Made any travel mistakes lately?

[rginoz]

Reminds me of this hotel blunder I had too – booked a place near the airport, turns out it was miles away.

The hotels themselves add to this problem by naming their business the 'Whatever Brand Airport Hotel' when they know the hotel is kilometres from the Airport, often with lots of other obstacles in the way too. They probably got the idea from some airports which describe themselves as 'Whatever City Airport'.

 

[bashworth]

A Melbourne Airport mistake is going in the multi storey car park and expecting to find a baggage trolley.

They must have someone continually going round the car park and picking them up so they can put them in the pay for use machines at the terminal.

It meant a 15min round trip to get a trolley for my oversized items.

Next time I won't care if the attendant at the terminal drop off zone is annoyed while I unpack the car.

 

[cove]

I thought I would get a Sixt Toyota Camry or equivalent and received a BMW 530. Had one that kept stopping and starting and then the gear shift needed us to read the manual to get to reverse and park.
The good news is I handed it back last night knowing that I would never buy a vehicle like that. The number of Teslas on the road in Los Angeles is amazing.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep - arrived into PVG Sun Jan 21 with HL + 1 checked bag + 1 checked carton - collected the bag from carousel and forgot the carton - realized my mistake 1/2 way to hotel but cannot turn around then.

Taxi to hotel CNY220 - as soon as check in at hotel at 4pm I ask Concierge to call left property at PVG which he did and carton is located - I now have 2 choices:

1. Grab taxi and return to hotel myself and tribe - 3 to 4 hours time and CNY440 min cost + the language confusion
2. Pay fee CNY700 to concierge and carton will be delivered via a taxi before midnight.

Gladly handed over the CNY700 and get notification at 21:30 carton now in hotel all whilst I am planted in bar sipping a few ice old beers

 

[cove]

We coped with leaving both of our US phones in Australia when we flew to Los Angeles this month.
Enjoyed TPR in Changi and our Perth flight has been delayed by 90 minutes So more time in the Private Room.

 

[Flyfrequently]

more time in the Private Room.

More time in the Private Room is a travel mistake @cove !?

 

[Warks]

So last June we booked a week at a motel down the South Coast (NSW) through Booking dotcom where we'd stayed the year before. Very basic but amazingly cheap for mid January. As we spend all our time at the beach or out and about it's just a place to sleep. Literally the day before we were going to drive down there we got an email from Booking saying that our reservation had been cancelled as the motel owner hadn't been able to confirm the availability with them... That's just fantastic timing isn't it? We knew Booking was impossible to deal with on short notice so got in touch with the motel directly and told the owner what happened. He said that Booking did this all the time, grabbing reservations without confirming with the accommodation just to get the sales. He said the price we got was well below what they would offer at this time of year and the cheapest on the website (at one day's notice) was about $400 more than we'd paid. However he did us a favour and just charged us a bit over $100 more the "deal" we'd booked. So we'd saved the holiday at least.
We contacted Booking to get our refund and they squirmed and equivocated and said it had been refunded but nothing had been received back on the credit card. The unfortunate thing is that when we originally paid it was on the Woolworths Qantas Visa (RIP) which became the worthless Macquarie Bank Visa some time after that. So they've said they can't refund it to another card but we need to ask the bank to reissue our old card and they can refund it (!). At this point it started to sound like a scam. I looked into it further and supposedly because I still have the card that replaced the original (and I can look at the transactions online going way back as far as the original payment) the money will eventually be refunded to the replacement card. Not sure how long to give them but I anticipate a long phone call coming up.

 

[Flashback]

So last June we booked a week at a motel down the South Coast (NSW) through Booking dotcom where we'd stayed the year before. Very basic but amazingly cheap for mid January. As we spend all our time at the beach or out and about it's just a place to sleep. Literally the day before we were going to drive down there we got an email from Booking saying that our reservation had been cancelled as the motel owner hadn't been able to confirm the availability with them... That's just fantastic timing isn't it? We knew Booking was impossible to deal with on short notice so got in touch with the motel directly and told the owner what happened. He said that Booking did this all the time, grabbing reservations without confirming with the accommodation just to get the sales. He said the price we got was well below what they would offer at this time of year and the cheapest on the website (at one day's notice) was about $400 more than we'd paid. However he did us a favour and just charged us a bit over $100 more the "deal" we'd booked. So we'd saved the holiday at least.
We contacted Booking to get our refund and they squirmed and equivocated and said it had been refunded but nothing had been received back on the credit card. The unfortunate thing is that when we originally paid it was on the Woolworths Qantas Visa (RIP) which became the worthless Macquarie Bank Visa some time after that. So they've said they can't refund it to another card but we need to ask the bank to reissue our old card and they can refund it (!). At this point it started to sound like a scam. I looked into it further and supposedly because I still have the card that replaced the original (and I can look at the transactions online going way back as far as the original payment) the money will eventually be refunded to the replacement card. Not sure how long to give them but I anticipate a long phone call coming up.

Even if a card is cancelled it can still be refunded back to it. Had this happen a lot during the COVID era. Then you have to call the provider and get them to EFT you the money once it lands.

 

[cove]

So @Flyfrequently that Private Room in Singapore was very helpful as well as the First Class lounge. Landing in Singapore after 1 am and making it to terminal 3 meant the Private Room was closed. We were offered each a bed sit for a 3 hour snooze in the first class lounge and then we went to the Private Room for breakfast when it re-opened after 5 am.Had never done that and I had passed on booking a transit hotel so I got that right.
Living in Perth means we flew home on a fairly new A350-900 In business class.
My left knee replacement has settled down a lot and I wore a tubigrip to avoid swelling.
At 1am in Perth we are both jet lagged from the 3 flights to get home from LAX-NRT-SIN-PER.
Our biggest mistake was trying AA in first class. We won’t be doing that again.
Using a walking stick can get you favourable treatment so that was a big win.

 

[Jacques Vert]

However he did us a favour and just charged us a bit over $100 more the "deal" we'd booked. So we'd saved the holiday at least.

Not sure he did you a favour; sounds more like you got scammed. I've experienced similar. The motel accepts the cheap booking through an aggregator but when they find that night is heavily booked they cancel the cheap bookings and put it back out on their own site at a higher price. Call me cynical if you wish but I believe this is a scam that some motels seem to do.

 

[Gremlin]

Just some observations from the other side of the aggregator experience. We own a place that is occasionally rented out as a holiday let.

There is an in-house manager who looks after it for us and most bookings come directly but, on occasion, the in-house manager puts it up on aggregator sites. There have been several issues with the aggregators, to the point where we no longer use the 'main' one and we are close to ditching the 'other' main one (I'm sure you can work out the two I'm talking about). Including taking bookings for periods when it is unavailable, and taking bookings at a price below the 'floor' that had been set.

On each occasion they have been quick to blame IT issues, but slow to rectify.

We have a very astute manager who is right across this and reviews every booking made within 24 hours. She contacts any affected customers directly and cancels their bookings. She makes it clear that the issue is with the aggregator, not us, but I'm sure we wear some brand damage. But usually the aggregator already holds a chunk of the customer's money and that can take a while for them to get back. Which I'm sure is part of the business model.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Using a walking stick can get you favourable treatment so that was a big win.

Yes @cove mobility aids can work in your favour - pity though we have to use them.

My €2 crepe bandage was of great advantage during our Portugal trip when hobbling with my undiagnosed fracture!

Glad you had a good holiday, now rest, recover and repeat!

 

[RooFlyer]

So last June we booked a week at a motel down the South Coast (NSW) through Booking dotcom

Just a couple of days ago I had to choose between booking dotcom and going through my regular TA and booking direct for about $2K of accommodation in Sth Africa. So pleased I chose the latter. I always prefer to book direct - many times the (small) hotel or air B&B will match the BC price (as they don't have to pay the BC commission).

There is an in-house manager who looks after it for us and most bookings come directly but, on occasion, the in-house manager puts it up on aggregator sites. There have been several issues with the aggregators, to the point where we no longer use the 'main' one and we are close to ditching the 'other' main one (I'm sure you can work out the two I'm talking about). Including taking bookings for periods when it is unavailable, and taking bookings at a price below the 'floor' that had been set.

I was in the same boat until about 5 years ago. A holiday rental, traditionally taking bookings direct to the manager, but occasionally opened up the Stays and a couple of others. After one season we agreed to dump the channels. They took a cut and provided little other than very difficult bookings (change mind, wanted this and that beyond what we offered). People booking with US was better, too!

 

[Happy Dude]

So last June we booked a week at a motel down the South Coast (NSW) through Booking dotcom where we'd stayed the year before. Very basic but amazingly cheap for mid January. As we spend all our time at the beach or out and about it's just a place to sleep. Literally the day before we were going to drive down there we got an email from Booking saying that our reservation had been cancelled as the motel owner hadn't been able to confirm the availability with them... That's just fantastic timing isn't it? We knew Booking was impossible to deal with on short notice so got in touch with the motel directly and told the owner what happened. He said that Booking did this all the time, grabbing reservations without confirming with the accommodation just to get the sales. He said the price we got was well below what they would offer at this time of year and the cheapest on the website (at one day's notice) was about $400 more than we'd paid. However he did us a favour and just charged us a bit over $100 more the "deal" we'd booked. So we'd saved the holiday at least.
We contacted Booking to get our refund and they squirmed and equivocated and said it had been refunded but nothing had been received back on the credit card. The unfortunate thing is that when we originally paid it was on the Woolworths Qantas Visa (RIP) which became the worthless Macquarie Bank Visa some time after that. So they've said they can't refund it to another card but we need to ask the bank to reissue our old card and they can refund it (!). At this point it started to sound like a scam. I looked into it further and supposedly because I still have the card that replaced the original (and I can look at the transactions online going way back as far as the original payment) the money will eventually be refunded to the replacement card. Not sure how long to give them but I anticipate a long phone call coming up.

More of a scam than your mistake @Warks. On that topic, Booking.com don't come off too good in this episode either:

Travellers and accommodation providers falling victim to major Booking.com scam

Australia's consumer rights watchdog sees a sharp increase in Australians citing the popular accommodation site when reporting they've been scammed.

www.abc.net.au

Booking.com scams costing Australians thousands of dollars

Trusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.

www.abc.net.au

 

[jastel]

Had the Booking.com fakers cancel my booking in a big city, but not a chain hotel, in the US recently, I was only about an hour away from checking in anyhow so just went there anyway and they said NO it wasn't us, my booking was still there and honoured.

At a different place (small one horse and hotel town) and Booking,Com booking I was double charged on my CC, but this was the lady at the hotel, she had no idea what she was doing. I kept the receipts for that one on a feeling it would stuff up. I got the bank to cancel payment for one of the charges. One was legit.

No harm done in the end.

 

[TheRealTMA]

More of a scam than your mistake @Warks. On that topic, Booking.com don't come off too good in this episode either:

Travellers and accommodation providers falling victim to major Booking.com scam

Australia's consumer rights watchdog sees a sharp increase in Australians citing the popular accommodation site when reporting they've been scammed.

www.abc.net.au

Booking.com scams costing Australians thousands of dollars

Trusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.

www.abc.net.au

Booking.com is generally good but if the scam comes through the app or booking.com web site then despite what they may claim (and I’m sure there must be panic in the back office) they have to be liable for losses etc, legally, IMHO.

 

[Fantic125]

After 11 years of not travelling for business-related activities (lots of domestic and a couple of OS holidays in-between), heading off on my first week long OS flight... Fark, forgot the medications!

Already in SYD INT terminal so headed to the Amcal Chemist near gate 24, prepared for the inevitable but hoping for a miracle... and it happened!

With a bit of faffing about, all 3 prescriptions filled within 30 mins, and I was off to the gate for boarding.

Thank you Karen, at Amcal+ for saving me from my rookie mistake!

 

[RooFlyer]

After 11 years of not travelling for business-related activities (lots of domestic and a couple of OS holidays in-between), heading off on my first week long OS flight... Fark, forgot the medications!

Already in SYD INT terminal so headed to the Amcal Chemist near gate 24, prepared for the inevitable but hoping for a miracle... and it happened!

With a bit of faffing about, all 3 prescriptions filled within 30 mins, and I was off to the gate for boarding.

Thank you Karen, at Amcal+ for saving me from my rookie mistake!

Good result! Can you share what the faffing around involved? Were they able to get into your MyHealthRecord and verify the prescriptions, or contact your local chemist, or something else?

 

[MARTINE]

After 11 years of not travelling for business-related activities (lots of domestic and a couple of OS holidays in-between), heading off on my first week long OS flight... Fark, forgot the medications!

Already in SYD INT terminal so headed to the Amcal Chemist near gate 24, prepared for the inevitable but hoping for a miracle... and it happened!

With a bit of faffing about, all 3 prescriptions filled within 30 mins, and I was off to the gate for boarding.

Thank you Karen, at Amcal+ for saving me from my rookie mistake!

Excellent
A good Karen story!

 

[Brissy1]

After 11 years of not travelling for business-related activities (lots of domestic and a couple of OS holidays in-between), heading off on my first week long OS flight... Fark, forgot the medications!

Already in SYD INT terminal so headed to the Amcal Chemist near gate 24, prepared for the inevitable but hoping for a miracle... and it happened!

With a bit of faffing about, all 3 prescriptions filled within 30 mins, and I was off to the gate for boarding.

Thank you Karen, at Amcal+ for saving me from my rookie mistake!

Just love how easy it is to do some things in this 21st century, soon we'll be able to just send our (driverless) Tesla to pick up the kids from school. Meanwhile some people are still lining up at the post office to pay their Telstra/Telecom/PMG bill. Got to keep up.
Back on thread, good tech fixes mistakes.