HotelPlanner.com review: Hotel reservation

I want to share my experience with HotelPlanner.com so others can make informed decisions. I called what I believed was the hotel directly, using the number listed on Google.

However, I later discovered that I had actually spoken with HotelPlanner.com, a third-party booking service. In my opinion, listing their number as the hotel’s contact is very deceptive. At no point during the call did the representative clearly identify themselves as working for a third party. I even asked if I was speaking to the hotel, and the response I received was that I had reached the reservations department.

That answer led me to believe I was talking directly to hotel staff. I feel totally deceived by HotelPlanner.com. I was quoted a rate of approximately $124.07 per night. I was not informed of any significant additional fees during the booking process.

These fees only became apparent later, which was surprising and frustrating. When I checked out of the hotel a day early, I was told I could not obtain a receipt because I had booked through a third party. I was shocked; I had no intention of booking through a third party. I checked out a day early, and Hilton indicated that the third party would not be charged for that night, but HotelPlanner.com refused to refund the money.

They kept it. This experience has caused problems for me, as I am now facing delays in being reimbursed by my company due to unclear and unexpected charges. It has disrupted our billing process and created an unnecessary burden.

In my opinion, this was a deceptive and misleading process, and I urge others to double-check that they are contacting the actual hotel directly when booking. I had no intention of doing business with HotelPlanner.com in the first place.