Getting my Deposit Back

Incapuppy

photome wrote: »

Although of course while in Vegas it will be free as is all car parking

I am unaware if this is true or not, all I am able to do is refer to my current Virgin Holidays USA brochure:

Some hotel information states FREE parking

Some hotel information states parking charged, eg: Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip - self parking approx $8 per day

Some hotel information does not mention a charge for parking

As per the above examples (and of course allowing for errors and omissions in brochures and on websites) I try very hard not to assume anything

tingtong

Incapuppy wrote: »

Yes, if I had specifically chosen that hotel and if the hotel was priced the same elsewhere - the $70 is payable directly to the hotel, its not as if booked through another agent you wouldn't have to pay it at all.

I can understand why the OP is frustrated but if he is going to cancel and re-book the same hotel elsewhere at the same price he is causing himself additional stress and use of lots of time for nothing more than proving a point.

$70 for a week's resort fee in Vegas (and in hotels in many other parts of the US) is actually quite cheap; let's just hope the OP doesn't need hotel parking for a car or else he may be in for another nasty surprise.

I think you are missing the point, if you read the quote below Alpharooms do show an extra fee of $1 per day, total $7. So how do you work out it is acceptable to now have to pay an extra $70. What if the resort fee was $20 per day, would that also be OK ?

I don't agree with resort fees in any form, as they are completely unavoidable - it should be costed in to give a true , upfront price. However, as long as you are made aware of what the resort fee is before you make the booking, then you do have a choice whether or not to book. This is clearly not the case with Alpharooms, they seem to let you book without accurately stating the resort fee payable at the hotel.

StuieUK34 wrote: »

In short, booked a hotel though ATOL/ABTA UK operated website, namely Alpharooms.com
I paid the deposit for a hotel ready for June next year....
The advert/details for a hotel room show the total cost, and advise there is a $1 per day fee which has to be paid to the hotel directly.
So as above, advert would say cost of room is TOTAL £275 and the addition of $7 total paid directly to the hotel on arrival.

I have since found that i will be hit with a fee for $69.65 upon arrival at my hotel, a fee which is not advertised, stated, advised about in my booking, therefore I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD into buying a service that is not fully disclosed in terms of costs. Terms and conditions do not state additional charges

photome

Incapuppy wrote: »

I am unaware if this is true or not, all I am able to do is refer to my current Virgin Holidays USA brochure:

Some hotel information states FREE parking

Some hotel information states parking charged, eg: Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip - self parking approx $8 per day

Some hotel information does not mention a charge for parking

As per the above examples (and of course allowing for errors and omissions in brochures and on websites) I try very hard not to assume anything

I am with Ting Tong on resort fees, and if you read the american Vegas threads there is lots of opposition.

On Parking. I have been to Vegas many times and had a car every time, Never paid to park at any hotel on the strip, they all have self parking and Valet parking as do all shopping malls, both of which are free although the valet parkers expect a tip ( I give them $2). Hilton grand vacations is an exception rather than the rule.

ferf1223

photome wrote: »

On Parking. I have been to Vegas many times and had a car every time, Never paid to park at any hotel on the strip, they all have self parking and Valet parking as do all shopping malls, both of which are free although the valet parkers expect a tip ( I give them $2). Hilton grand vacations is an exception rather than the rule.

Agree...Hilton Grand Vacations isn't a hotel as such, so perhaps it's different...unaware of any hotel on the strip that charges for parking.

StuieUK34

tingtong wrote: »

I think you are missing the point, if you read the quote below Alpharooms do show an extra fee of $1 per day, total $7. So how do you work out it is acceptable to now have to pay an extra $70. What if the resort fee was $20 per day, would that also be OK ?

I don't agree with resort fees in any form, as they are completely unavoidable - it should be costed in to give a true , upfront price. However, as long as you are made aware of what the resort fee is before you make the booking, then you do have a choice whether or not to book. This is clearly not the case with Alpharooms, they seem to let you book without accurately stating the resort fee payable at the hotel.

Hit the Nail on the head!
Alpharooms take a booking without stating there will be a fee of $9.95 per day as a resort fee..
And more importantly, they state there is a fee of $1 per day instead.
So either way you look at it, its incorrect info in both ways...
If i would have known of additional costs before i booked with Alpharooms, i would'nt have booked.
And no, i wont be rebooking the same hotel so wont be causing myself any stress either..
I will keep my eyes peeled and wait for a miracle cheap deal to appear for any strip hotel + Resort fee to = £275 as thats what my budget allows...

photome

StuieUK34 wrote: »

Hit the Nail on the head!
Alpharooms take a booking without stating there will be a fee of $9.95 per day as a resort fee..
And more importantly, they state there is a fee of $1 per day instead.
So either way you look at it, its incorrect info in both ways...
If i would have known of additional costs before i booked with Alpharooms, i would'nt have booked.
And no, i wont be rebooking the same hotel so wont be causing myself any stress either..
I will keep my eyes peeled and wait for a miracle cheap deal to appear for any strip hotel + Resort fee to = £275 as thats what my budget allows...

What if it doesnt?

Alhtough I think it should be doable, I usually allow a budget of about £40 a night on average (weekends are higher) so a week for £280, I can usually do that in a better hotel than the Excalibur. often have to goo off strip to the Orleans for the fri and sat night tho

StuieUK34

Just checked on alpharooms, for several different dates, now only showing 3 hotels to choose from.. They list the Tropicana, and now state in there "be aware that this hotel charges a resort fee which gives you access to......... "

Thank god i took a screen print the other day !!! (where it doesnt say that)

StuieUK34

OK.....
Had my response from ABTA for raising a case with them with regards to being mislead into a booking which hadn't disclosed the full information.

The letter doesnt state that i dont have a case.
The letter doesnt say whether Alpharooms are in breach for not disclosing the full costs associated with the booking.

The letter actually says (the way i translate it), is i can pursue the situation further, but should i lose, i could be liable for a cost of £175 which outways the cost of the £57 i am seeking.
This means that regardless of prinicipal, i should let a company keep my £57 as its only a small amount (do it to 100 people, its not a small amount!)
The letter also trys to distance itself in terms of what to do, as the wording kinda makes it say "yeah, you should have been fully informed of all costs, but as you werent, and your seeking such a small amount, just leave it as the paperwork and ballache which would go with this will be a nightmare"..

Great, so ABTA are pretty useless
So based on the above, i am now going to find a solicitor who does the first 15 mins free to access the details, then start the small claims procedure. Do not care if i get a bent judge and lose the case either, this is out of principal.

Oh, and i'll be creating my own hotel booking website pretty soon. Guess i'll call it 'Megacheaprooms-bling-bling' , terms will be same as most (make a deposit to book, but should you cancel, you lose it).. Where another website charges say £200 for a weeks stay, i'll advertise my rates for £60 for the week (with a £40 deposit), people will pay as its soooooooooo cheap, then once they pay, i'll email the customer and say there is an additional charge of £500 to pay . Most will say they want to cancel as there not paying £300 extra as such, lose there £40 deposit, happy days!!
That is a Metaphor for what Alpharooms are doing, its not about what the cost is, its about not knowing the full facts. If they can do it as a legit business model, then surely i can run it as a scam? Am gonna run it by the Trading standards guy i have a meeting with this afternoon with regards to Alpharooms, am sure he'll just ignore me