Warning against using lastminute.com top secret hotels!!
#46
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Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
@sgtryan
did you actually complain at the hotel regarding the cleanliness of the room right when you stayed there? It not, I would recommend that you state that you did when talking to the lastminute.com guys again. European jurisdiction normally is that you have to complain straight away on the site to give them the possibility to correct the deficit.
did you actually complain at the hotel regarding the cleanliness of the room right when you stayed there? It not, I would recommend that you state that you did when talking to the lastminute.com guys again. European jurisdiction normally is that you have to complain straight away on the site to give them the possibility to correct the deficit.
Still waiting to hear from lastminute.com will update as soon as I have heard something.
#47
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 103
We used lastminute.com and booked the secret hotel for london heathrow - it was fairly easy to tell it was the Sofitel and we paid 79 (I think) for a ncie room in a 5 star hotel which included breakfast (usually 21 pp) - having booked our parking directly with Meteor beneath the hotel we saved a packet on the published prices.
Would I use them again - yes - as long as I could tell the hotel.
It is also worth pointing out that lastminute.com's price is the price you pay, where as on other sites they add in taxes etc., to the final invoice.
Would I use them again - yes - as long as I could tell the hotel.
It is also worth pointing out that lastminute.com's price is the price you pay, where as on other sites they add in taxes etc., to the final invoice.
#49
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#50
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Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
Hi guys,
Just an update. I had a general email from lastminute.com saying that I would get a reply within 28 days. That was on the 15th Oct. Its now Nov 19th and nothing. Not even an email to say that it might take a little longer. Speaks for its self really.
Just an update. I had a general email from lastminute.com saying that I would get a reply within 28 days. That was on the 15th Oct. Its now Nov 19th and nothing. Not even an email to say that it might take a little longer. Speaks for its self really.
#52
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Seattle,WA
Programs: Hyatt Diamond+, Alaska Airlines MVP, Priority Club Platinum
Posts: 2,682
First I have stayed at far worse places in Italy for over 100 euro per night. You should see what 100 Euro gets you in the center of Venice.
But I think this is a matter of the website you are dealing with and possibly a bit of misrepresentation by the hotel.
You said you had a good experience with Priceline. What does that have to do with lastminute? LastMinute.com is a UK company using European standards for the their hotel. Priceline on the other hand is using U.S. quality based standards when ranking hotels and when they misrate a new hotel they go out of their way to make it right.
LastMinute took over U.S. operations of the formerly great website Site59 but their new system leaves a lot to be desired.
Now here is what the hotel says their rooms look like.
That is very different from your pictures.
But I think this is a matter of the website you are dealing with and possibly a bit of misrepresentation by the hotel.
You said you had a good experience with Priceline. What does that have to do with lastminute? LastMinute.com is a UK company using European standards for the their hotel. Priceline on the other hand is using U.S. quality based standards when ranking hotels and when they misrate a new hotel they go out of their way to make it right.
LastMinute took over U.S. operations of the formerly great website Site59 but their new system leaves a lot to be desired.
Now here is what the hotel says their rooms look like.
That is very different from your pictures.
#53
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 471
Hi guys,
Just an update. I had a general email from lastminute.com saying that I would get a reply within 28 days. That was on the 15th Oct. Its now Nov 19th and nothing. Not even an email to say that it might take a little longer. Speaks for its self really.
Just an update. I had a general email from lastminute.com saying that I would get a reply within 28 days. That was on the 15th Oct. Its now Nov 19th and nothing. Not even an email to say that it might take a little longer. Speaks for its self really.
Michael
#54
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Harrogate
Programs: BA, KL, DL
Posts: 996
Wow, that room truly looks disgusting. Having stayed in over 20 hotels across Italy, I have to say that their standards are simply shocking. I paid 180 euros per night for a supposedly top-rated hotel in Venice, and it was a complete dump (although in a good location). The BEST hotel I've ever stayed in was in Zagreb (Croatia) - paid only 60 euros per night (3* hotel) and it was absolutely spotless and perfect - felt just like a bedroom at home!
#55
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 21
Holy $@#$! Wish I had a job where I had 28 days to reply to emails.
#56
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New York
Programs: BAEC Silver, &c.
Posts: 446
OP, I just wanted to wish you good luck! When I opened your pictures, I kept thinking "ewwwww"! 4* or not, one at least expects the hotel to be clean and to have things in working order. I've stayed in hostels in Hungary that had better looking bathrooms.
#57
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: TPA, SRQ
Posts: 61
I wouldn't have even stayed in that dump. Told the taxi to take me to another place and then contest it with my credit card. Seriously, the place looked like you could have gotten a staph infection walking around in there barefoot. I really feel bad that you got jammed up like that and hope you can get some sort of refund. Your message is heard loud and clear about that website. We work to hard to get ripped off like that. Good luck
#58
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: IC Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, HH Diamond
Posts: 306
I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience with the lastminute.com secret hotel you choose. Nevertheless I don't agree that you should well clear of them. If you spend some time on the net and do a bit of research you can nearly always pin down the exact hotel and I made some good bargains on beautifull hotels. Although I have to say that I only used it for London.
But 133 Euros inkl. taxes for a double room at The Mayfair in London is what I call a good deal and that was through lastminute.com Top secret hotels.
But 133 Euros inkl. taxes for a double room at The Mayfair in London is what I call a good deal and that was through lastminute.com Top secret hotels.
#59
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Posts: 236
whether or not it's possible to get a deal by them with the right research, it's very clear from their lack of any sort of quality customer service with this issue that they are not a trustworthy operation. even if you should find a good deal by them, you go in knowing that if anything should go wrong you have no one to talk to and deal with. i don't think it's worth entering into such a thing, even to save a couple bucks.
#60
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BNA
Posts: 2,076
While quality usually isn't terribly cheap, "you get what you pay for" is typically what people who overpay tell themselves to feel better about wasting money. At least that has been my experience, though I could be wrong.