Expedia's Secret Hotel Deals - Breaking the Trade Descriptions Act

GoodgeStreet

I'm going back to my native London for a weekend away in May and thought I'd treat myself to a stay in a nice hotel. A friend had pointed out to me that Expedia do great Secret Hotel deals on (what they explicity promise to be) brand name hotels, so I thought I'd give it a shot. A 4* brand hotel in Bloomsbury/Kings Cross for less than £100 a night? Must be too good to be true!

And it was.

The hotel I've been put in isn't a brand. From the sounds of it, it barely even deserves to be called a hotel (Look up "The Opulence Hotel" on TripAdvisor. I don't recommend looking at the pictures!).

Do I have the legal right to demand to have my booking amended to a stay at a branded hotel, as was promised to me when I booked? It does say BRANDED all over the pages advertising the secret hotel function, after all. Heck, I'd be happier staying in the Heathrow Travelodge than this hellhole; at least I could be sure the Travelodge will be clean!

Keith

Neither is it in Bloomsbury or near Kings Cross, round the corner from my office and I've never noticed it

slopemaster

GoodgeStreet wrote: »

Look up "The Opulence Hotel" on TripAdvisor. I don't recommend looking at the pictures!).
!

eww!:eek:

sorry I don't know the answer to your specific question, but I would definitely e-mail them suggesting that this hotel does not appear to fit the description
Maybe also try to find out whether it actually IS rated 4-star by any 'official' body?

Ms_Chocaholic

Opulent it is not

paddyrg

I have to say I no longer book mystery hotels or price line type hotels as you do seem to get a lot of places that can't fill up any other way, which tells you something.
If you're looking in that kind of area, I have stayed at the Thanet a few times, Russell square going on Holborn direction, still a private hotel, still small rooms, but clean and quiet, especially if you take a high up garden facing room. The bit that makes the difference though is that there are flowers at the entrance and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs fresh for breakfast. If I'm working in Central area it's where I tend to stay, having stayed in a lot worse for a lot more. Your mileage may vary of course!

rustyboy21

But they do call themselves 'Opulence hotels and resorts' so they are a brand. Just a brand of one!

Most of the pictures i saw on tripadvisor are quite petty. That is what I don't like about tripadvisor, people complain about petty things.

If you booked the hotel as a bargain offer, due to what the prices are for other places are going for on the exact day and week of May, then I feel you don't really have a leg to stand on. Just cancel it and go to your travel lodge.

I don't know how the hotels in London can ask for the stupid prices they do. Mind you it's the same in Harrogate. Stupid prices and cr4p restaurants too.

slopemaster

paddyrg wrote: »

I have to say I no longer book mystery hotels or price line type hotels as you do seem to get a lot of places that can't fill up any other way, which tells you something.

I've only had good experiences - but it's always been on trips to the US, so maybe that makes a difference

paddyrg

slopemaster wrote: »

I've only had good experiences - but it's always been on trips to the US, so maybe that makes a difference

There seems to be a glut of frankly not too amazing hotels in London that may be 4* on technicalities like having a bar, phone in the room, etc., but which are poorly cleaned or maintained, or otherwise not really premier league. They then bump up their rack rates knowing full well they will be sold at steep discounts through these sites.

I stayed at one in Victoria whose rack rate was a laughable £450. They even had a 'sister hotel' loads of people got bounced to, it was all just to fill hard to sell beds. I paid £110 I think, no breakfast, tiny room, poorly cleaned (actually room so small you couldn't really use a Hoover!), noisy, but had all the 4* tick list. An honest price would have been £80 for the location and local competition.

I've also had other poor discoveries like this in London, now I will only book if I know where I am going so can make informed choices. Sometimes the 'blurb' gives enough clues to work it out, but then contacting the hotel directly they often undercut the mystery price in a heartbeat to avoid agency fees.

Maybe it's different in the USA or frankly pretty much anywhere in the world (ie not London or Paris) where hotels offer service?! Or maybe I'm the exception and have just been unlucky!

C_Mababejive

I suspect that companies like Expedia offer cheaper hotels because what happens is that because the hotel is not getting as much,they put you in their worst rooms . Rarely is there such a thing as a free lunch...

MamaMoo_2

I'd recommend the Lastminute.com secret hotels instead. I used the secret hotel deal and paid £45 for a lovely hotel (Chiswick Moran) for a Saturday night in the middle of the Olympics. Gorgeous room, gigantic bathroom with separate bath and shower, 2 minute walk from the tube, was lovely!

ILW

"Brand" is meaningless. Anything can have a brand, doesn't mean anyone has heard of it though.