A diabetic episode — but no sympathy from Radisson Blu
What do a diabetic episode and a hotel’s expensive taste in lamps have to do with consumer advocacy? A lot, if you’re Sharon Kimball.
What happens if your travel agent doesn’t pay your Best Western bill?
Two months after Ionela Sufaru stayed at the Best Western Atlantic Beach Hotel, she noticed a mysterious charge on her credit card. The hotel was making her pay for her stay again.
TripAdvisor left me on the hook for a $900 cancellation fee
Adelaide Northrop’s preferred accommodation in St John, U.S. Virgin Islands, is unavailable so she books an alternative hotel through Tripadvisor that is advertised as having a zero penalty cancellation policy. When her first choice suddenly offers her a reservation, she happily confirms. The problem? Tripadvisor charges her a $911 cancellation fee.
A hotel reimbursement from American Airlines? Get it in writing
When John Thompson lands in Washington D.C., he discovers that the last connecting flight to Boston has left without him. An American Airlines representative assures him not to worry — he will be put on a flight the next morning and his hotel will be covered for the night. So why is his request for reimbursement rejected?
These new Sun Valley hotels are the subversive stars of the snow
They’re sleek, stylish — and a little subversive. They’re the new Sun Valley hotels, the Hotel Ketchum and the Limelight Hotel, and they already have stories to tell.
You’ll never do business with them again? We’ll see
So you’ll never do business with them again?
We see it all the time: “I’ll never fly that airline.” “I’ll never rent cars from that agency.” “This is why I never book a travel reservation through that company.” “I never stay at a hotel in that chain.” Many of our stories and forum threads contain some variation of “I’ll never do business with” some company.
OK, that’s certainly your choice. But here’s why you should keep it to yourself.
My hotel is being used as Section 8 temporary housing. I demand a refund!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Maria Telegdy’s photos from her recent stay at a Relax Inn would make for a disturbing novel. Since we don’t have space for a novel here, we’ll just have to summarize her case and share the images with you.
Downgraded to an inferior hotel — is this worth only $79?
Ellen Kim reserved three nights at the Hotel San Zulian in Venice, Italy, through Booking.com. But when she checked in, a representative told her the property was overbooked and sent her to the Hotel Panada.
My reserved hotel left me stranded during the eclipse
Bill Chromizky and his wife are excited to travel to the path of this summer’s solar eclipse. They book a hotel in advance through Expedia, but when they arrive, they’re told that their reservation had been canceled. The Chromizkys are forced to relocate to a more expensive hotel. Can our advocates bring them some sunshine and reimbursement for their extra expense?
Why won’t Priceline honor its own price guarantee?
When Beverly Hoff spots a lower price for her hotel, she asks Priceline to honor its “Best Price Guarantee.” But Priceline unexpectedly reverses its credit to Hoff’s account and wins a chargeback months later. Can our advocates persuade Priceline to return the credit to Hoff?
At hotels, ‘for your convenience’ rarely is
Look out — the hotel “convenience” wave is spreading.
Hotel resort fees, hidden charges bemoaned by travelers, are climbing higher than ever
Tamara Myers thought that her hotel bill at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino would come to $415. At least that’s what Otel.com, the website through which she booked the room, promised her.
Accidentally booked 10 nonrefundable nights instead of one on Expedia
Roland Tognazzini pushes the wrong key when he reserves a room through Expedia and ends up with nine extra unwanted rooms. They’re nonrefundable. Is there any way to fix the error?
If you book a room with one bed, you should expect a room with one bed
Moinuddin Sayed booked a room on Priceline with one bed, which is exactly what the Sheraton Rockville gave him.
I’m still waiting for a refund from Hotels.com
When Mike Foley cancels his resort reservation, Hotels.com promises him a refund. But more than a year later, his $1,400 is still missing.
There were larvae in my room. Shouldn’t Hotels.com refund me?
When Stephanie Slovon discovers that her hotel room is infested with insects, she immediately checks out, but is stung by Hotels.com’s refusal to issue her a refund. Can some buzz from our advocates in Hotels.com’s ear produce some compensation for Slovon?
Help! Choice Hotels canceled our reservation to see the eclipse
More than a year in advance, Nancy Barnby secures her lodging inside the direct path of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse viewing area in Oregon. Now she needs our help because that hotel has changed hands and her reservation has been summarily discarded by the new owner. With just weeks left before the eclipse, is there any way to save her celestial experience?
Can a hotel charge you for damage that it hasn’t proven?
After her family’s stay at the Island Country Inn on Bainbridge Island, Wash., Camille Derricotte found an unexpected and mysterious charge on her credit card.
This new hotel design concept blurs lines between work and play
As you walk into the 4290 Bistro at the Crowne Plaza Palo Alto, in California’s Silicon Valley, you’ll see a plaque commemorating the property’s place in technology history. It was here that Internet pioneers Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn developed the TCP specification in 1973.
He noticed the fine print one moment too late
Luis Gonzalez of Miami is out $570. He wants us to help him get his money back. It all comes down to taking the time to read what is on your computer screen before you click the button that says “buy.”
Can you smoke medical marijuana in your “smoking room” at the Hampton Inn?
Hilton is charging Mary Zimmerman a $45 smoking fee because one of her relatives smoked in a hotel room. Well, of course she did. It was a smoking room.
Why should I pay for my stay in a bedbug-infested hotel?
When Julia Ingle books a four-day stay at a Days Inn in San Antonio through Hotwire.com, she isn’t expecting a broken box spring, bloodstained sheets and bedbugs. But that’s exactly what she gets. What she doesn’t get is a refund from Days Inn. Can our advocates help her get compensated for what she got?
Help! My cat was hit in the parking lot of the Motel 6
When Lisa Starrett’s cat was run over by a car in a motel parking lot, she was faced with a $2,500 vet and hospital bill.
I canceled my reservation so why did the hotel still charge me?
When Narayan Ghimire was forced to cancel his hotel reservation on the morning of his planned stay, he did not expect any further charges from the hotel. So when the hotel charged his credit card three times the amount of the original reservation, he believed he was a victim of fraud.
What does your airline owe you when it cancels your flight?
Liz Vivas was planning on spending the weekend in Los Angeles. She was traveling with Delta Air Lines on business to speak at a conference. But the night before she was due to fly, she received a text informing her that her flight was canceled.
My hotel was under a complete renovation — I want a refund
Caleb Short makes a reservation through Travelocity for a three-night stay at the Solstice Hotel in Erie, Pa. When he checks in, he finds the property in the midst of renovation work that makes him feel that it’s an unfit place to stay. Hotel management promises him a refund, then reneges. Travelocity refuses to help. Can we?
A mystery smell costs this hotel guest $200
What caused the bad smell in Megan McCarron’s hotel room? A cigarette? A joint? Or was there no bad smell at all – just an attempt by the hotel to collect an additional $200 from McCarron? That’s what she suspects. And for good reason: neither she nor her boyfriend smokes.