Cancellation Policy

I used the on-line system for Holiday Inn to book a reservation for trip about 2 months in advance. After selecting the city using a AAA rate, I was e-mailed a confirmation which was not what I selected on-line, so I immediately cancelled the reservation. Then I rebooked the reservation for the correct city. I then noticed that they ended up still charging me $600 for the previous reservation. They said that I had booked an advanced purchase rate (which just happened to be the same rate as the AAA rate) and that I could not get a refund for it. Imagine that, even though I cancelled it 2 minutes after getting the e-mail notification. This is compeletly a scam because they keep your money and then rebook to another customer.

Interesting also that the difference between the advance purchase rate and the regular rate was only a couple of dollars. Why would anyone try and save a couple of dollars and have those restrictions placed on them on a $600 reservation. A call to the hotel didn't help and they were down right rude. Since they are franchised chain, they don't really care what the corporate department says. I called them, and they said that they could not do anything either. This was after several calls, where no one would return any calls. I am a business traveler and can't imagine anyone being trated this way. I could even half understand it if I was trying to cancel a day before. The AAA rate or others you can cancel up to 6:00pm that same night.

So before you book another hotel with Holiday Inn, make sure that you understand what you are getting into. Not just the rate, but if you have an issue with a specific hotel, you will be at the mercy of the mom and pop shop. It is not like a Marriott or Hilton where you have some recourse.