redreeper

Quite possibly. I see they changed my rate from 169 down to 139.... but the BRG rate was 128... I finally called IHG and they said they beleive the hotel misunderstood and that they thought they just needed to match the lower price (??) and they would correct it to a comp night... we shall see.
I always get weirdness with IHG brgs, the last one I got this bizarre email detailing the t&cs for me, in particular, with some strange verbage indicating the agent knows I am familiar with brgs.... I do like one every 2-3 months, c'mon .....

nacho

If I were you I'd make sure IHG changed the night to comp. You can see it if it's an IC, otherwise get the BRG to confirmed that the night has changed to comp.

I'd bring a print out of the rate adjusted confirmation with me - there was once a hotel tried to charge me on a BRG night.

Pseudo Nim

Yeah, the CP Dubai tried to charge my father, and him, not being familiar with the whole BRG concept, just let them charge his CC thinking it was a security deposit or something. Good thing I caught him on the phone before he checked out. This is roughly the conversation he had with the front desk afterwards when I told him to go claim it back:

- Did you charge me for the room?
- No, it was free, sir.
- On Best Rate Guarantee?
- Yes, sir.
- So why did you charge my credit card XXX AED? (shows bill)
- Yes sir, you were charged.
- So is it free or did you charge me??
- Free, sir.
- Fine. You sort it out and phone my room. Ok? I am checking out at 11, so call me before.
- Okay, sir.
(11am passes, no calls, goes down to front desk)
- So what is going on?
- Okay, sir.
- What is okay?
- Everything is okay, sir.
- Did you take money from me?
- Yes, sir. But everything is okay, sir. Now refunding you, sir.

So yeah.... lesson is, if you can ensure that the hotel understands it's a free rate upon checkin, you will save yourself some trouble. (and all the above, despite the manager emailing me and telling me the BRG was honoured).

Oh well, at least he got an upgrade.

3544quebec

What is the deal with finding a better rate on www.venetian.com or www.palazzo.com than on the Priority Club website? Is the BRG honoured even though it is the hotel's own website?

They currently have a promo of $109/night coming up to $150/night with taxes/resort fee on the hotel website versus $149/night coming up to $192/night with similar conditions on pc.com.

http://www.venetian.com/Las-Vegas-Of...s/May-Retreat/

tangey

IHG might well determine that the rate you have linked to is a package rate, and there is no equivalent package on the IHG website. Probably doesn't matter that you are getting extra on the competing rate.

Pseudo Nim

This is correct. Also, they might say that since it's available on an IHG property's own website, it is not eligible.

onlysuites

Have a BRG stay coming up next week at a CP. Its for 2 adults. Now say if we take along our 3 year old toddler along with us who we had originally not planned to take for the night and hence not in the booking. Could that create a issue with the free night? No extra's would be asked for as he would share my bed.

Rates for that hotel are the same for 2AD and 1 Child.

Pseudo Nim

Please report back. I have a similar issue in 3 weeks. (except he's a hair under 3, so technically still "2"). Although I plan on asking for a crib or a small rollaway. I would suspect that usually it should not be an issue, because you wouldn't normally get a full-out bed for him anyway.

redreeper

My weirdness has been resolved, got the comp night email so I"m good, but the hotel called again about it, said it would be comp, and they want me to call them...I don't want to call them.

nacho

Even though the rate is the same, your claim is for a reservation that is for 2 adults so that will violate the T&C of the BRG. I was told that if 3 people show up instead of 2 (they put in 3 people but we were actually only 2, and they said that as long as we are only 2, we are good).

We did bring kids to some of the BRG nights but we played safe by having 1 adult check in and then the rest get in afterwards. We never ask for anything extra such as extra towel, bed.

I wouldn't do it if I were you - unless the hotel states explicitly about that kids stay free. I know someone went to a HIE at AMS on a paid stay and they were 2 adults and 1 kid (5 years old) and the hotel demanded them to get an extra room for their little girl. They claimed that ANYONE over 2 years of age counts as 1 person and since she is over 2, their group becomes 3 people, which was over the maximum occupancy. Since they have prepaid their stay and it was late, they ended up paid rack rate for 1 night and then check-out the second room the next day.

I'm not saying that it happens everytime but when it does happen, it is not going to be a nice experience.

onlysuites

Thanks! Any more experiences on this? I had one at a IC and they were quite good about it. Didn't even mention it.

Pseudo Nim

Interesting - thanks for mentioning this. Generally, the hotel does NOT charge for children. The competing website was, though, which is why I amended the reservation to 2 people. I think I'll play safe and call a week ahead to request a bed. I have a points room booked elsewhere anyway, so it's not the end of the world if they cancel it.

nacho

I usually check booking.com to see their children policy. It's pretty correct. Of course if it's HI in the US where kids stay free/ IC (I remember that they are ok with kids staying free with their parents until they are 19). A lot of hotels don't mind as long as you don't start asking for things like extra bed, sheet, towels. etc.

I had a chance to talk to some staffs at a CP in Hong Kong, and they said as long as the kid is not a teenager and the parents don't ask for anything extra, they are ok with it (for room only), for breakfast they start charging when they turn 3.

How they react depending how resentful they feel about BRG - they could put a note to the FD to find out any possible violations etc. There are various posts in this thread and I have also experienced it as well.

We usually bring our own portable crib for our 'back then' 3 yrs old - he wasn't that big and he likes sleeping there. Nowadays it's inflatable mattress or we bring our own blanket to make a small bed in the room.

cz4444

Also had a good experience at the IC Vienna.
2 adults with one child (15 years). Phoned from the room the reception and requested an extra bed. No problem.

nacho

Good to know ^

I saw that for IC Singapore you pay for extra bed for your kids - saw a couple of posts in TA.