Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Owner Discovers Home Rented Out Online When Guests Show Up. Airbnb Wouldn’t Remove Listing

by Gary Leff on October 30, 2022

Oct 30 2022

Just because you own a home, and live there, doesn’t mean that it’s not also listed for rental on Airbnb. There are so many scams out there, including listing homes for rent that are not – in fact – for rent. People pay the scammer, show up at the front door. And do you think Airbnb takes swift action?

Normally if you stick to Airbnb Superhosts offering properties with numerous good reviews, you figure you’re safe. But just because a property has been rented in the past, doesn’t mean the listing isn’t a scam now.

Hotel Check-In Clerk Secretly Records Customer Demanding An Upgrade

by Gary Leff on October 30, 2022

Oct 30 2022

A man checking into a Holiday Inn Express in Bloomington, Minnesota became irate when the front desk agent wouldn’t upgrade him to a room type he had refused to pay for, and she decided to record it. We need more crazy hotel guest videos, please.

Guests Shows Up At Hotel, But It’s Now A Homeless Shelter And No One Told Them

by Gary Leff on October 28, 2022

Oct 28 2022

A pregnant woman showed up at her hotel reserved at Booking.com to find it was no longer a hotel – it had been converted to a homeless shelter. And the online travel agency’s customer service had no hoots to give.

President Biden Announces War On Hotel Resort Fees

by Gary Leff on October 26, 2022

Oct 26 2022

President Biden has declared war on ‘add-on’ fees, including hotel resort fees. While we can all sympathize with the sentiment, his announcement is unlikely to do much to benefit hotel guests.

IHG: 15% Off Hotel Redemptions For Platinums, Diamonds, And Cardholders

by Gary Leff on October 24, 2022

Oct 24 2022

IHG One Rewards promised to run award redemption discounts for Platinum and Diamond members and the latest one is out. It includes co-brand cardmembers as well.

Should Hyatt Partner With A Corrupt Former Illinois Congressman?

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2022

Oct 22 2022

Ben Schlappig from One Mile at a Time reviewed the Hyatt House/Hyatt Place LAX and offered “I wouldn’t stay again, because I have issues supporting the owner and developer of the property (Aaron Schock).” He did not explain further, so I thought I would offer ‘the rest of the story.’

Schock is a former Illinois Republican Congressman who was indicted (but paid a fine as part of a deferred-prosecution agreement) for misappropriation of campaign funds. He came out as gay in 2020, but had a zero percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

One Way To Get Upgraded At Hotels, That Anyone Can Do

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2022

Oct 22 2022

Most ‘how to get upgraded’ stories are filled with half-truths, falsehoods, and urban legends. That’s especially true for airlines, but it’s also true for hotels, too. But here’s something that works, more often than not, and that I’ve used successfully in the past.

Marriott Adds A 31st Brand, And It Looks “Hideous”

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2022

Oct 19 2022

Marriott has acquired the ‘City Express’ hotel brand an “affordable mid-scale” chain with 152 hotels across 75 cities in Mexico.

Best Western, Quality Inn, and Ramada are often considered midscale. But these hotels aren’t just midscale, they are affordable midscale.

Airbnb Now Adds Resort Fees, Because Cleaning Fees Weren’t Enough

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2022

Oct 19 2022

Airbnb is taking on the worst features of hotels, without mirroring the things that make hotels attractive. Their cleaning fees are legendary, even while hosts give lists of chores for guests to complete (not just taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and washing the sheets but sometimes even mowing the lawn).

Sometimes Airbnb – and competitors like Vrbo – are the best option like when renting a house with a whole family or in a town without hotels. But it seems like they’re working hard to kill that advantage, as evidenced by this reported listing where the owner even charges you extra for booking with them and then adds on a resort fee.

EXCLUSIVE: Hilton Starts Selling Upgrades To Gold And Diamond Members

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2022

Oct 17 2022

Hilton is making two changes to Honors Gold and Diamond upgrades. Starting today they will be selling upgrades through the app. Beginning November 18 they will process automatic complimentary upgrades at Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn hotels with the technical ability for them to do so.