We booked a double room at Hotel Residence Foch via Tripadvisor “Check Rates”, to celebrate our anniversary. My credit card was charged and I was given a reservation confirmation that was printed. After 14 hours of traveling and no sleep for nearly 30 hours we finally arrived at Hotel Residence Foch. We presented our reservation confirmation to the front desk and were told that the hotel was fully booked and despite us already having paid for the room and having our confirmation with us, the receptionist refused to give us a room. We were then told that Paris was booked solid due to a business convention and that it would be nearly impossible to get a room anywhere.
Hotel Residence Foch has a contract with the third party booking site that we used, as well as other on-line hotel booking companies that sell rooms on behalf of Hotel Residence Foch. These rooms are sold for a commission paid by the hotel. However, our reservation was denied by the hotel even though we had written and paid confirmation. We were told by the receptionist that there was nothing she could do about it and she was about to send us out on the street, luggage and all. It is my understanding that if a hotel overbooks, the hotel is obligated to find alternate arrangement and cover the difference in cost.
This did not happen. We pleaded that she find us alternate accommodation, and after more than an hour waiting in the lobby she finally found us a room...on the other side of town right next to a busy train station.
My greatest concern is that the receptionist admitted that the exact same thing occurred twice earlier in the day and again all week long. It seems to be a re-occurring event.
My advice is to you fellow Tripadvisor user is; Never book your room through a third party when traveling overseas. (IE clicking on that that yellow tab that says “Check Rates”). Instead, book directly with the hotel. And call to confirm many times! During low demand and lower rates the hotel feeds off the third-party services. However, when demand goes up, the hotel can charge much higher rates than the discounted rates through their suppliers and will only honor the highest paid prices, leaving you…on the street to fend for yourself in a foreign country. We booked the room for almost half of the listed hotel website price and this could have been a factor. I would gladly have paid more than double the price, but when the website gives you a price and a room confirmation, it should be honored. Period. There is no control over bookings and hotel policies at boutique hotels vs. major chain hotels. So Beware!
I must add though, that the receptionist was apologetic, and in the end, did find us accommodation. She also followed up by calling us at the new hotel to see that we were taken care of. I am not going to knock the rating of this hotel by giving it a 1 out of 5 so it will remain neutral. I would stay here in the future, were it not for this disaster. But out of principle, won’t. And that is a shame. It seems like it could be a nice hotel and the location is great. But the hotel management needs to seriously look into their third party booking contracts so as to not completely ruin people’s vacations. On this principle alone, I could never recommend this hotel.
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I agree fully, always book with the hotel directly. So sorry you had this experience, how dreadful...
Les
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I agree about booking directly (which is what I do). But you also should follow up with the third party - something tells me that they are not unaware that this is happening (yet they did nothing in advance of your arrival, apparently, either to get you an alternative, or refund your charges, or warn you what was about to happen, or anything else).
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I almost always book through a third party, and I%26#39;ve never had a problem. However, I no longer travel to Paris before October as I%26#39;ve often not been able to find acommodation in September because of the textile show and at least one other major convention.
It%26#39;s truly astonishing that a city with as many pillows as Paris could possible be full - but it happens.
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On my last trip I booked one thru the hotel and 31 hotels thru a third party broker. I did not have any problems at all!
I would sure like to know who the third party booking agent was as I would not like to use them!
Did you call the third party broker and explain situation?
I asume you must have to get your money back?
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Who is the third party you booked through? I%26#39;ve used Expedia a few times and NEVER had a problem and always was given the room I had paid for, and even better in Venice (Italy).
Also it would be good to know how the third party handled the situation and were you satisfied the way it was done (if they ever did a thing) ?
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WOW! So sorry that you had such a stressful time.
I tend to book around 50/50 direct and through a third party. After a complete mess in Hawaii a couple of years ago I now confirm 3rd party directly with the hotel.
I would also be interested to know who the booking agent was - it was unforgiveable that they did not inform you.
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I have never used an agency, I just always feel safer booking it myself.
Jazz, what agency did you use. ?
I book and do not pay more then a one night deposit, ever, if they want up front payment I don%26#39;t book.
I think the poster who brought up the points about the booking agencies getting %26quot;bump%26quot; easier is right.
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I book directly with the hotel if this is the best price that I can obtain, or the difference in cost with an agent is not significant. I also use booking agents when there is much better value available and have never had a problem. However I am very selective about which agents I use and always follow up directly with the hotel to ask them to confirm my booking. I prefer to use agents who state that they can guarantee my reservation without payment in advance.
Have a good look at the terms and conditions governing bookings with any agent you use in the future. In the meantime I would certainly be asking your agent to explain why you had to have such a horrible experience.
I too would be very interested to know the name of the agent you used!!!!
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Sorry, I second/third/fourth that - which third party broker did you use? I%26#39;m so sorry you had to experience this. I can%26#39;t imagine this happening with any of the major companies, i.e., Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz. I know that venere.com, which is a European company, is very reputable and does not require payment in advance like the aforementioned websites. Better luck next time : )
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Only 9 posts from Jazz and no answer to our questions. A troll?
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