Caveat Emptor

This will not be a big shock to people who travel for both business and pleasure, but for the infrequent traveller – one who spends the family savings on a two or three week vacation once per year someplace far away from work, it may come as something that makes you go

“Huh! That is interesting / shocking / backwards / and other superlatives”.

When you stay at a hotel or motel, the more you pay, the more they make you pay.

To explain…

If you stay at a place that has a rack rate under $125/night, chances are you will get a microwave, fridge, complementary high-speed internet, free local phone calls, sometimes complimentary water, bed-time chocolates, a morning newspaper, and a buffet breakfast – all at no extra change.

Stay at a place that charges $200/night, any or all of the above will cost you from $3 - $30 per night if they are available at all.

Forget a microwave or fridge – they want you to eat at their (usually over-priced) restaurant. High speed internet can cost upwards of $30/24hour period ending at noon each day. Phone calls start as low as $1.00 for a ‘connection fee’ per call, and long distance has a premium tag of $1 to $3 PER MINUTE over and above the actual cost of the call. Water and chocolates are available at the gift shop ($0.38 for 500ml of cold bottled water at Safeway will cost $3.00 at the gift shop), your morning paper will cost $2.00 and your buffet breakfast will be billed to your room at $17.95 + 5% tax + 20% Gratuity ($22.62).

Is this not backwards?

If I choose to stay at a higher priced hotel such as Hilton, Delta, George V, Four Seasons, etc., I would

expect the rates for the lodging would include the amenities available at moderate to low priced accommodations such as Ramada, Travel Lodge, Quality Inn, Quinta, etc., as they also include these in their costs.

Before you book your next hotel stay, especially if the costs are coming out of your own pocket, check to see what you get for what you pay. Given the choice of Delta or Quality Inn, I will take Quality Inn any day of the week