[I'm not here]

Our tuna charter out of Westport was canceled Monday due to weather. This is to be expected, disappointing, but always a possibility.

The problem is Westport Inn refused to refund our room because we booked through hotels.com instead of calling Westport Inn directly. Apparently if you call them you get "extra protection to cancel up to check in time if your charter is canceled." So for our group at $160+ per night we're out quite a bit of money. The woman I spoke with said, "I'm really sorry the website won't give you your money back because it's past 72 hours" like they aren't getting paid or something.

I've used Hotels.com everywhere from Forks to Clarkston and have canceled at the desk when rivers have blown out without a problem.

Learning experience, and want others to know so you're not extra disappointed when a group trip you booked almost a year ago is canceled and then an overpriced motel gives you the final shive for booking through a website.

Hotels.com requires 72 hours notice to cancel for refund. Check in with charters to find out if trip is canceled is 48 hours so ya.
Cheers

 

[jamma]

Our tuna charter out of Westport was canceled Monday due to weather. This is to be expected, disappointing, but always a possibility.

The problem is Westport Inn refused to refund our room because we booked through hotels.com instead of calling Westport Inn directly. Apparently if you call them you get "extra protection to cancel up to check in time if your charter is canceled." So for our group at $160+ per night we're out quite a bit of money. The woman I spoke with said, "I'm really sorry the website won't give you your money back because it's past 72 hours" like they aren't getting paid or something.

I've used Hotels.com everywhere from Forks to Clarkston and have canceled at the desk when rivers have blown out without a problem.

Learning experience, and want others to know so you're not extra disappointed when a group trip you booked almost a year ago is canceled and then an overpriced motel gives you the final shive for booking through a website.

Hotels.com requires 72 hours notice to cancel for refund. Check in with charters to find out if trip is canceled is 48 hours so ya.
Cheers

You should have checked in and raised all kinds of hell.If you got thrown out,I would consider that getting your money's worth.

 

[jersey]

Friend owns a hotel out of state. She HATES those sites, but says it is critical for their business. Last time we spoke on this topic, she told our group of friends to call the hotel directly and ask for the on line rate. This way the local owners are in control of finances, service needs, and other service related issues.

The hotel gets a cut of what the on line rate is and the hotel has no ability to provide customer service we are accustomed.

Hard story to hear Salty...

 

[River Is Polluted]

From what I understand many hotels do not even know what rate is paid by the customer when done through one of the hotel booking sites.

Can one get trip insurance in case that happens?

 

[Jeremy Floyd]

I get the price online, and the hotel always matches it so I can pay them directly.

 

[I'm not here]

All good advice fellas, I'll use it from now on.