fenix03
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posted on March 3, 2006 08:26:06 AM new
I spent last weekend in Phoenix and am looking at going back later this month. Got my hotel from a package deal off of Orbitz and this time would like to find something slightly more inhabitable so I checked out Hotels.com.
Imagine my surprise to find the hotel I was in last weekend lasted with a "lowest possibly nightly rate" of 30% ABOVE what the management had told me was standard rack rate. And despite all of their commercials about indepth reviews... not a single mention that this hotel is under renovation, that there are exposed pipes running down the halls, boxes of yet to be installed toilets sitting by the elevators, plastic "curtains" in the hallways to limit the travel of dust from the renovations or that the free cable constitutes 8 channels.
So much for that idea.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
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classicrock000
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posted on March 3, 2006 09:42:29 AM new
have you tried Travelocity?
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Beauty is only a light switch away
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stonecold613
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posted on March 3, 2006 10:00:32 AM new
I first look at those sites, but then also go directly to the hotel/motel companies' web sites as well. Usually, you can get a better deal, dealing directly with the respective hotel chain.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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fenix03
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posted on March 3, 2006 10:32:04 AM new
Actualy Stone - You usually get a better deal going directly to the hotel if it is part of a large chain. The chain will sell a room at a published rate where the hotel will often go deep below that if they have low occupancy and need to get bodies in their rooms.
I usually try the bulk sites when I am looking for something cheap and easy and am not so interrested in ammenities. I have never found one that sold rooms from more than rack rate though... that was really surprising.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
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hwahwa
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posted on March 3, 2006 01:34:48 PM new
can you ask for a partial refund?
The site may not know there is new rack rate.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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fenix03
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posted on March 3, 2006 01:43:00 PM new
I didn't book thru them. I had already stayed there and knew the rackrate when i went to the site today and saw that they are overcharging. It's not a new rate either. they have not changed thheir rate during the renovation. They are just not booking by phone or walk in. The only way you can book is thru groups like Hotels.com, Orbitz, etc.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
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Bear1949
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posted on March 3, 2006 01:50:24 PM new
I've tried several of the discount rate sites too. Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia & Hotwire. Also found upon check in that the normal rate via the hotel/motel reservations line or web site was less expensive.
I was searching for a room for next weekend for a out of town show I'm doing. Located motels in the area and went to their web site & found a room for $15.00 a night less that was offered by the discount travel sites.
They even had a internet booking special rate that provided an additional discount.
"More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they dont get the New York Times over there.Jay Leno".
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hwahwa
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posted on March 3, 2006 03:53:06 PM new
I dont remember which one,but it does not tell your which hotel you are booking until you book it.
By then it is too late to change your mind.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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maggiemuggins
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posted on March 3, 2006 04:00:52 PM new
Fenix.. why don't you just book the Marriott, they are nice and I've never had a bad room with them. Plus they are everywhere. They even have suites with a full kitchen, living room and baths for extended stays. That way there are no surprises when you get there.
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Bear1949
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posted on March 3, 2006 04:48:59 PM new
[i] I dont remember which one,but it does not tell your which hotel you are booking until you book it.
By then it is too late to change your mind.[/i]
Thats Hotwire.com
"More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they dont get the New York Times over there.Jay Leno".
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hwahwa
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posted on March 4, 2006 06:21:48 AM new
Hi Bear,
could be,I remember booking hotel room thru one of these sites and when I found out it is too far away from the conference,I called to cancel my reservation and they said no,and the reason is that THEY HAVE ALREADY PAID THE HOTEL.
Well,I went there and tried to check in and they cannot find my reservation,so I left.
Then I filed chargeback giving the reason that they cannot find my reservation,well Hotwire or whoever comes back with the reason that my reservation was cancelled because I did not show up the first day.
I won the chargeback,giving the reason that how can they cancel my reservation IF I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE ROOM.
What difference does it make whether I show up or not if I have paid for it??
Fennix,
If you know someone who works for a large company and where they place their visitors,just call and ask for the special corporate rate,tell the hotel you are in town to discuss business with that company.
The discount could be 50% less and all you need to do is to stick your head into their corp headquarter and speak to the front desk and leave.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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profe51
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posted on March 4, 2006 06:39:25 AM new
So fenix, how was Phoenix? If you're going back I guess it means your car wasn't stolen or anything.
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stonecold613
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posted on March 4, 2006 11:36:39 AM new
You usually get a better deal going directly to the hotel if it is part of a large chain
You stated it better than I did. That is what I do as well.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
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fenix03
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posted on March 4, 2006 12:57:36 PM new
No, nothing was stolen but I'm not as high on the concept of moving there as I was before I went. I'm willing to acknowledge that maybe I missed something though so I am considering one more tour.
First impressions....
Is anything in that town over 4 stories?
Does not seem to have any aspirations towards "big city" feel. Downtown makes no sense to me. Why put in sports and entertainment complexes and not have anything around them? Where are the bars, the shops, the restaraunts?
Women are out to repopulate the world (any female over 18 was pregnant, any over 23 was pregnant and pushing a stroller)
Loft? que es Loft?
Sendentary lifestyle? Rarely seen so many overtly obese people in such concentration.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
[ edited by fenix03 on Mar 4, 2006 12:59 PM ]
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profe51
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posted on March 4, 2006 05:23:47 PM new
yer right, Phx is fat city..not that I have anything at all against fat persons, I used to once, but not anymore. Really. Only the office buildings are over 4 stories. They can be hermetically sealed against the heat and air pollution. With habitable buildings, second stories in the desert are a terrible idea. Hot air rises. If you were to engineer a house such that it's second story was as cool as it's first in the summer, you'd have a building nobody could afford to buy. As it is, there are some developments, "planned communities", that have new 2 story houses. My cousin owns one. In the summer he can barely pay his electric bill because of the cost to cool his McMansion.
If you've got the bucks, ask a realtor to show you the Willo, Alvarado and Encanto districts. Pretty much all that's left of the historic houses in Phx. Close to what passes for downtown and really pretty to drive through. Also check out Tempe like I told you. Lotsa night life, according to my oldest who's got a residency at ASU now. She prefers Tucson to Phx by a long shot though..If I had to live in a big town I'd probably pick Tucson myself.
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Bear1949
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posted on March 4, 2006 06:26:30 PM new
Fenix, have you considered moving to S Texas? I hear the property south of Corpus is readily available.
And if you get enought acerage I'll come visit and help you get rid of those nasty S Texas trophy deer.
"More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they dont get the New York Times over there.Jay Leno".
[ edited by Bear1949 on Mar 4, 2006 06:27 PM ]
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fenix03
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posted on March 4, 2006 10:38:17 PM new
Bear - I have considered the Corpus area. When I was down there I kind of got the impression that it is San Diego with a 50% coupon 
Liked the climate, people seemed cool and it has an energy to it that I definately did not feel in Phoenix. Only drawback is that it is an exprensive city to fly in and out of but it's on the list of considerations.
I am not looking to buy anything. I'm not settled enough for ownership. If I ever do end up actually buying a home, it'll probably end up being a Prevost.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
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fenix03
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posted on March 4, 2006 10:45:48 PM new
Prof - thanks for the heads up - I'll have to check out Tuscon.
Problem is that I need that damn concrete floor and I don't know if I want to rent a house and deal with the additional water bills n such that come with being responsible for the yard/landscaping.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
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parklane64
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posted on March 5, 2006 01:39:59 AM new
Yeah, Tucson, if you have to live in one of the most worthless states in America. I lived in Phoenix for a year once. It seemed a lot longer.........
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The raghead fig-puckers are fighting to spread their culture and religion, and to destroy ours
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classicrock000
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posted on March 5, 2006 04:59:09 AM new
Thought Tuscon had lots of tarantulas and scorpions..in peoples houses.
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Beauty is only a light switch away
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profe51
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posted on March 5, 2006 05:56:43 AM new
Think of them as "features".
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classicrock000
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posted on March 5, 2006 11:12:08 AM new
aaaahhhh do ya have to pay extra for them? 
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Beauty is only a light switch away
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profe51
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posted on March 5, 2006 08:01:38 PM new
Only the related medical costs for emergency room and ati-venin therapy. Apart from that, they're part of the deal.
BTW, the tarantulas will jump at you, but they rarely bite. My son catches and plays with them. It's the Black Widows you gotta watch out for. I found a nice one today in fact, in the wood pile. We never handle firewood without gloves around here.
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