I'm dyin' here! Yesterday I made a reservation on the Ramada site for next June and went in to change some dates, only to find out it was a pre-paid reservation, cannot be changed or cancelled. I'm here to tell you there was NOTHING on the site nor in my confirmation email stating that fact. I called customer service and ended up with a really cold person who pretty much said there was nothing that could be done but she would give me a "case number" that Reservations would look into it and I'd get an answer by Aug 27. I don't know if my poor heart can wait that long. Oh Lord, I'm sick...

Are you certain there was nothing on the site? Usually they list several different prices, and then in teeny tiny print, next to the lowest price, it will say it's non-refundable.

Oh well. Maybe they'll change it for you - but you'll probably have to pay the higher rate.

Good luck. (I hate non-refundable stuff - except Priceline. That I understand - and it can be SO Cheap!)

First, relax - my GUESS is that this may be fixable.

First, are you absolutely positive you made reservation on Ramada website and not Travelocity, Expedia, etc. These sites have lower rates than hotel brand website for prepaid reservations - did you get sucked in by that? When I have made reservations this way, my confirmation sometimes does not indicate it is prepaid.

If you are absolutely sure this is not the case, I would call the hotel directly during regular business hours and be really, really nice to the desk clerk and see if hotel will change dates.

Since it is for next June, I am also guessing that it is for some event for which availability might be an issue - graduation, convention, etc. If that is the case, then if availability is a problem, you may be stuck.

Let us know how it went.

Thanks folks - I'm trying to calm down but it's tough! I am sure it was on Ramada.com and I've used it many times in the past so I wasn't a bit uncomfortable in holding the rooms with a credit card. I just re-read my confirmation email and in one area it does state, "There will be no credit or refund for early departures, cancellations, no shows, or changes in your reservation for any reason".

I believe I'm in trouble.

'Scuse me while I go rid myself of breakfast......

Call the hotel directly (NOT the national 800 #). You'll most likely get much better results.

^ That is actually a great idea. Ask to speak to the manager. Call tomorrow (Monday).

Yes, call the hotel directly and speak with a reservations manager.

Unless your dates fall over a large convention or holiday, they should be able to fix it for you.

Please tell me this isn't for a Ramada Inn in South Florida?

Can you pull up the reservation page on ramada.com and put in the dates you booked, and see if the same rates are showing and if so, the policies re: booking the same rate that you booked? If there is nothing that shows it is not cancellable, print the page and if ramada won't resolve the issue, you could try disputing the charge with your credit card company and provide them with a copy of the page that shows there is nothign about it being a nonrefundable, nonchangeable rate.

i would alo go back to the page where you made the reservation and see how it was announced about the no refunds there so you recognize it in the future.

if you use that site often, you won't want that to happen again.

The reservations page definitely states there are two different rates - one regular and one for prepaid. I'm sitting here with my head down shaking it back and forth - I can't believe I didn't see that....

I will call the hotel tomorrow morning. We have stayed there many times in the past, including last May and we are going again next month, so it's not like we're one-hit-wonders. Oh Lord, I hope somebody had a nice weekend and will be in a good mood.

GoTravel - New Orleans.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and suggestions, folks. You're the best.

My daughter did this in booking the Novotel at Bangkok airport. She knew it was non-refundable but didn't take account of the fact that she arrived there the day after she left the U.K. and so booked the wrong date. She emailed the hotel and they were fine. This was within a week of departure. She wasn't trying to cancel which I think might have been different but just changing the date.

Wahhhooooo!!!!

I took your advices and called the hotel direct. "No problem, ma'am, it hasn't been charged to your card yet and we can go ahead and cancel right now".
Have I ever learned a lesson - WATCH WHAT YOU'RE CLICKING ON.

Thanks for everybody's support - I love you guys!!!

YAY!

Oh, Ccolor, I am happy for you! You are so lucky!

Yes, Ramada's website reservations are non-refundable, and to read that, there is a button somewhere when you are making those reservations only, otherwise you can't see it on the website.

And if you don't think about it, it's so easy to miss!!

I know about it as I was making reservations in Canada, and AARP and internet special rates were the same price, only AARP offered 48-hrs cancellation right.

I have a call in to the General Manager of the hotel to tell her how happy her staff has made me. Hopefully, those girls will get a pat on the back for their great attitudes and customer service!

All's well that ends well. This is a good example of how different it is to deal directly with the people on the scene and not the neverland of the 800#, when it comes to hotels.