Here’s a interesting exercise. Go into a hotel without a booking and ask: “How much does a room cost?” You may as well ask the length of a piece of string.*
The answer to both questions is: it depends. In the case of the hotel room, while there is a “rack rate” for each room there are several factors that will influence what you will actually be charged.
These include:
+ What day of the week and what time of year it is. The rules of supply and demand dictate that rooms generally cost more in peak times — during local holidays and vacation periods, or when there is a big event happening nearby.
+ Who you are. If you are a celebrity or a VIP you might get a very special rate, especially if the hotel sees some benefit in you staying there). Business travellers and airline crew often access lower rates, and if you are a member of the hotel group’s loyalty scheme you may qualify for discounts, upgrades or gifts.
+ Where you booked. Although many hotel chains now claim that their own websites and apps are the sources of the cheapest prices, it is possible to get the same room on the same night for a range of prices from a plethora of apps, websites and agents. Some big travel companies have bulk room bookings and have been known to sell them off at very low rates.
+ Sheer luck.
But what happens if you feel that you’ve been overcharged? Well, you may have a legal claim.
As The New York Daily News reports, airline passengers who were stranded by an ice storm were overcharged to the total of $48,000 by the Courtyard by Marriott New York JFK Airport hotel.
After a court action by the state attorney, the hotel will pay back the money it gouged and pay another $17,500 in civil penalties.
*The answer, paradoxically, being: it depends on how long it is.
