Beware when booking vacation travel
This summer is starting to look very different from last year, as many folks book vacation getaways. Beware, you could be stuck paying unexpected fees that could put a dent in your budget.
It happened to Stephanie Blank who was seeking a needed break after caring for her aging parents.
She booked three nights at a Best Western in Port Dover, Ont., but when she checked out, she experienced sticker shock. The bill for three nights was $403, which was expected. However, she didn’t expect to pay nearly 50 per cent more in extra fees: $187 for a booking fee from HotelValues.com. The total cost - $590.
"I was totally shocked I couldn't even believe that it's happened," she said. “Little did I realize until after the fact that it wasn't the Best Western I was booking with, it was this third party but they acted as though they were Best Western."
And Blank says she had trouble contacting at the third-party website.
"I tried to talk to somebody, every single option I pressed nobody would come to the phone. All I got was answering machines."
CTV News emailed HotelValues.com but got a bounce back on the email. Two calls were placed to a hotline number but were hung up on twice.
There are negative online reviews about the website and others complaining that they also felt that they were dealing with a hotel, not a third party.
When searching for a hotel, beware of the first link that pops up, only deal with reputable websites, pay attention to the URL and consider calling the hotel directly to make sure you’re not on a third-party website.
This could happen with booking any kind of travel whether airfares and rental cars or even when you buy products online.
A U.S. study found one in four Americans say they've been tricked by third-party websites.
In addition to extra fees, you could also face hassles making changes or cancelling after booking on one of those websites and sometimes your room may not be guaranteed. If you find a deal on a third-party website, ask if the hotel or rental car company would be willing to match it.
Dealing directly with the original supplier may ensure better service and you could also earn points for extra perks.
With files from CTV’s Pat Foran
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Gangs netting up to US$3 trillion a year as Southeast Asia human trafficking becomes a global crisis, Interpol says
Human trafficking-fuelled fraud is exploding in Southeast Asia with organized crime rings raking in close to US$3 trillion in illicit revenue annually, the head of Interpol has said in comments that reveal the huge profits being earned by cartels.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6% in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.