You booked a two-night stay in a hotel a few weeks ago. Right now you're checking in to hear that they want an extra $100. That's a not inconsiderable $50 a night extra. Had you seen this at the time you booked you'd probably have found a hotel more within your means. Think that's exceptional, it happens lots at travel site Expedia and they appear not to know it.
Let's say you book a series of hotels on a holiday itinery you've arranged yourself. Hotel 1 works as expected: Expedia charges your card immediately and the hotel are happy and want not a penny more. Hotel 2 booked through hotel.com is different because here your card hasn't been charged and what's more there's 10% tax to pay on the booked rate. Hotel 3 is part of the same group, but Expedia this time charged upfront for the full amount, tax and extra bed included. Hotel 4 booked through Asiarooms.com also charges the full amount, bundles in breakfast and adds no surprises. Hotel 5, booked through Expedia, is when we started and the trigger for all this.
See the pattern? Quite right, there isn't one. Expedia say the hotel voucher clearly states that the hotel may charge for extra beds and add local taxes. And yes they do, but then the vouchers all say this. So where do you stand, what do you pay and how will you know before you go? Answer: if you care not for surprises on holiday, check out the travel sites with the all-inclusive policies. Avoid the ones with the all exclusive small print.
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