I booked a hotel a couple weeks back, and I just checked the rate; it's <50% what I paid.
The damn T&C says no cancellations.
Is there anything I can do? It's close to $500 price difference.
Hotels are like diamond rings - NEVER pay the rack rate. It is designed to suck money from those who have too much of it. Everyone else pays the 'discount' rate (usually about 50%) through one means or another. Vouchers, web deals, promotional discount codes, associations, or sheer haggling. There is almost always a deal out there somewhere if you look hard enough to dig it up.
We went to Italy a few years ago. The price of accommodation we were going to book in Venice was $200 euro per night. Then I found the same place on an Italian web-site for $100 euro per night (had fun translating it). They had obvious trouble hiding their disapproval when we turned up and it was clear we were not Italian, but had paid the 'local' rate. 
is it in Aus? if so, do a little reading on the ACCC website, loads of things you can raise with the hotel in order to get the cheaper rate.
Select to expand quoteFlySurfer said..
I booked a hotel a couple weeks back, and I just checked the rate; it's <50% what I paid.
The damn T&C says no cancellations.
Is there anything I can do? It's close to $500 price difference.
Post the details up here so the SB brains trust can assist.
I was all set to use lastminute.com.au and then read heaps of horror stories about not being able to change date / cancle, and their hidden fees etc.
But did get value from looking at their prices, ringing the hotel and asking for the price, then corporate rate for my employer, then saying "but lastminute.com.au says........."
and always end up getting ot for about half. Seems any less than about 5 days prior is too close though, and if too early there are no deals listed....
I was fully aware of the T&C's, I didn't pay rack rate... but it still went down 50% or 70% from normal rate.
Thank you for contacting Guest Relations. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to bring this matter to our attention and apologize for any confusion surrounding our hotel's rates.
IHG yields the decisions regarding room rates to the on site management team. In this case, the hotel management and ownership determine their own rates, often times in accordance with local demand and business needs. The hotels set their rates to be competitive in the market they serve. IHG is not involved in the direct development of these individual rates.
I have forwarded your comments to the General Manager and ownership of this hotel for review. If you would like to discuss this matter further or require any further information, you may contact the hotel directly. The telephone number for the hotel is
