Virgin holidays hidden parking fees

Cornish_Pasty

I've just returned from the Virgin Cajun Capers tour, which we went on as we were also able to use our Tesco ?vouchers to help pay for - thanks Mr Tesco.

On departure, as far as we were aware, all flights and hotel booking were paid for as well as the car rental and insurance. However, constantly throughout the holiday we were charged parking fees at each hotel we stayed at. I feel sure that as this is an advertised Fly drive holidayu, it's pretty obvious we're arriving with a car. Either these extra charges should have been mention to use when we received all the booking confirmations and vouchers or should have been already covered.

Has anyone else had this experience?:eek:

HXDave

Funnily enough, here in the UK, even though i pay 'road tax' in order to use the roads, when i park on the side of the road in my town, i have to pay car parking charges..........

Surely these should be included in the cost of my road tax?

Dave

Cornish_Pasty

These are car parking charges at the hotel car park - you know the car parks that are at the hotel that usually are included in the price, are free - or mentioned fees before you get there!!!! cocky travel agent - do you get much business?

I was under the impression that these forums were for asking questions and getting useful feedback - it's answers like that that put people off asking just a simple question. Mine was :

Has anyone else had this experience?

Simple eh? Guess I won't bother next time - thanks for the reply then

Incapuppy

When I was using a Virgin brochure last year to research a possible flydrive holiday I am pretty sure that, where applicable, the brochure stated the local charge for parking at each hotel in question.

PS: have just checked brochure, for some hotels the parking rate is advised or shown as reduced for Virgin guests or shown as free. The T&Cs in the back of the brochure suggest that they have provided info where possible but you should do your own research as to the suitability of the hotel, local charges etc.

photome

No experience of Virgin but I have never been on a holiday where parking charges are included, and as previous poster points out it is mentioned in brochure.

DeeLasVegas

I guess hotels in major cities (NY, Chicago etc) may charge for parking, just because parking is at a premium in these places. But I know parking is free here in Vegas at the major hotels.

VfM4meplse

DeeLasVegas wrote: »

But I know parking is free here in Vegas at the major hotels.

Because the hotels want you to stay for as long as possible, so you can spend as much as possible!

I'm not knocking Vegas btw, it is an amazing place, we have nothing comparable in the UK which is why you find so many Brits there!

Cornish_Pasty

The brochure mentioned nothing about the fees except the first one which is why I was ready for that one - this is why i double checked the entire brochure on my return. I don't mind paying the parking, just wanted to be ready for it - would have taken more money with me in preparation

ferf1223

Did the brochure not have the wording that Incapuppy noted?

Incapuppy wrote: »

PS: have just checked brochure, for some hotels the parking rate is advised or shown as reduced for Virgin guests or shown as free. The T&Cs in the back of the brochure suggest that they have provided info where possible but you should do your own research as to the suitability of the hotel, local charges etc.

photome

Cornish_Pasty wrote: »

The brochure mentioned nothing about the fees except the first one which is why I was ready for that one - this is why i double checked the entire brochure on my return. I don't mind paying the parking, just wanted to be ready for it - would have taken more money with me in preparation

You say you cant find any info about parking being extra, do you have any info where it states parking is included?

If you dont, I dont understand why you thought it would be

Westin

Has anyone else had this experience?

..to be honest No.

Some hotels in the USA (and the Uk and around the world) do charge for car parking. Others don't. A lot of hotels in the city centres often charge. The highest I have found has been in San Francisco when I paid $48+tax per night!!

I always tend to check this information out myself by looking at the hotel websites, as I would for driving directions, things to do on route etc. when on a Fly Drive holiday.

A little research in advance goes a longway.