Outrageous deposits on award stays
Sep 18, 2020, 1:34 pm
#1
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Outrageous deposits on award stays
Wanted to book Hilton Seychelles Northolme for 5 nights using points in late April 2021. 380.000 points for standard room. BUT... they also want to charge my credit card 2650 EUR for guarantee deposit. Which is 100 EUR more than if I would be paying standard cash rate (2550 EUR). Same with other two Hilton properties in Seychelles, same with some other Hilton properties around (like Conrad Maldives). Asked chat feature what is this and got answer its deposit for no-show and that I will get this back... so I should credit this property for next 7 months and loose all my money if they go bust... Is this new Hilton normal??
Sep 19, 2020, 1:08 am
#3
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This comes up during booking process, under "Cancelation and guarantees" section. I would not risk giving them credit of almost 3000 USD for 7 months ...
Sep 19, 2020, 1:19 am
#4
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I do see the other perspective though. Some people reserve rooms using points and then cancel a few days before arrival, leaving the hotel no chance to re-sell the room. A refundable deposit does focus the mind on "am I really going to stay here"
Sep 19, 2020, 1:30 am
#5
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Completely agree. I don't ever book anywhere that charges me a deposit for a supposedly flexible reservation.
I do see the other perspective though. Some people reserve rooms using points and then cancel a few days before arrival, leaving the hotel no chance to re-sell the room. A refundable deposit does focus the mind on "am I really going to stay here"
I do see the other perspective though. Some people reserve rooms using points and then cancel a few days before arrival, leaving the hotel no chance to re-sell the room. A refundable deposit does focus the mind on "am I really going to stay here"
Sep 19, 2020, 6:37 am
#8
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Well, they could easily do 2 months cancelation window or similar on award booking with no deposit fee. Still waiting for hear anything from Diamond desk or from the hotel. Silence is deafening.
Sep 19, 2020, 9:07 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 240
The issue is that points stays that no show or cancel after the deadline owe one night's room and appropriate taxes at the best available rate. Unfortunately when rates are as high as some of these properties are, that can lead to an absolutely outrageous cancellation or no show fee. From the hotel perspective, there's no way to ensure they can collect that fee without holding an appropriate deposit. As a guest, that would absolutely suck for me because even if I had the points to book those properties, I would not have the fluidity to allow them to hold that kind of deposit, but I absolutely see it from the hotel's perspective as well.
Sep 19, 2020, 9:09 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Wanted to book Hilton Seychelles Northolme for 5 nights using points in late April 2021. 380.000 points for standard room. BUT... they also want to charge my credit card 2650 EUR for guarantee deposit. Which is 100 EUR more than if I would be paying standard cash rate (2550 EUR). Same with other two Hilton properties in Seychelles, same with some other Hilton properties around (like Conrad Maldives). Asked chat feature what is this and got answer its deposit for no-show and that I will get this back... so I should credit this property for next 7 months and loose all my money if they go bust... Is this new Hilton normal??
Sep 19, 2020, 9:25 am
#12
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Sep 19, 2020, 4:22 pm
#13
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Given the current environment there is no way I was give anyone $3k (or anything near that amount) for months. Yes if the property goes bust you can do a charge back but then you got all the BS hassle with the credit card company. My mum went through it all getting a refund from Virgin Atlantic...
Although we can see it from the hotels point of view, you have to ask yourself if it's really worth it. I don't think so.
Can we get a Wiki going with the different properties and what they are charging?
Although we can see it from the hotels point of view, you have to ask yourself if it's really worth it. I don't think so.
Can we get a Wiki going with the different properties and what they are charging?
Sep 23, 2020, 12:44 am
#14
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Well, small update: after exchanging e-mails with the property, they assured me that nothing will be charged and if I was to cancel within last 14 days, only 1 night best avail rate would be charged. So, I booked using 380k points, and indeed, nothing was charged (so far, at least), but points...