::scratches head::

RachelG83

So.... this hotel thing.

Today I called hotels.com and talked to a woman who told me there was nothing she could do for me.  I couldn't get a refund and I couldn't change my reservation at all.

Tonight I called the hotel - he couldn't do anything for me because I booked through hotels.com (which seems weird but ok, whatever).

Then I called hotels.com back and the guy there said he'd call to see if they could switch the reservation to a week earlier.  This would've been great because a friend of mine is meeting us and were going to stay at the same hotel as us anyway.  Friends were going to just give us the money for the room and it'd be settled. 

Seemed doable since the guy at the hotel was going to switch it until he saw where we booked from.

Hotels.com dude comes back on the line and says he can't switch the reservation but he can cancel it and refund our money.

... He'd rather give me my money back than just switch the date and keep the money we already paid?...

 

ooooooooookay!

bobmonkey

I replied on your earlier thread but you might not have seen it. Anyway, it usually is the case that if a reservation is booked through a 3rd party, the hotel can't cancel it because they are unable to refund any of your money to you. Hotels.com has your money, and there is usually a 30-60 day net on it, which means the hotel hasn't been paid for your stay.

The hotel may stand to make a bigger retail reservation at full price via a wait list (if they are completely booked) and they may agree to refund your reservation if they will be the one to gain with your cancellation.

I know it seems weird, but in the end, it's money. I am glad they were able to help you though!

RachelG83

I saw and replied back to you

It's a PITA dealing with a 3rd party but I always find better deals through them.  Any tricks to getting deals direct from the hotels? 

bobmonkey

I have always told my guests that it never hurts to come right out and ask, but I would definitely ask a manager because a front desk clerk's discounting power is somewhat limited. I would always give a discount based on length of stay, repeat business, etc. You are a teacher, right? You can always ask if there is any teacher or educator discount as well.

If I think of anything else, I will PM you. I know that here in FL we have those RoomSaver coupon books which can get you great deals but you can't make advance reservations on them and you have to call to see if the hotel is accepting them that night. So it's a crapshoot, but sometimes that works too(if you know the hotel won't sell out that night).

HTH!