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Original poster

Do you think this is a bit ridiculous?

25 replies

aaropl · 31/08/2023 17:48

We are going on holiday in November.
We have booked through tui.
We have decided to upgrade to a suite which is a extra 600 euro which you pay at hotel and they only accept euros (we did last year )
I'm on the fb group and some say they managed to upgrade easy ,some say they have struggled.

I emailed hotel two weeks ago they said no problem just confirm you wish to upgrade and we will put it on your booking and you pay in euros.

I responded today and they reply
"If there is a suite available on check in you can upgrade "
And we emailed back and forth and they refused to do it
So now we have to take 600 euros in cash on the off chance one will be available
And not knowing what room we are even staying in
On the fb group some get a helpful receptionist who confirms via email then others who say it's pot luck

Isn't it ridiculous?

OP posts:
birdling · 01/09/2023 07:06

Sounds fair enough. They can't guarantee that there will be one available until you arrive. Just take the money and use it for something else if there is no suite.

YouAndMeAndThem · 01/09/2023 07:08

Why didn't you just book a suite in the first place?

00100001 · 01/09/2023 07:12

You want them to hold a suite with no down payment?

Why not just book the suite in the first place?

Why can't you just take the €600 and use it as spending money if needed? There's obviously more than just you going, so you can split the cash up. It's not like it's €6000.

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Holidays
PurBal · 01/09/2023 07:12

YouAndMeAndThem · 01/09/2023 07:08

Why didn't you just book a suite in the first place?

This. If it’s important you have a suite I’d have booked it at the time of booking. Can you arrange the upgrade through Tui? I’ve not used Tui and tend to use small travel agents: they always arranged everything and managed any changes to our booking (flight upgrades etc).

MadamWhiteleigh · 01/09/2023 07:14

Yeah, is there anything stopping you booking the suite in the first place?

Whataretheodds · 01/09/2023 07:15

If you don't already have a credit card /debit card for fee- free foreign transactions then get one. You can use that to pay rather than cash.

MadamWhiteleigh · 01/09/2023 07:16

Although, why can’t the hotel just change your booking to a suite and charge you through your credit card or however you originally paid. I can’t see why they can’t do that?

ethelredonagoodday · 01/09/2023 07:17

I was going to say, can't you just pay on a card?

I get what you're saying about them not guaranteeing you can have the suite though til you get there though...

Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 07:27

We booked our holiday with TUI and they only have the basic rooms available to book
They told us if we wanted to upgrade you did it direct
The hotel won't let us pay over the phone via card for the suite and says it's pay on arrival only with euros
Yet on the page people are saying dependant who you get answering your email they reserve it for you no problem

OP posts:
00100001 · 01/09/2023 07:29

So just take the cash 🤷‍♂️

Planesmistakenforstars · 01/09/2023 07:31

Did you book the standard room because that's what you could afford at the time and you wanted to secure the booking at the property, but hoped to be able to save the extra for an upgrade by the time you went? Because I can't think of any other explanation for why you wouldn't just book the room you actually want in the first place.

Can't you change the booking through tui rather than going directly through the hotel? Or can you cancel the booking without charge, and then book the suite?

Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 07:31

We will just take it anyway but I get anxious and I know it sounds silly but not knowing what room we have gives my anxiety a bit of a wobble ha ha

OP posts:
Funkyslippers · 01/09/2023 07:32

I've found that tui often don't have all rooms available on their website

Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 07:32

@Planesmistakenforstars no,we booked with TUI
The only rooms they allow you to book with them are the standard or family rooms
They said the hotel deals with upgrades direct
That's why we have emailed them to discuss

OP posts:
Planesmistakenforstars · 01/09/2023 07:36

Oh okay. Sorry you're feeling anxious about it. You obviously enjoy the location, so hopefully you'll have a great time either in a suite or with an extra wad of spending money.

MadamWhiteleigh · 01/09/2023 07:44

Ah, OK. In that case, I’m with you, it does seem a stupid system. Seems awkward of the hotel to not let people reserve and pay in advance.

TheNorthWind · 01/09/2023 07:48

Surely "pay with euros" doesn't mean "pay with cash." It's just that they won't accept bank notes from the UK or US or wherever.
If you used your normal bank card, the payment would be taken in euros and that's what the bank would send them. The bank would then take pounds from your bank account to cover the euros they'd sent, if you see what I mean.

But a high street bank will generally also take a fee and give you a crappy exchange rate. The smart thing to do is to open a fee free account specifically for holiday spending/converting. There are online banks that specialise in this. Wise has been brilliant for me (and I live in Europe, so convert all the time) but there are other options. Moneysavingexpert will have a guide I'm sure.

TheNorthWind · 01/09/2023 07:50

Although you're not wrong about it being a bit ridiculous that you can't book the room and pay in advance.

Maddy70 · 01/09/2023 07:54

Why would you take any extra cash. ? You pay with a card if ones available

Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 08:06

@Maddy70 they have said we can't and we pay euros at check in

OP posts:
Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 08:06

We asked can we pay with a card as we normally use a travel card but they said no cards and cash only (euros )

OP posts:
Original poster
aaropl · 01/09/2023 08:07

Obviously card would be easier but for whatever reason they don't accept it
We want to upgrade our all inclusive to all inclusive plus and they've said it's cash only too

OP posts:
TheNorthWind · 01/09/2023 08:11

Yeah, OK. That sounds ridiculous then. (Tax dodge?)

00100001 · 01/09/2023 08:21

aaropl · 01/09/2023 08:07

Obviously card would be easier but for whatever reason they don't accept it
We want to upgrade our all inclusive to all inclusive plus and they've said it's cash only too

Because they're being a bit dodgy. That's why.

Maddy70 · 01/09/2023 08:59

I wouldn't be taking any extra cash. You can always withdraw it once you are there if needed but try with the card first

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