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Where me dinner?

14 replies

SenseFromThoughtDivide · 26/06/2023 20:08

I’d appreciate any advice on the below situation as I’m not sure where to go next

After last years slightly disappointing summer holiday we decided that this year we’d do something we’d never done before, and book a hotel that we’d used before so we’d know exactly what to expect from the hotel, accessibility in the area and the evenings entertainment. So, I hopped on Booking.com, booked the hotel and started looking for some flights (If its ok I wont name the hotel while things are still happening.)

Since then, eleven months have slid by, the hotel changed its name (but its still owned by the same chain.) Our booking email says the old name, but Booking.com shows the new name. So far so good

Then the hotel closed for several months for a complete renovation, it recently opened again two weeks early, and in an idle moment I wondered if many people would be booking the hotel. So I looked on booking.com, and there were only a few vacant rooms (I know that doing this does not give a definitive answer, but it’s a ballpark figure.)

Then I noticed something strange. The only meal option was breakfast, which is a problem because we booked half-board (breakfast and dinner.) I tried other weeks, and no dinner option was available on any date for any room

I considered the idea that legacy guests (us) would get the dinner we’d paid for, but new guests would not – but that would mean two tiers of guests which would be silly, and unworkable.

I’ve tried contacting the hotel, with no reply. I’ve tried contacting Booking.com, who just sent back a copy of my original booking which clearly shows half-board, and now I’m flat out of ideas

No dinner isn’t a problem because there’s lots of options in the area, but it’s a big problem because we’ve paid for something we may not be getting!

Any idea where to go next, or is there a next? Should I just go with the flow and see where we wind up?

OP posts:
Whenwillglorioussummercome · 26/06/2023 20:15

Have you looked it up on Trip Advisor to see whether any very recent guests have reviewed it?

If it’s owned by a chain, can you contact them to find out what’s happening?

rookiemere · 26/06/2023 20:21

Have you checked the hotels website ?
If it's cancellable would you consider another hotel in the same country ?

SenseFromThoughtDivide · 26/06/2023 21:22

The hotel website just says breakfast, and all reviews were scrubbed by Tripadvisor because of the hotels refit (we got a message a few months ago tell us that our review of {old name} had been deleted. We’ve tried contacting the hotel and the hotel chain with no response so far

while we might be able to find another hotel, we are pressed for time, and perhaps better the devil you know?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 26/06/2023 21:44

If they're no longer doing dinner have they also stopped evening entertainment that you say you wanted?

When do you travel? If you're prepared to take a risk and have reasonable cash flow or a credit card, and still want to stay in the hotel or at least aren't able to switch to another for the same price I'd probably risk it and see what happens.

If they don't do dinner, I'd be claiming a reduction equal to the cost of eating out from Booking.com or the hotel chain. If you pay for your hotel on credit card they are also liable.

But it's a risky strategy especially if the refurb has made the hotel nicer and more expensive to stay in because they could see it as you getting a bargain if they honour the price you paid but the hotel is now nicer/higher star.

vipersnest1 · 26/06/2023 21:45

Try emailing the hotel direct.

bobblyjob · 26/06/2023 22:05

I would be contacting the hotel to check you even have a room booked tbh

gogomoto · 26/06/2023 22:24

Is the price lower? Has it increased price? Star rating ?

Phone the hotel if I were you, if you still don't get anywhere call booking.com. It may be that you have a choice of cancel or take b&b but try to as a minimum negotiate a hefty discount

JJJSchmidt · 26/06/2023 22:28

If you still don't a response from.booking.com then Google their ceo's email address and email that - it usually takes you to a customer service team who have some power to rectify problems in my experience, especially you are very clear and concise and balanced about the situation

rookiemere · 27/06/2023 06:50

bobblyjob · 26/06/2023 22:05

I would be contacting the hotel to check you even have a room booked tbh

This is a very good point !
And on the better the devil you know, well the hotel has changed hands and doesn't do meals anymore. I'd say it's a good time to cut your losses if you can.

Dox9 · 27/06/2023 07:00

When you say contacting the hotel, did you try ringing the reception desk? Surely they will be able to say whether you have a booking and if they are still doing dinner.

SenseFromThoughtDivide · 27/06/2023 08:40

Just FYI, I’ve had a response from booking.com via Twitter, it’s only an automated ‘please send us more information’ , but at least it’s a start!

OP posts:
rookiemere · 27/06/2023 09:24

How much would it cost to book the room now B&B directly with the hotel?

If it's less than what you paid it may be worth cancelling the Booking.Com reservation and doing that.

SenseFromThoughtDivide · 28/06/2023 13:20

And just to close off my own thread, I’ve finally received a reply from the hotel, and while dinner is no longer an option (even for bookings at the same time as ours) it will be supplied for legacy bookings such as ours

(And now I’ve got a mental image of us sitting down to a meal with other guests pawing at the door asking ‘why not us?’

OP posts:
orangelotus · 28/06/2023 18:55

glad it's resolved!!!

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