Originally Posted by
3544quebec
I assume that you are not saying that they are charging you twice for the room -
If you are saying that they charged your credit card the $271/night +taxes at booking but at checkout have worked out the rate in Reais and it is more than the pre-charged amount and the have charged your credit card the difference at check-out then that certainly sounds like a shonky practice. If fully prepaid there shouldn't be any room charge liabilty to you ( except for the voluntary R5 or so/night hotel tax which you can decline to pay if you wish - its just a contribution to the local hotel association/convention bureau)
They did not charge me twice.
They put a hold on my card for the room rate, but did not charge it. The rate per night was written down on my room key envelope (I have it). "$271 + 15% tax" at check in.
At check out I was charged in Reals. The amount in Reals does not match the room rate in dollars, figuring in the exchange rate for that day. Not even close. I'm not including the tax here, as that is a separate line on the bill.
I feel like I'm being subjected to a shell game. "Welcome to the Sheraton Rio Mr. xxx, here's your rate in dollars." Then, "thank you for staying at the Sheraton, here's your bill, oh, it's in portuguese, and the amount is in now in Reals, and we're sorry that the amount doesn't seem to match the equivalent amount you were quoted in dollars, but mumble mumble mumble.* *Smile* "good-bye."
So not only did I not get my gold benefits, but they managed to tack on about another $50 or so to my bill. Nice job, very classy. This is a major international hotel chain, and the local property operates like they're still operating in a shady third world context. How does Starwood allow this to go on?