Originally Posted by
Mr. BoH
I went to book a stay here today, but all the rates presented are effectively all prepaid rates. They call the rates "Member Flexible Rate" but the fine print says "To ensure that you receive this special rate, we will charge your credit card a prepayment of $[about 80% of total stay cost] USD on April 10, 2023" as well a full penalty if cancelled within 90 days of stay. In addition to being a bit disingenuous calling this a "Flexible Rate", I'd prefer to not tie up my money for many months in advance. I have never stayed at this property before, is this normal for them?
So, as to whether this is normal, yes and no --
The yes is that I pulled up a flexible rate for September 26, 2023 for three nights and it indeed says that to receive this "special rate," it will take a deposit of essentially the full pre-tax room rate tomorrow. This deposit itself is normal, even for a flexible rate. (I've made a few such reservations that I've subsequently canceled, and the refund has always come immediately, proactively.)
The no is that the cancellation deadline is typically much closer in than 90 days -- and, indeed, for my search it showed 14 days (with full refund if canceled by September 12).
Which dates are you searching? If it's a holiday or other high-demand period, then I would be inclined to view the 90-day cancel window as anomalous and based on that.