AIBU to refuse to change hotel?

[DaisyMacDaisy]

Last month I used an online booking site to book a hotel stay for a weekend away next year. I have not paid anything as it is to be paid on arrival and I am able to cancel free of charge right up to the last minute. I have email confirmation of the booking.

I have just received an email saying that due to a technical problem the hotel is unable to accommodate us on the dates we booked. They have sourced an alternative hotel in the same city and want me to contact them to say I agree to this change and they will cancel my booking and send confirmation of the new arrangements.

The problem is I do not want to change hotels. We are going to the city for an event and the only thing that was important when finding a hotel was that we needed to be within walking distance of the event. The new hotel is further away and we would not be able to walk to and from the event.

My DH thinks this might be some kind of scam where they are trying to get you to cancel so they can sell the room for more. The email does not say what will happen if I do not agree to the changes and doesn't say my booking has been cancelled, only that we cannot be accomodated.

Should I just suck it up and agree to the change or WIBU to refuse to swap hotels. Would you contact them about it or just ignore the email?

This happened to my DSis, although she had booked her room with a hotel directly. Her whole floor was bumped for a visiting celebrity and moved to a hotel across the city. She was very unhappy and in the end the original hotel gave her a private car for the night plus a free night's stay whenever when she liked. You won't be able to stay in the original hotel I expect but it's maybe worth seeing if the online booking site will give you a sweetener, even if just £20 off the next booking or something?

This has happened to me before OP. Like you I suspected it was a bit of a scam as there were rooms available on another hotel site. So I rang the hotel to enquire why this was and lo and behold, they miraculously found a room.

I would have a dig around to see availability for the dates you've booked.

Yes refuse to change hotels and see where that gets you

Christ on a bike, its unbelievable what goes through some peoples heads.

This will be booking.com you have booked it through - why would they want to "scam" you? Where exactly is this so called "scam" do you think.

Sigh

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry I don't think I explained very well, I was not planning on ignoring the email completely and just rocking up on the day. I was considering not replying about agreeing to the changes and then waiting a bit to see if the got in touch again about it. DH thought they were just hoping that some people would agree to move to the other hotel and then they could resell the rooms at a premium due to the event. He thought if we did not agree that we would still get the original room and that they were trying it on.

The event is a very large concert and we were very lucky to get tickets for it as they sold out quickly. We immediately booked the hotel and struggled to get a room anywhere within walking distance to the venue which I assume is due to the numbers of people attending the event.

I think you are right though, I certainly do not want to end up with nowhere to stay at all, so would be better to contact them I suppose. I don't think it is due to building work or it being closed or anything, more likely it is somehow overbooked but the email doesn't really give a reason.

I am usually a bit of a soft touch and would just agree to things, but thought this might be one of those times when if you stand up for yourself a bit they might manage to sort something out.

For example a garage recently told me it was physically impossible for them to deliver my car as previously promised. After a few phone calls back and forward my car was delivered home within the hour. It was not impossible for them to do it, they just didn't want to and hoped I would cave in and go and get it.

Does that make more sense? I totally agree ignoring is not the best idea!

Thanks for the replies.

If someone at the hotel has gone to the trouble of sourcing another hotel for you rather than just cancelling and making it your problem, then the hotel would seem to be trying to help you with a situation beyond their control rather than doing you down.

If you ignore the mail then you're going to turn up and be told there's no room and it's not their problem. They've used the email address you gave them and informed you of the situation, they've tried to source an alternative for you, the rest is up to you.

It's a pain. These things happen. Taxis are good if you can't walk that far, or you can look for an alternative place to stay.

cross post OP, sorry.

Say that the reason you chose the Venus was the short distance so you would like compensation in the form of a better room at a reduced rate at the new hotel. Do some research and ask for a bigger nicer room.

I would contact and talk about the massive inconvenience to you (mention an illness). See if they can accommodate you or give you a free night at another time.

I would suggest you deal with the hotel directly - ignoring the email could be a risky strategy but a phone call may be a way to get them to deal with you fairly and do their best to find you an alternative close to the event.

But mainly I want to thank you op

Seeing the first line of your post reminded me that I hadn't cancelled my booking for a hotel tonight, for a trip we no longer able to make. I immediately cancelled the booking without charge (but in another 3 hours I would have been liable for the full amount!!

So basically op you are not unreasonable in any way at all ever [phew! emoticon required]

Good luck sorting your issue.

Ha Ha, Glad I was useful bigmouth!

Following all your helpful advise I gave the hotel a call directly.

I didn't even need to tell her the dates I was meant to be staying on, she new immediately what I was ringing about.

Yes whoever said it - Booking.com have massively overbook and this has affected a lot of people. They are fully booked that weekend and can only suggest I contact booking.com directly.

With let you know what they say.

Is this in London? Would it be worth looking for something cheaper than your original choice but further out, and pricing a cab? If you download Uber and put in your event location and the hotel you're considering you'll get a fare estimate - although if the event is huge then it'll probably be surge pricing.

I have spoken with booking.com and told them that the alternative is not suitable due to distance from venue. They are going to look at other options and get back to me. I am not hopeful though as the only close hotels with availability that I can find are much more expensive.

I guess we might just need to accept the further away hotel but I am dreading it. The thought of trying to get a taxi at the end of a massive concert with thousands of people terrifies me! Many I am BU, but I have never been to a big event like this before and am actually in a panic at the thought. It feel it would spoilt the event for me.

Fingers crossed that booking.com come up with an answer for you.

Email back with your stipulations and say that you will only accept alternative accommodation that meets your needs. Hopefully they will be able to sort something out.

Book the taxi well in advance

I'm sure sure

what are your parameters for "too far to walk"

I only ask because I go to an annual evening event that is in the next village and don't bother to get a cab home. So me and my friend always walk home together - it is 2.9 miles according to google maps - takes about an hour. Even with a twisted ankle this year. So think about the range of hotels within 2 or 3 miles.

I should say we are walking between 11pm - 12am usually plenty of others walking as well due to nature of event and shortage of cabs - so we don't feel uncomfortable - this is a semi rural area and familiar so I understand in a strange town a long walk is far less appealing.

Don't ignore it, but be sneaky and see if that room is still bookable on a hotel site. Then screenshot it and give them hell. Had a similar situation recently with an airline. They reinstated my original booking quick smart, especially once I put it on FB and Twitter. However do take action, as if the room is genuinely out of commission their hands may be tied.

Book a taxi in advance!