Reading through the MX newspaper (Melbourne) yesterday evening (25/10/11) on the way home from work, I noticed a Hotels.com ad on page 5, with 'New Zealand on sale now' and 'up to 50% off'. Since I am heading across to NZ for a week in February, the ad caught my interest.
The ad contained six hotel examples, with prices (unfortunately I don't have a scanner or phone capable of taking a photo to show the actual ad):
Oaks Shores, Queenstown, from $30 per night*
Tanoa Paihia Hotel, Bay of Islands, from $40 per night*
Quest Napier, from $40 per night*
Travelodge Wellington, from $40 per night*
Chatham Auckland, from $40 per night*
Silver Oaks Resort Heritage, Rotorua, from $50 per night*
I had previously looked at Quest Napier and the cheapest was well over AU$100 per night (Note the ad did not specify currency, but I assumed AUD). My initial thoughts were that the prices were per person per night, twin share and in the depth of winter, but checking the * fine print, neither of these appeared to be the case.
* Price is per room per night based on two people sharing and is inclusive of all fees and taxes. Rates subject to availability. Min. stay frequirements and blackout periods apply. Valid for bookings from 25 October 2011 to 27 October 2011 for travel until 31 May 2012.
So far, so good, so I looked at their website when I arrived home and when I clicked on the NZ sale banner, the prices were significantly higher, before I'd even selected a date, for example:
Chatham Auckland, from A$60 per night (50% higher)
Quest Napier, from A$78 per night (almost double)
Very annoying!
Even more annoying, when I clicked on the hotels, the prices were even higher! E.g.:
Chatham Auckland, from A$87 per night
Quest Napier, from A$107 per night
Checking a number of dates usually brings up even higher prices or no availability!
At the very least, bad advertising, at worst false advertising!
Another part of the MX newspaper ad had a QR code with a further 10% off for the first 100 bookings. The fine print for this states that it is valid for bookings before 30 September 2011 for stays before 31 October 2011!
The ad contained six hotel examples, with prices (unfortunately I don't have a scanner or phone capable of taking a photo to show the actual ad):
Oaks Shores, Queenstown, from $30 per night*
Tanoa Paihia Hotel, Bay of Islands, from $40 per night*
Quest Napier, from $40 per night*
Travelodge Wellington, from $40 per night*
Chatham Auckland, from $40 per night*
Silver Oaks Resort Heritage, Rotorua, from $50 per night*
I had previously looked at Quest Napier and the cheapest was well over AU$100 per night (Note the ad did not specify currency, but I assumed AUD). My initial thoughts were that the prices were per person per night, twin share and in the depth of winter, but checking the * fine print, neither of these appeared to be the case.
* Price is per room per night based on two people sharing and is inclusive of all fees and taxes. Rates subject to availability. Min. stay frequirements and blackout periods apply. Valid for bookings from 25 October 2011 to 27 October 2011 for travel until 31 May 2012.
So far, so good, so I looked at their website when I arrived home and when I clicked on the NZ sale banner, the prices were significantly higher, before I'd even selected a date, for example:
Chatham Auckland, from A$60 per night (50% higher)
Quest Napier, from A$78 per night (almost double)
Very annoying!
Even more annoying, when I clicked on the hotels, the prices were even higher! E.g.:
Chatham Auckland, from A$87 per night
Quest Napier, from A$107 per night
Checking a number of dates usually brings up even higher prices or no availability!
At the very least, bad advertising, at worst false advertising!
Another part of the MX newspaper ad had a QR code with a further 10% off for the first 100 bookings. The fine print for this states that it is valid for bookings before 30 September 2011 for stays before 31 October 2011!
