Holiday Inn review: reservations 9

I’m writing you of an unfortunate experience I just had at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel located at 1701 Russell Street, Baltimore MD 21230 - I stayed at this hotel from Aug 2-8 (check-out) to inform of your customers to be careful and avoid this hotel.

Last Friday I was working from my room that day and wanted to do my laundry. This hotel offers free service for use of the washer and dryer including detergent. I had all of the time to do my laundry which was one small load but had to be done. The person at the counter, I never asked him for his name, convinced me that your hotel would do my laundry at no charge. I found this unusual and quite appealing. I asked 2x to be sure I was correct. I would never do my laundry at a hotel because of the high cost – well known to everyone.

I then said why not. I gave him my clothes in 2 plastic bags. He didn’t do a summary count on a piece of paper of all the items – as he should have and made me a sign a paper – typically done in all well run hotels especially like Holiday Inn. This way both sides are protected.

At the end of the day I came down the registration desk and they told me I have to pay $50. I became irate and spoke with their assistant manager Ericka Cooper. Of course, the employee changed his story to protect his job – as would be typical and I wouldn’t want to hurt him, and she took his side and fined me $50. I said I won’t pay for this as this is wrong and she said I have your credit card and I will pay for this. If in fact I had to pay, he had tell me this in advance and he had to do an inventory and pricing of each item that I had to sign acknowledging my pre-approval. This didn’t happen.

As a manager, she should have apologized for the misunderstanding and not had me pay this bill – just to maintain good relations instead she chose to engage with me and argue in front of other guests. Even when I checked they didn’t thank for my stay nor asked me if I liked the hotel. I asked for an envelope and they said they didn’t have one

I want is to get my $50 back and an apology from the hotel.

I booked on line at the Holiday Inn Express in Findley Lake NY. When I tried to cancel a month in advance I was told that I could not do it because of the type of reservation I had made. I pleaded with the sales agent. She referred me to customer service saying they might be able to help. Here is where it became AMAZING. I had my laptop open while I was getting a firm rejection from the customer service people. As we were talking I got an email notification that the hotel and just run the charge for the first night on my Am Ex card. Rather than risk the possibility that I might be able to convince customer service to give me the cancellation, they were going to lock in the charge immediately. I called the hotel back and asked them why they had run the charge right then, right after they had given me the number for customer service. The lady said that is just what they do. I asked her how she would feel in my situation if she were treated like that. She had nothing to say, but maintained her chirpy upbeat positive voice throughout. I asked her what it meant to her to be in the SERVICE and HOSPITALITY business. She said that was just the way that particular reservation worked. I have never felt so thoroughly screwed and so thoroughly disrespected. After my initial anger subsided I realized that my dominant emotion was grief over the loss of trust in yet another business. Buyer beware all the time, I guess. I do hope Holiday Inn gets the message on this. Oh, yes. The sales rep closed the conversation with a cordial expression of their desire to serve me if I was ever in the Findley Lake area again. Yes, I suppose they would like to serve me again. They got to sell that room twice.

They are making a living by screwing over their guests via their cancellation and refund policy. It makes the numbers look better for the handlers. Kimmons Wilson (founder of Holiday Inn and Wilson World) would have never stood for this shabby treatment. Do not book these thieves if there is ANY chance of your plans having to change. They are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to rip you off.

Beware of holiday inn - cat /dog fleas are everywhere in room
Holiday inn at oceanfront surfside beach, 1601 n beach blvd, surfside myrtle beach south Carolina. This hotel has a Cheryl dangerous fleas on the bed, floor, door, walls, everywhere fleas are crawling / jumping. Fleas are very hard to catch and kill. We talk to hotel manager but they don't even bother changing of room . They changed only bed sheets but nothing else. This hotel is not safe in terms of health.

I Stayed at the Holiday in in Jasper AL this past weekend. There was a physical fist fight from one end of the hall to another. NO ONE ANSWERED WHEN I PHONED ROOM SERVICE IN FEAR! The police came and removed the guest. People were yellow about shooting each other and everything. At first light...I packed and headed towards the office and asked for a refund becuase I was too afraid to sleep and was refused. They won't even talk my calls or call me back. I WILL NEVER STAY THERE or any other location again.

Oh please, I booked at Holiday Inn Express through Hotels.com I booked for one night and I still have the confirmation document for one night. When I attempted to check out the next day, the clerk stated that I booked for two nights and could not leave, and then they decided that we could leave but that they would continue to charge. (Some policy, if I buy a dress at a department store they do not charge me 7 times for the same dress) The manager acted like a sneaky rat, skulked off, and hid in his office. The clerk was too busy flirting with her boyfriend at the counter and was clearly incensed that she had to do any problem solving that took her attention away from her paramour. (Carlsbad)
When I got my statement, they charged me for four nights. Where they pulled that number from, I do not know except that it is a nice round ill-gotten gain and illegal profit. They also charged another credit card for another night (the same night), and they attempted to place another room charge again for the same night on a credit card that has been closed for 5 years. THEREFORE, they are fraudulently charging me 7 times for the same night on three different cards one of which was a card I closed years ago. FIA processes other cards so they have access to who knows how much information for them to mine. I read the fine print and however you parse the situation, it is wrong, so this is not MY mistake, it is their unethical activity. If you defend this type of business, you must be one of the ones that profits from this type of activity. Shame on you. I have one legitimate $ 150 charge, which they have multiplied to over $1, 000 by their fancy math. The CC Company wants the money so they do not care that it is not legitimate, what a racket. Anyone out there with any useful help other than read the small print? Who do you report this to that will listen. Not the CC companies. Stay away from Hotels.com and Holiday inn Express.

Maybe you should READ what you are agreeing to! The Advance Purchase option is a significantly discounted rate with this stipulation.

I know it sucks that Holiday Inn Express expects the people making the reservations at hotels to be adults and act like adults, but sometimes you do need to take responsibility for your own actions and not blame everyone else because you made a mistake.

Since you don't say how you booked your reservations, you leave a lot of unanswered questions.
If booking on-line you can't make a reservation without having to check: 1) RED BOX which states the Cancellation Policy of that rate and reservation, 2) Another RED or BLACK BOX which states you agree and undertand the terms. I use the Advance Puchase Reservation frequently and do not have any problem with it. I use it when I am sure of plans.
If booking via travel agent or etc. you are responsible to ASK about the Cancellation Policy for what you book.
Consumer, you do have responsibility!
Sorry you lost your money, but consider it a "learning experience."

Ugg.. I have just discovered this and am facing losing $600 (at the downtown Miami location.) I canceled over a month ahead of time, and they are denying me a refund. I would totally agree to pay a penalty, but being changed the ENTIRE amount? OUTRAGEOUS. I will NEVER stay at a Holiday Inn Express, and encourage you all to steer clear.