Small Claims Court action.It's quick. It's easy. That gets it directly to Legal Counsel (or whomever each has to process these actions). They will reimburse. Guaranteed. Regardless of the "subjective/objective" criteria mentioned above, there is a basic assumption about what constitutes a "3 star" & the HI in FLL where Flop booked does not even come close! So, pay up & let's move on!
Dec 4th, 2003, 08:08 PM
#39
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TxTravelPro--my understanding was that AAA doesn't check lower star levels yearly, but I know they are in our hotel, a 4*, every single year, with a new evaluation provided following each inspection. I'm not sure at what level they stop checking annually, as GoTravel, who also is or was in the industry, said the 3*'s are also checked yearly.
I know hotels rate themselves for Priceline purposes following the guidelines they set out. One of the discounters, and I forget which now, is using AAA ratings but pays for the privelege. Their rating program must be expensive to maintain so I can understand their being touchy about people appropriating it!! When our hotel is inspected they check in anonymously paying the going room rate, spend the night, eat in the restaurants etc, all at their expense, and on top of that, there's the cost of getting here. I'd be touchy about it too in their shoes!
I know hotels rate themselves for Priceline purposes following the guidelines they set out. One of the discounters, and I forget which now, is using AAA ratings but pays for the privelege. Their rating program must be expensive to maintain so I can understand their being touchy about people appropriating it!! When our hotel is inspected they check in anonymously paying the going room rate, spend the night, eat in the restaurants etc, all at their expense, and on top of that, there's the cost of getting here. I'd be touchy about it too in their shoes!
Dec 5th, 2003, 05:25 AM
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Hi Olive...
I would not be surprised if the 4/5 star props get rated more often but if all hotels are reviewed every year, how does this Holiday Inn have a 3 star rating in AAA 2003? Before we paid to use AAA we had a look-see of all the websites to see what they use. Most using the "Star" rating type appear to use an unofficial copy of the AAA guide. If the hotels submit this information themselves I suppose it would make sense that they would align.
Being very close to this stuff, I have learned that ratings are really just a guide, at best. The best reports are first person by persons not being paid to rate the property... but then you have to worry if the person was angry when writing it or if it is someone from the hotel itself writing the review. When I was a travel agent I took extensive FAM trips and learned about the hotels in the cities my account traveled to... For those cities, I was the best rating guide my clients could get. Forums like this are akin to experienced travel agents for do it yourself-ers.
I would not be surprised if the 4/5 star props get rated more often but if all hotels are reviewed every year, how does this Holiday Inn have a 3 star rating in AAA 2003? Before we paid to use AAA we had a look-see of all the websites to see what they use. Most using the "Star" rating type appear to use an unofficial copy of the AAA guide. If the hotels submit this information themselves I suppose it would make sense that they would align.
Being very close to this stuff, I have learned that ratings are really just a guide, at best. The best reports are first person by persons not being paid to rate the property... but then you have to worry if the person was angry when writing it or if it is someone from the hotel itself writing the review. When I was a travel agent I took extensive FAM trips and learned about the hotels in the cities my account traveled to... For those cities, I was the best rating guide my clients could get. Forums like this are akin to experienced travel agents for do it yourself-ers.
