I've been toa couple of hotels that charge for 800# calls after a certain number of minutes (usually 15). Although I would rather have unlimited 800# calls, I understand why they are doing this. They have a limited number of 'trunks' going into a hotel, say one trunk for every ten rooms, so only one in ten people can be on the phone at any one time - and when people use the phone for connection to the internet, it means that they may have to pay for more trunks, or someone may not be able to get a dialtone to call out. The Sam'sClub and onesuite.com (2.9 cents/minute) from all telephones exceptpayphones have been a great way to save $$$$

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TucsonSam

I agree with Gregg. When my employer is paying I'll choose a better hotel, but when the cost is coming out of my pocket I find that Motel 6 has the right amount of the three C's...comfortable, clean and cheap http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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Middle_Seat

Hey pycho ... are you by any chance the FTer who 'fixes' showerheads in various hotels?

Seriously. I can't find that [brilliant] thread ...

<g>

That is why I always use the lobby pay phone, for both calling card calls and even 800 calls. It's such a rip-off. I can understand people tying up the lines when connected to an 800 # with a modem, but there is no reason why they can't put an 800 # call time cap, like some hotels do. They are either in it to make a profit, or are too lazy to investigate ways to time a calls length. There is no reason why I should be charged to call my airlines reservation number to re-confirm my flight, etc. Ridiculous and it fools no one.

Shame on them.

P.S. For a REAL good laugh, try calling an 800# in Mexico!!! LOL

Last night I stayed in Albany again at a Ramada Inn. It was $12 a night more expensive and each local call was free for the first 15 minutes and 5 cents a minutes thereafter. Of course when you're online you just sign off and back on to beat the charges. The Motel 6 has free local calls (no matter how long and I've certainly put that to the test) and don't charge for 800 numbers like some of the other hotels seem to be.

I had a miserable time with phone charges at an Embassy Suites in Atlanta Galleria once. I came in and had a lot of work to do online, so planned on spending several hours on the laptop. I checked the hotel directory to see what the phone charges were -- it said something like 75 cents a local call. So I dialed in, did my work that night, went to bed, woke up early, dialed in again and finished up.

Then when I started out to breakfast I noticed the bill that had been slipped under my door. Room rate looked fine, but I had something like $30 in phone fees!

So I go downstairs to investigate, and I'm informed that there's a per-minute charge on local cards. Buh? I point out that the hotel directory says nothing of the sort, and ask to speak to the manager. He explains that there's a card right there by the phone listing the charges, and that the hotel directory is out of date. I told him I didn't see a card, though admitted I was tired and might have missed it. So we argued for a while, with him offering to take off half the charges, but I argued him down to taking all the charges off.

Now, granted, even if I'd known about the per-minute charge ahead of time I would have made the calls, I had to get the work done. It doesn't annoy me so much getting charged for calls if I know what I'm being charged, but having the directory say one thing and getting billed another drives me up a wall. Sure, my company would reimburse me, but it's the principle.

Incidentally, when I went back upstairs to look at the phone, there was no card by it. But I used the phone in the bedroom. The phone in the living room of the suite did have a card, but it was in a corner nowhere near a table, so I didn't even go near it. Bah. If they can't at least put a little sticker in their directories that says the phone charges have changed, I have no sympathy for them. You can't just advertise one thing and then charge another.

The hotel industry is just as competitive as ever, which is why I shudder at the thought of the slew of 'hidden' fees we see these days. At least they are now open about the energy surcharges, even though they are not called for in many markets where energy costs have not skyrocketed!

A recent article in the Iowa/Minnesota AAA Magazine about the Lincoln Highway talked about the demise of businesses along the old route as the interstate highway system developed and how these businesses, mainly hotels, have bounced back by catering to the business traveler with increased amenities and services, such as internet access and dual-line phone service. At no extra charge.

This type of service benefits the auto business traveler in smaller towns, but when this type of philosophy is adopted by the biggies it benefits everyone. IF YOU DON'T LIKE A BUSINESS PRACTICE, TELL THEM AND ALSO TALK WITH YOUR FEET. Take your business where they treat you with respect and assume you have some intelligence.

This usually works, unless the hotel is under-served by phone trunks and you have to wait to get an outgoing line. Grrrr!



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Middle_Seat

They charge everything in NYC. Parking was $20 when I was in the 6th Ave Hilton, I complained saying that my room rate is already at $550/night. the manager said plainly that if you are paying $550 a night why are you complaining for a mear $20/day?

It was very bad.

I stayed at a Comfort Inn in Vienna, Va, last Oct. When I saw that the hotel charged for toll-free calls after the first 20 mins, I simply didn't touch the telephone at all. I stayed only 1 night, so it wasn't a big deal because I was able to connect at Northwest lounge at the airport the next morning.

I've found similar charges with a few other chains in some cities. Now, I simply check the website for Kinko's before I hit the road and check for locations nearest to the hotel. Most locations are open 24/7. Many locations have dataports and don't charge for them (though a few locations have time limitations -- eg, 5 mins). It's a bit of a hassle, but I get my work done.