Is this fair?

chickaroonee

Hi all

I won this comp: https://countrylife.ipcmediasecure.com/competitions/5493

I got sent through the details from the promoter only a couple of weeks ago, with further terms attached. They said hotels could be booked for up to 12 months, which was great and better than I'd thought, other main terms were:

The arrangement relates to standard double room accommodation only.

• It is always subject to availability; (i.e. at the hotel’s discretion. If a booking is requested during the hotel’s peak season, they are entitled to deny confirmation).

• A maximum of five (5) room nights can be requested per hotel, per stay.

• A minimum of two (2) weeks notice must be given.

• All food, beverages, taxes, and other incidental costs incurred by the guest are to be settled prior to departure from, and direct with, the individual hotel.

• Guests who choose to utilise their room nights at an all-inclusive SLH hotel will incur an additional charge, which will vary depending on the property selected.

All fine by me, so we enquired about Ngala hotel in South Africa and I got this response:

am very sorry to tell you that Ngala and Bateleur Camp will no longer be part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and I am therefore unable to assist you at these hotels.

Do you have a different destination I may asset you with?

Furthermore the Game Lodges generally include Food & Beverage and game drives etc in their daily rate and as your prize voucher is for accommodation only they will either charge 2 prize nights for every one night stayed or a daily supplement in order to cover the extras.

OK so thought fair enough, flights probably too much anyway, always wanted to go to NY and found some good flights, so enquired about a hotel there and got this response:

I am afraid all our New York hotels have already allocated their prize room nights, and at the moment I cannot request any more - However, all hotels will 'top up their prize nights allocation in the first week of August and if you are prepared to wait until then I will happily submit your request at that point - obviously I can not guarantee that the hotel will be available, but I can certainly try for you.

if this is too risky for you and you prefer to have a confirmed reservation now, then I would ask you to please choose another destination.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Now I'm thinking what hotel is included?!

Am I being unreasonable at being a bit non plussed, and if not, any advice on a response?

Thanks if you managed to read this far!!

toniq

Ask him, what actually hotels are included and willt ake a booking then make a selection that way xxx

Short-n-Sweet

Personally sounds like a blag and i wouldnt be very happy with it.

Probably turn out that you can only stay in ONE place, therefore might aswell ask them where your "allowed" to stay! lol.

chickaroonee

I've been told that all hotels are included up til now, apparently I could pick any hotel - but when I have I can't if you know what I mean!

Paul.S_5

Sounds a bit like Jet2, got quite a runaround from them before finally managing to get flights!

cheznal

I have to agree with pp's, ask for a list of destinations that they have available and try to make a selection from there.

As for asking you to wait until August, that seems a bit bizarre as they 'can't guarantee it' as well as the fact that flights would cost a fortune too as August is a peak Holiday month

If all else fails, I would definately be looking into making a complaint about it, although I am not sure where you would stand. I hope you get it sorted soon.

Chez x

chickaroonee

Thanks I will email then and ask what hotels are actually included.

Hope I get a better answer!

chickaroonee

I have had an email back from the promoter, apparently none of these hotels are available:

22 Jermyn Street - London Sky Lodge - Utah Ngala Game Reserve - South Africa Inn at Irving Place NY Iroquois NY Les Ottomans - Turkey Londra Palace - Venice Lungarno - Florence Naladhu - Maldives Hotel Parisi - California Post Ranch Inn - California St James Paris - Paris The Stafford - London Esencia - Mexico Goring - London La Sultana - Marrakech Furore Inn - Italy Dolphin Bay - California Capital Hotel - London Sanctuary on Camel Back Mountain Vendome , Paris Casa Que Canta - mexico JK Place Capri - Capri Oberoi Bali Sri Panwa Hacienda de los Santos Coco Palm Budu Hiti Gran Hotel Elba Estepona The Bale La Stampa - Dublin Ca'Sagredo - Venice Tongsai Grand Villas Devonshire Arms The Levin - London Grand Hotel Cocumella - Sorrento Dylan Amsterdam Howard - Scotland Pillars at New River Sound Huntington Hotel SF Chateau Grand Barrail Rio Real Golf & Wellness - Spain Pachtuv Palace Qualia Atlantic Hotel - Jersey Relais Christine - Paris Kims BeachSide Lodge Rania Experience Katitchie Gate Lodge All Hotels in Russia Baros Residenza del Moro Hotel Vernet

Is it me or is that loads? Especially when the competition was for any of their hotels? I know it's subject to availability, but I took that to be hotel availability, not "prize night" availability

zippie01

....does that leave any hotels ?

chickaroonee

Yes it does but also includes loads of the ones I would have picked..

chickaroonee

Any thoughts? Really would like to know if people think I'm being unreasonable or not