I feel like I have "SUCKER" painted across my forehead right now.

Last week...before leaving for Puerto Vallarta, I logged onto the Marriott site to check my reservation. We were scheduled for a long weekend in Mexico. There was a link on my reservation page for a car transfer service from the airport. I clicked it. I haven't been to Mexico before, and I figured it was easier than haggling with any cab driver, etc.

Marriott deals with a company called iSeatz that is the middleman for this. The transfer was arranged, and I printed the confirmation (with a picture of a white Suburban on it!). At the very least, I expected a private car transfer in Mexico.

Well...upon arrival, what happens is that some guy from Grey Line meets you...walks you to the curb...then dumps you in a regular taxi...pays the driver something like 40 pesos...and you're on your way...only to have the driver ask for a freakin gratuity on the way.

Needless to say, I'm complaining to Marriott and iSeatz about this. Maybe I'm crazy, but I was expecting a bit of a more premium experience. It sounds like Marriott and this other company that they're affiliated with have no control over their suppliers.

iSeatz's first response back to me was to offer a discount. Then I went directly to Marriott for a refund. It's still in process. But I'm sure that it will work out (because I wish them good luck if I dispute it with AMEX).

Bottom line: I would be wary of booking transportation via a Marriott link with iSeatz.

Thanks for sharing your (unfortunate) experience.

Cheers.

Pretty sketchy for sure.

Is it possible there was a problem/mixup/issue with the car service and this was there way of quickly dealing with it and getting you to your destination? I would hope it would have been explained though...

Never book car service through any hotel. It's always a ripoff, but if you read the t&c, you'll find that the service you booked was delivered and you'll lose any chargeback attempt. Live and learn.

I recently responded to an e-mail from Marriott.com to reserve airport shuttle service from the San Antonio airport to my Riverwalk hotel. The voucher and instructions instructed me to "collect your luggage and proceed to the baggage claim area" which I did. Lo and behold - no one had every heard of their "Go Airport shuttle service." When I tried to contact the company to request a refund the representative was extremely short and rude and insisted I mis-read the voucher. I know how to read! I guess I'm out $71.98. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Surprisingly, the Marriott-Riverwalk had never heard of this company.

Look carefully at the origins of your emails.

Also, if you got an offer that was specific for your hotel, it sounds like either the hotel's system, or the site where you made the reservation, was hacked. Alternatively, the hotel might have sold your email to some fly by night outfit.

Be sure to file a dispute with your credit card company.

BTW $72 seems like a huge amount of money for a shuttle as opposed to a sedan car or limo transfer of some sort. How was the service described?

Ouch... I think we paid something like $50 total for 5 people with luggage in a large van from SAT to the Riverwalk last time I was in town.

I would guess this is just a flat-out scam. Sorry about your luck.