Intercontinental Best guarantee rate a pure illusion

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    GabrielFerneini
    Participant

    I made a reservation in Intercontinental Sao Paulo through IHG website and their best rate was 700 BRS (About 225 Usd). I found a rate of 200 Usd with Expedia 36 hours later and I wrote a message to IHG through their form Best guarantee rate advising them about this matter. After finalizing my message it was written that I will receive an answer within 24 hours and of course no answer was received. After sending a reminder I received an answer that Expedia offer on Internet was sent by myself more than 24 hours after making my reservation and my claim cannot be taken in consideration. In two words other operators can sell IHG rooms at a cheaper price 24 hours later. Guests should be aware about those tricky rule and I do suggest to always book through operators like Expedia, Booking which services are bringing us cheaper prices. Chains like IHG are trying to avoid the services of those operators by trying to convince us that by reserving directly it is cheaper. It is only an illusion.


    SGJNI1961
    Participant

    While I feel your pain, I can not understand why many of the well travelled, intelligent, educated posters on this forum ever think booking on the hotel’s site will ever produce the cheapest rate? A few minutes on Travelrepublic or Alpharooms, even Asdatravel, will invariably make substantial savings and often a better deal ie. breakfast included for less money. Of course, you are unlikely to get points, upgrades etc…. All hotel chains claim’s of rates guarantees are total nonsense which they are NEVER willing to honour. Start looking on Travelsupermarket.com and be very surprised most of the time. A week in a Club room in Dubai over Christmas, £2,700 direct, £2,035 elsewhere with a little searching!!! To my surprise I even used Expedia recently for the first time in many years, they had a better deal for the USA.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    I use SPG and LHW.. Whilst I agree the prices may not be “rock bottom”, but what I do get are:

    **breakfast

    **Internet

    **late checkout

    **points (and so far this year I have redeemed (8 free nights at 4/5 star hotels

    ** “additional loyalty benefits”, which have been very worthwhile

    I agree for the irregular booking 3rd party sites are generally more economical, but for the frequent bookings, I will look beyond the bargain basement pricing… bottles of wine in the room, complimentary pressing of clothes, airport transfers, dinners on the house, never been asked for, but frequently offered…..


    NTarrant
    Participant

    I agree Martyn, also I have found that it is very swings and roundabouts on pricing with direct being cheaper and through various sites costing more and vice versa.

    Also had two experiences where reception staff have looked down their noses because I had booked through one of these sites.
    Marriott York, receptionist argued the rate didn’t include breakfast until I fired up lap top and showed her the email which was met with “oh! You booked through them”
    Atlantis Dubai, “ahh yes sir, you booked through Expedia and that doesn’t include breakfast “

    My only use within three months, a bit off putting, tend to use Expedia for non group hotels, but even then booking direct can be cheaper


    Str8Talking
    Participant

    I agree, it swings and roundabouts!

    The price-match policies of the various chains do vary and have a lot of detail attached to them, so before booking something with that in mind, make sure you read the Ts&Cs carefully.

    In most cases I do find that booking through agents is cheaper. I find Trivago a good place to start for comparisons, and in most cases, at least one agent will have a hugely discounted rate, even compared to other third parties. I recently booked the Intercontinental JNB Airport – IHG direct wanted £260 for a night as did most other agents, bar one – £166 through Zleepinghotels.com (plus 7% cashback from TopCashBack).

    Another example was booking 10 nights at the Westin Whistler. Direct with SPG it was coming to 3800 CAD, yet I paid 2800 CAD (equivalent of) via Trailfinders. Granted no points from the actual purchase, but for 1000 CAD that’s another 4 nights pretty much!

    On the flip side, the Westin New York and Hyatt Times Square, recently had the best rates I’ve seen if booked directly with the hotels. Same with the Conrad Pezula in South Africa. And so on, and so forth!

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