Love Holidays Terms and Conditions

candy_queen

LH last night quoted me a price for a hotel which was significantly cheaper than other sites. (apparently no longer available today)  I've read their t's and c's and they seem to suggest my contract would not be with them but with their agent Smyrooms.  It also states on their t's and c's that they can change their prices in advance of travel - if the price increases by more than 8%, then the customer has the right to cancel with a full refund.  So, my two questions are - is my contract with LH or their agent/subsidiary, and does this mean they can increase a price by less than 8% without asking for customer agreement?

twopenny

Ah the intracacies of booking with 3rd party companies.

You need to look at the Terms and Conditions for Smyrooms.

Unfortunately they are a commercial bed finder, part of a larger Spanish group and I can't see the T&C's stated

https://www.smyrooms.com/

The bits I've read in English online seem to indicate that the contract includes local taxes and price at the time of contract but not if local taxes go up. But that's just bits from reading it's sites and Smyhotels.

It's worth asking Love Holidays - email so you have it in witing.

Smyrooms seem to have only email for commercial businesses. Bed buyers.

bagand96

Love Holidays act as your agent. That means they facilitate the booking between you and the provider. That provider may be an airline, a hotel, transfer company etc 

When booking accommodation it will usually be that the agent has a direct relationship with the hotel, or goes via another third party accommodation consolidator (or "bed bank")

This is what has happened with your booking. Nothing to worry too much about it's pretty normal and the vast majority of bookings like this go smoothly. I recently booked via an OTA that used a bed bank for a hotel in the USA. Less than half the price of the hotel direct or other agents. Part of me worried "if it looks too good to be true" but I had no issue, and a very cheap stay! 

Your confirmation should show your costs and whether any local taxes/charges are payable. I believe the 8% comes from the Package Travel Regulations and is a standard amount that your operator's are allowed to increase costs by. I'm not sure if it will apply to a non-package hotel booking though.

In practice if there is a pricing error, most agents will just get in touch with the customer and ask them if they accept or want to cancel for a refund. Don't hear the 8% clause being routinely used.