Holiday Inn

On Monday, July 22, 2019, while I was traveling by car between Scottsdale, AZ, to Seattle, WA. About 2 hours outside of Boise, ID, my husband phoned my cell and asked if he could make a hotel resevation in the Boise area. I agreed. He contacted Holiday Inn Express and made a reservation under his name with his AMEX card the Holiday Inn Express in Nampa, ID. Then called me and said he sent me the confirmation via both text and email.

When I arrived at the hotel, it was dark and about 10:00 PM. There were two people arguing in the parking lot and three men hanging around the front door. I hesitated but because I had been driving since 9:00 AM, and my husband guaranteed the room, I brought my suitcase into the hotel.

When I got to the front desk, there was no clerk and a sign reading that he/she was away and would return soon. The female clerk returned and I gave her the confirmation number. She advised that she needed my ID and that she had to charge the room to my credit card because I was not "Robert."

After I handed her my ID, she typed in my WDL address and began asking questions about my travel habits. After the 3rd question, I asked why she was quizzing me and she advised that she was filling out a travel rewards membership. I stated that I did not want a membership. Then, she gave me a form with green hi-lighted lines and asked me to sign it - without any explanation for what I was signing.

I read though the form and discovered a location, in small type, that authorized the hotel to put a hold on 15% of the cost of my hotel room. I asked what it was for and she replied, "in case you steal anything." So, now, I was really full of dread.

My hotel room was #217, a suite - way too much room, but is was late.

The in the bathroom, the shower head was too high for me to reach and adjust thus I had to stand against the shower door for the water to reach me. Luckily, I had my own hair dryer as I could not find one in the bathroom. The next day, I saw the hotel hair dryer hanging on the back of the bathroom door inside a drawstring bag.

On the plus side, the bed and bedding was comfortable and the breakfast was the same foods served at all Holiday Inn Express locations.

I checkout at around 8:00 AM and continued on to Seattle.

Tonight, I checked my BofA credit card and discovered that instead of the price that was quoted to me, $165.23 including tax, I was charged $190.00 with no refund for the 15% (in case I stole something from the room). The room price was $152.99, which should have been $175.94 with a refund $22.95.

I phoned the hotel, spoke with Sage, who gave me some double talk, before sending me to her manager, Julie. First Julie told me that the 15% hold was Holiday Inn Express (HIE) Company policy. I replied that I had stayed a HIE the previous night, July 21, 2019, and there was no 15% charge. Julie's second statement was that HIEs are independently owned an operated and each hotel sets its own policy. My next question was about the amount of the 15% to which Julie replied that the 15% included the tax not just the room. I asked when I would receive the return of my "15% for not stealing anything" and Julie replied that it may take up to 30 days and I should phone my bank if I have an issue.

By that time I was very irriated and I stopped listening to anything Julie had to say other than she just kept talking and talking trying to convince me of the validity of her HIE's policy.

I did tell Julie that I was going to file a complaint with AAA, that I used to work for Holiday Inn Hotels (it was a long time ago but I did work to the company for 2 years) and then I said good-bye.

In retrospect, the fact that people were arguing in the parking lot and unknown individuals were hanging out by the lobby door at 10:00 + at night, I should have walked away. I have my receipt with a charged total of $165.23. But Holiday Inn Express charged my card $19.01, $24.79 more than my receipt. If I do not receive a refund $24.79 by tomorrow, I will let Visa take care of dealing with it.

My overall impression is the Nampa Idaho Holiday Inn Express is not a safe place to spend the night and they are dishonest.