Showing posts with label Hotels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hotels. Show all posts

Las Vegas...Hotels to avoid like the plague! Consumer alert!








Over the past couple of years, I have sampled a few of the Hotels in Las Vegas, with surprising results

Some, though cheaply-priced, turned out to be surprisingly comfortable (with a host of great amenities worth shouting about), while others were dogs to be avoided like the plague!

With that in mind, and the upcoming long week-end on the horizon, here is a list of the rip-off establishments that warranted a consumer alert!

As Roy Rogers would say:

"Happy Trails to you!"

LAS VEGAS HOTELS
(Patronage not recommded)

The Golden Nugget
El Cortez Hotel
The Sahara Hotel
The Gold Spike
Hooters
Circus Circus
Harrah's Hotels

http://www.thetattler.biz


Hooters...rips off Vegas Tourists! Expedia scam involves Supervisor Noe Monarrez & Hotel staff!







When you’re booking a Hotel in Las Vegas, by-pass Hooter’s Hotel, unless you want to get ripped off by scam artists like Hotel Supervisor Noe Monarrez and Lisa Krasn who are involved in a conspiracy with Expedia to book rooms without fully disclosing applicable fees and charges in advance.

For example, disgruntled guests were shocked when they appeared at Hooters recently to check in for a brief holiday and a Hotel staff member – Supervisor Noe Monarrez – proceeded to extort money from the tourist.

Although the guests paid for a four-room stay in advance, and booked the room based on the facts and information disclosed on the Expedia reservation site, they were greatly incensed (and felt ripped off) when the Hotel employee demanded a security deposit in excess of $100.00.

Usually, when travelers book rooms and pay in advance, Hotels waive the requirement of a deposit - or if there is one going to be applied at check-in- it is disclosed on the front page of the reservation page.

There is a good reason for this upfront disclosure.

If a tourist does not like the terms and conditions of the booking – or the fees, surcharges and deposits being billed – they have the right to book at another Hotel.

And that is the crux of it!

Expedia is involved in a conspiracy with Hotels like Hooters to hoodwink, deceive, and connive tourists into booking rooms that appear to be a good bargain on their face when they are not!

In fact, because Expedia and Hooters failed to disclose the full details of the financial terms and conditions as aforementioned, the dishonest conduct smacks of deceptive business practices and fraud!

When the guest understandably complains to the Management at the Hotel, they are given the run-around.

“You have to take that up with Expedia, they shrug,” as they lie through their teeth to protect their sorry asses.

Then, when the customer calls Expedia, the booking agency tosses the blame on the Hotel.

“The Hotel did not inform us of their policy,” they argue back.

Essentially, the two companies know they are ripping tourists off, but to avoid blame (and to mitigate responsibility for damages in the event of a lawsuit) they proceed to engage in endless “denials”.

It’s not only called the bum’s rush, but yes, smacks of deceptive business practices and outright fraud.

In addition to the scam regarding deposits, another sinister practice is also about to erupt, which may just land Expedia and Hooters (and others participating in the scam) in court facing criminal charges.

Of course, I am talking about resort fees.

Folks travelling to Las Vegas may be in for a shock when they check in at the front desk of their Hotel (Hooters, for example) and are under the mistaken impression that their upfront payment in advance has taken care of all the sums due.

Surprise.

They may find themselves dinged for – say what? – resort fees!

In retrospect, the despicable conduct of the employees at Expedia and Hooters becomes crystal clear, at last.

The reason why Hotels like Hooters ask for a deposit at the front desk is so that they can collect those “non-disclosed” resort fees at check out when the tourist turns in their room key.

Because the resort fees have not been “disclosed”, Hotels like Hooters are required by law to inform the guest at check in (not at check out) that the resort fees will be charged at the end of their stay.

The reason they don’t reveal the information up-front is because they know the guest will balk, complain, and refuse to pay the fees.

In sum, Expedia and Hooters are involved in a scam to defraud tourists in the dark about ethical business standards that must be adhered to on U.S. Shores.

In a nutshell?

Expedia posts a low-ball Hotel rate (for Hooters, for instance) on the Internet which appears to be a good price to tourists when compared with other Hotels listed on the booking site.

However, when the resort fees (which weren’t disclosed) are figured in later, bet you ten-to-1 that the other Hotels listed alongside Hooters are a better bargain than the one they chose (because they were scammed).

Because Expedia and Hooters, in this instant case, failed to fully disclose the terms and conditions and applicable fees, the two couples willfully and wrongfully denied a consumer the opportunity to shop and compare and choose a Hotel at the best rate within their budget needs elsewhere.

In sum, tourists are being overcharged because the resort fees were not disclosed upfront, as required by U.S. State and Federal Laws.

Frankly, I am appalled by this practice, which has been running rampant for a year or two now in Las Vegas.

It is high time that Law Enforcement (the Dept. of Justice?) conducted a full investigation with the ultimate aim of rectifying the wrongs, including – but not limited to – criminal charges being brought against Expedia and Hooters (and other Motel and Hotels involved in the scam) on behalf of the consumer-at-large.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission should swoop in and conduct a full investigation of the scam, and likewise, levy heavy fines against the guilty parties to deter such despicable fraudulent conduct in the future.

As to the staff, well the snotty Afro-American clerks at the front desk (who are routinely rude to the guests at the Hotel) leave a lot to be desired (or so I hear from my inside sources in Vegas).

Needless to say, Hooters and Expedia are on my shit list!

Avoid both of these companies like the plague!

Amen!
http://www.thetattler.biz



 

Palace of Versailles Annex...Hotel accommodations! Travel & Leisure!







Regular visitors to the Tattler site are keen to the fact that the Palace of Versailles has been a noteworthy link on the web site for the past year or so!

One of my favorite haunts.

Now, jet setters - and those who savor the good life - will be able to book a room at the Versailles on the historic property in France next year!

The Hotel du Grand Controle - an Annex building at the edge of the Versailles estate - will be transformed into a 23-room Hotel (it has just been announced by public administrators).

The restoration and modernization of the 17th Century Palace will be overseen by a Belgian Company known as Ivy International, which has taken a 30-year lease on the estate.

To facilitate the transformation, the property is going through a rare property transfer - from that of a French Public Heritage site - to one under the auspices of Ivy in the private sector.

According to the master-planners of the illustrious project, the Hotel plans amount to a pioneer initiative.

"The building was given to us in a dilapidated state, so my concern was to save it," enthused Jean Jacques Aillagon (Chairman of the Versailles Palace).

The Versailles "Hotel" will be inaugurated at the end of 2011, and is expected to wow guests with awesome views of the Orangerie (the Greenhouse) and the Swiss Ornamental Lake.

The Palace was built by Louis XIV and was designed by his favorite architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

The Hotel du Controle served as the Official treasury for awhile - and then later - as part of the Officer's mess until 2006.

The exquisite building became part of the Versailles Estate in 2008.

The visionary plans have been orchestrated in recent days to boost the French economy.