Outrageous hotel room service rates
By Darren Cronian on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

I’m becoming fed up of ranting about airlines, so I thought for a change I would rant about hotels on behalf of a friend who asks why they charge so much for room telephone calls. She made a call home using the hotel room phone because her mobile battery had died on her.

Outrageous hotel room service rates

When she looked at her bank statement she found that the 3 minute conversation cost her £3.75. Okay, so it’s not a massive amount of money, and had she been more observant when signing out of the hotel she should have queried this with them.

On a recent stay at a London hotel, if I wanted room service it would have cost me an extra £5 for them to bring the food to me, up one level. Thankfully, I wasn’t in need of room service, and even if I was there’s no way I would have paid this extra charge – what will be next.

Is it just me or are hotels taking travel consumers for idiots with their ridiculous rates for services.


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7 responses to “Outrageous hotel room service rates”

Simon | 7 May, 2008 at 11:30 am

I stayed in a Hotel a couple of months ago in Surrey, where my room was in an anex type thing, away from the main hotel – about 200 yards away.

I ordered champagne to be brought to the room, and they tried to charge me £25 for the pleasure (on top of the price of the champagne). I told them to have it in reception in 5 mins, and went and got it myself – bloomin’ cheek!

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Darren Cronian | 7 May, 2008 at 12:33 pm

@ Simon

That is a bloomin’ cheek. Looking on the website where I booked the hotel, there was no mention of this £5 for room service.

I wonder if this is becoming a regular charge that hotels are adding on.

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Nick | 7 May, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Darren

Just got back form a weekend in Birmingham. The hotel added a room delivery fee. So I asked what the charge is for. “This enables us to charge the same rate as the restaurant rather than a higher price room service menu”

So there you have it. Those lovely people at the hotel are trying to save you money….

With regards to the phones there more up front, a few years ago I was told that due to less calls being made from hotel rooms prices are going up. Keep in mind you’re paying for the equipment, line rental and the cost of the call. Having worked in a hotel I can tell you money from room calls does not normally cover the cost of the phone bill. (That did not included the hotels calls or line, just guest)

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Darren Cronian | 7 May, 2008 at 5:30 pm

@ Nick

That’s a naff reason in my opinion, as for the telephone, I suppose your right, but why do they not put this information on the leaflets etc you get in hotel rooms.

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Rohan | 11 May, 2008 at 11:53 am

The room service charge is poor. It takes them how long to serve it to your door. I think if this becomes the norm we should see hotel room prices being reduced.

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Darren Cronian | 11 May, 2008 at 12:02 pm

@ Rohan

I can’t see hotel room prices being reduced, but it seems the travel industry is all about taking money from the consumer right now and it’s pi**ing me off to be honest.

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Luke Gardiner | 12 May, 2008 at 12:47 pm

I agree with Rohan.

I could understand if we all stayed at home and stuck two fingers up at travel agents and hotels, it’s just take take take all the time and I am fed up of.

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