Non-refundable hotel

Rowboti04

Hi

Hopefully this isn't a duplicate thread.  I booked a hotel room just before Covid restrictions hit in January.  Hotel cancelled my booking, offered a voucher.  Booking was "non-refundable".  I want to go to the hotel and rebook my room for November, however, prices have increased by 66%.  I'm not willing to pay another £100 for this.  Surely I am entitled a refund as options offered are somewhat unreasonable?

Thanks

Westin

Caution should certainly be factored in when booking non-refundable rate types during a worldwide pandemic. You are clearly a gambling man/women.

If the hotel was closed (was this the case?) then you should have perhaps more sway to seek a refund over a credit. If however you asked them to cancel your stay perhaps due to travel restrictions then the matter is not so clear cut.

Your January credit does not necessarily guarantee the same rate paid for the old reservation would or should be given for a new stay later in the year.  It is just £xxx amount to use for a future stay.

[Deleted User]

Depends if you accepted a voucher?  Most vouchers are not redeemable for cash.  Maybe hang on to voucher and see if prices come down?  Prices over all have increased massively BUT (eternal optimist). IF people refuse to pay then they will start with the offers 😂.  Hang fire just now. 

Rowboti04

Westin said:

Caution should certainly be factored in when booking non-refundable rate types during a worldwide pandemic. You are clearly a gambling man/women.

If the hotel was closed (was this the case?) then you should have perhaps more sway to seek a refund over a credit. If however you asked them to cancel your stay perhaps due to travel restrictions then the matter is not so clear cut.

Your January credit does not necessarily guarantee the same rate paid for the old reservation would or should be given for a new stay later in the year.  It is just £xxx amount to use for a future stay.

I want to rebook though. It's not like I want to cancel. Nothing gambling about it. I just done want to have to pay an extra 66% for something that I've already booked. 

Rowboti04

Tedber said:

Depends if you accepted a voucher?  Most vouchers are not redeemable for cash.  Maybe hang on to voucher and see if prices come down?  Prices over all have increased massively BUT (eternal optimist). IF people refuse to pay then they will start with the offers 😂.  Hang fire just now. 

Well they just provided a voucher upon cancellation - didn't have an option of a refund. And again, in any case, I'm OK with the voucher. I just refuse to pay my voucher and then another 66% for the same privileges.

Westin

Hotel rates are rarely however flat across the year. There will be peaks, shoulder periods and low season pricing.   Have you looked at other dates around November which might have a lower price?

[Deleted User]

Well they just provided a voucher upon cancellation - didn't have an option of a refund. And again, in any case, I'm OK with the voucher. I just refuse to pay my voucher and then another 66% for the same privileges.

In all honesty?  You can’t do anything about it other than suggested. You either pay what they want for your dates or don’t.  Or you wait and look at alternative dates.  You ‘objecting’ isn’t going to make a big impact I am afraid.   

Upsidedownandaround

Do you mean January this year and how did you pay? You would have been entitled to a refund if the hotel was closed but it sounds like you have accepted the voucher if you were "happy" with it, just not the new prices.

Rowboti04

Upsidedownandaround said:

Do you mean January this year and how did you pay? You would have been entitled to a refund if the hotel was closed but it sounds like you have accepted the voucher if you were "happy" with it, just not the new prices.

No, it was January this year.  The hotel was open when I booked it.  I have not "accepted" a voucher - it was the only thing offered to me. I had no choice.

swingaloo2

Was the hotel have been open on the dates you had booked?

Upsidedownandaround

Rowboti04 said:

Upsidedownandaround said:

Do you mean January this year and how did you pay? You would have been entitled to a refund if the hotel was closed but it sounds like you have accepted the voucher if you were "happy" with it, just not the new prices.

No, it was January this year.  The hotel was open when I booked it.  I have not "accepted" a voucher - it was the only thing offered to me. I had no choice.

It sounds like would be entitled to a refund then if the hotel was closed. If you answer the follow up questions regarding how you paid and whether the hotel was open or not then people may be able to suggest a course of action.