Online motel bait and switch pricing.

[slo town]

Sounds like the Econo Lodge in Palm Coast

I don't remember what hotel brand it was, but it was bad, really bad.

While making a road trip to Denver last year I stayed at a Best Western Plus in Kingman AZ. That room was just as bad. I actually pulled back the covers and sheets to inspect the bed before using it. The bathroom was just as horrible. To this day I am mystified what I didn't find another place to stay that night.

The hotel was packed too. Only while going for my free breakfast the following morning did I learn that Kingman was using this hotel to house the homeless. It's worth asking a hotel if they are doing this, but I've been told they won't answer this question.

Scott

 

[Astro14]

I’ve booked a few thousand hotel rooms for my own travel.

I am not including the few thousand hotel rooms in which have stayed that were booked by my employer, either airline or Navy.

But, on my own, it’s a few thousand. About 1000 in Marriott alone.

I get the best deals, the best value, and the best rooms and service by booking directly with the hotel chain. I typically use the app, but sometimes I will use their website.

Travelocity, trivago, hotels.com, Priceline, I’ve tried them all, and the very modest savings do not make up for all the negatives. Negatives like lower priority when it comes to Room assignment, inability to accumulate points, or status, that subsequently gets you recognized and get you a better room.

In general, I get just as good a rate by going to say, Hilton, or Marriott, or IHG directly. And when I book directly, I get a good room. I accrue status. They recognize me as a frequent customer.

It is a better way to book.

 

[Zee09]

I don't remember what hotel brand it was, but it was bad, really bad.

While making a road trip to Denver last year I stayed at a Best Western Plus in Kingman AZ. That room was just as bad. I actually pulled back the covers and sheets to inspect the bed before using it. The bathroom was just as horrible. To this day I am mystified what I didn't find another place to stay that night.

The hotel was packed too. Only while going for my free breakfast the following morning did I learn that Kingman was using this hotel to house the homeless. It's worth asking a hotel if they are doing this, but I've been told they won't answer this question.

Scott

I had a similar stay in a Red Roof Inn.
Signed up for 5 days and left the first morning. People snuck in dogs that barked all night and above my floor it sounded like they had a bowling alley. I just handed in my keys and didn't even ask for a refund.
I was surprised they refunded me anyway...
After that I rent houses even though I travel solo..

 

[slo town]

I’ve booked a few thousand hotel rooms for my own travel.

I am not including the few thousand hotel rooms in which have stayed that were booked by my employer, either airline or Navy.

But, on my own, it’s a few thousand. About 1000 in Marriott alone.

I get the best deals, the best value, and the best rooms and service by booking directly with the hotel chain. I typically use the app, but sometimes I will use their website.

Travelocity, trivago, hotels.com, Priceline, I’ve tried them all, and the very modest savings do not make up for all the negatives. Negatives like lower priority when it comes to Room assignment, inability to accumulate points, or status, that subsequently gets you recognized and get you a better room.

In general, I get just as good a rate by going to say, Hilton, or Marriott, or IHG directly. And when I book directly, I get a good room. I accrue status. They recognize me as a frequent customer.

It is a better way to book.

^^^ This!

Scott

 

[dishdude]

Check out this place, lol!

https://www.expedia.com/Pittsburgh-Hotels-Hilltop-Inn.h26335.Hotel-Information

 

[vavavroom]

Check the room rate that is posted on your room's door. My last one said $480 per night but the online price for that night was just under $100. And that was in a town that didn't have conventions as far as I could tell.

 

[y_p_w]

I’ve booked a few thousand hotel rooms for my own travel.

I am not including the few thousand hotel rooms in which have stayed that were booked by my employer, either airline or Navy.

But, on my own, it’s a few thousand. About 1000 in Marriott alone.

I get the best deals, the best value, and the best rooms and service by booking directly with the hotel chain. I typically use the app, but sometimes I will use their website.

Travelocity, trivago, hotels.com, Priceline, I’ve tried them all, and the very modest savings do not make up for all the negatives. Negatives like lower priority when it comes to Room assignment, inability to accumulate points, or status, that subsequently gets you recognized and get you a better room.

In general, I get just as good a rate by going to say, Hilton, or Marriott, or IHG directly. And when I book directly, I get a good room. I accrue status. They recognize me as a frequent customer.

It is a better way to book.

Depends on different factors.

I know with previous opaque booking I could tell that I got the "Priceline room". But then again I got that room for $40 a night when others in the lobby were talking about paying over $100. Certainly you might get what you pay for

However, there are all sorts of discounts, such as a AAA rate.

I also had this issue where I booked a room through an online travel agency. It wasn't opaque, but I saw a graphic saying that parking was included. I called the hotel to verify my booking and they said it was, but that they had no free parking with my reservation. But I saved a copy of my reservation with the graphic, the clerk showed it to the manager, and I got the free parking.

The only serious issue I had where it seemed that there was no reservation. But I should have called ahead of time. Then the clerk said he needed to look at the "folio" - a file of reservation requests. This was a small regional chain that was apparently being bought out by Hyatt. That may have been more about how they did business than anything else. I suppose there was a distinct chance they might overbook since a lot of their processes were done manually.

Other than that, I make sure to call up the hotel to make sure that they have my reservation.

I'll almost always check directly with the hotel chain's website to see if I can get a similar or even better rate. That's often the case when there are club discounts.

 

[bunnspecial]

I’ve booked a few thousand hotel rooms for my own travel.

I am not including the few thousand hotel rooms in which have stayed that were booked by my employer, either airline or Navy.

But, on my own, it’s a few thousand. About 1000 in Marriott alone.

I get the best deals, the best value, and the best rooms and service by booking directly with the hotel chain. I typically use the app, but sometimes I will use their website.

Travelocity, trivago, hotels.com, Priceline, I’ve tried them all, and the very modest savings do not make up for all the negatives. Negatives like lower priority when it comes to Room assignment, inability to accumulate points, or status, that subsequently gets you recognized and get you a better room.

In general, I get just as good a rate by going to say, Hilton, or Marriott, or IHG directly. And when I book directly, I get a good room. I accrue status. They recognize me as a frequent customer.

It is a better way to book.

I've never booked through a 3rd party site, but for all the reasons you mention wouldn't want to.

When traveling to an unknown area, I often go IHG and Holiday Inn Express specifically. They aren't the nicest or fanciest, but they are a known entity and I know that I'm going to end up in a clean room with a serviceable bed.

The points are definitely a nice bonus, especially for my wife and I back in our pre-child days where we'd take a spur of the moment weekend trip and more than once I booked a room on points only. Now we often split our longer trips up into two or more days(it's just easier for everyone...) and usually use points for our "road hotels."

At one point too I had pretty decent status at Radisson, who I think is now part of someone else(I forget who). When my wife and I got married, in the middle of COVID and with me having started a new job prior, we couldn't really take a proper honeymoon at the time but took a couple days to a touristy area. For whatever reason, the Radisson where we normally stayed there was ludicrous, and I booked just their basic room. I had called ahead to ask about some of their nicer suite pricing, but had ended up not book. Much to my surprise, we ended up on the top floor corner suite-the floor that the elevator wouldn't stop at unless you swiped your key card, and basically the fanciest they had. I can say it was a much-appreciated upgraded, especially as that was a $400/night room that I paid $80 for.

That's the only time I've been upgraded, but I suspect my history with the chain, and that property in particular, probably got us that upgrade.

 

[John105]

Again I normally start with Marriott, but will also check a 3rd party site to have various brands summarized. I feel there's no harm in doing so. Work uses SAP Concur and it's presented in the same manner.

I do agree it's preferable to book directly unless a price difference. My recent experience with 3 airline tix costing north of $1,500 each, was that the same flight through United directly was significantly more.

But also, as I pointed out, a screenshot said changes could be made--paid more for it (maybe not a correct amount like $10 per ticket?). On the United website this reservation is non cancellable and no changes can be made. I do believe United is correct. but good luck fighting Travelocity about it. I am certain there is fine print that protects them from a web programming error. I'm not saying it was deliberate, but there would have been no way to hold them accountable.

 

[Dave Hess]

I always book flights directly with hotel, airline and car rental company.

 

[Astro14]

Again I normally start with Marriott, but will also check a 3rd party site to have various brands summarized. I feel there's no harm in doing so. Work uses SAP Concur and it's presented in the same manner.

I do agree it's preferable to book directly unless a price difference. My recent experience with 3 airline tix costing north of $1,500 each, was that the same flight through United directly was significantly more.

But also, as I pointed out, a screenshot said changes could be made--paid more for it (maybe not a correct amount like $10 per ticket?). On the United website this reservation is non cancellable and no changes can be made. I do believe United is correct. but good luck fighting Travelocity about it. I am certain there is fine print that protects them from a web programming error. I'm not saying it was deliberate, but there would have been no way to hold them accountable.

United does not charge a change fee, so you can always change the flight, but you’re responsible for the difference in fare price between the tickets at the time of the change. That includes a refund, which I’ve received as travel credit when the new flight is less than the old.

The do offer “fully refundable” fares, which allow cancellation for a full refund, but those tickets are in a higher price tier.

I buy economy tickets. I can change them, no fee, and check luggage, no fee.

Basic economy is the lowest tier, quite inexpensive, but does not allow carry on luggage.

 

[y_p_w]

I've never booked through a 3rd party site, but for all the reasons you mention wouldn't want to.

When traveling to an unknown area, I often go IHG and Holiday Inn Express specifically. They aren't the nicest or fanciest, but they are a known entity and I know that I'm going to end up in a clean room with a serviceable bed.

The points are definitely a nice bonus, especially for my wife and I back in our pre-child days where we'd take a spur of the moment weekend trip and more than once I booked a room on points only. Now we often split our longer trips up into two or more days(it's just easier for everyone...) and usually use points for our "road hotels."

At one point too I had pretty decent status at Radisson, who I think is now part of someone else(I forget who). When my wife and I got married, in the middle of COVID and with me having started a new job prior, we couldn't really take a proper honeymoon at the time but took a couple days to a touristy area. For whatever reason, the Radisson where we normally stayed there was ludicrous, and I booked just their basic room. I had called ahead to ask about some of their nicer suite pricing, but had ended up not book. Much to my surprise, we ended up on the top floor corner suite-the floor that the elevator wouldn't stop at unless you swiped your key card, and basically the fanciest they had. I can say it was a much-appreciated upgraded, especially as that was a $400/night room that I paid $80 for.

That's the only time I've been upgraded, but I suspect my history with the chain, and that property in particular, probably got us that upgrade.

I’ve been updated before - often just randomly. My wife has suggested slipping a $20 to a desk clerk at check-in, but that just feels slimy and I refuse to do it. Usually just an upgrade to a larger bed size. I’ve never really had any kind of status related upgrade. Once we were upgraded to a suite, but my wife booked it. I guess the weirdest was once on a solo trip when I was running really late, was driving through heavy snow over Donner Pass, and made it to Reno later than the check in time I’d stated for my reservation. It was at an older property so the rate was really cheap (I think around $35). When I got there the clerk said my reservation was guaranteed, but for some reason they’d already placed all the rooms in my reserved category. So they just gave me what they still had, which was a deluxe suite on the top floor. It was some sort of weird 70s time warp, although it seemed older, but well maintained. It had a wet bar but with lots of Formica.

 

[97prizm]

I'm driving down to Augusta GA area on Thursday to deliver a car and was checking motel prices. So I see some fairly reasonable rates starting at $33,

View attachment 192832

but when I click on the listing, none of them have that rate,

View attachment 192833

I know they add taxes and fees, but still, the base rates are not what is first listed. And why can't you book a room with them directly? I didn't find a website for the motel. Wouldn't it be cheaper if they didn't have to pay a fee to the listing agents?

I worked for a Best Western for seven years. Hotel rates can fluctuate several times per day. One day can change a hotel night by $100 depending on the hotel. Many chains offer an inexpensive prepaid "internet only" rate which is not refundable for any reason.

 

[zzyzzx]

In general, I get just as good a rate by going to say, Hilton, or Marriott, or IHG directly. And when I book directly, I get a good room. I accrue status. They recognize me as a frequent customer.

It is a better way to book.

It's the same way for Atlantic City casino hotels.

 

[y_p_w]

I stayed at an older hotel/casino (Riviera) in Vegas once where I couldn't find a way to book directly. There are a fair number of independently operated hotels that choose to only work through third parties without any direct bookings.

The place itself was clean but the room looked old and outdated. They eventually tore it down but I don't think they ever built a new hotel but just used the land for other purposes like expanding the LV Convention Center.