This is a copy of an email that I sent to booking.com when they asked me
about my experiences with my recent stay in Brisbane.
To Whom It May Concern,
The email that you apparently sent to me inquiring about my
stay at the Hotel named in the Subject Line, was blocked by my Computer.
I do not know why – it was apparently for some security reason – so I am
sending you my answer here.
My Experience.
As I had prepaid, I booked into the Soho without too much of
a problem. However I later realised that I had incorrectly booked for one
night less than I had intended to stay.
1.
To stay an extra day, I was asked to pay an
additional $265.00
2.
When I approached reception the next day to
reluctantly agree, the price had gone up to $285.00. I inwardly decided
not to pay this ransom demand. I was quite annoyed but did not
indicate it. I left reception saying that I would think on
it. I was advised that as the “EKKA” was on, there were no rooms
available anywhere in Brisbane – like it or lump it! The money that
I had prepaid to the Soho was non-refundable. If I chose NOT to
stay there, I would forfeit it all (around $1000.00) “They had me!”
3.
In frustration, I contacted the Metro Tower Mill
Hotel just 3 doors down from the Soho and was told that they had several rooms
available. I booked the extra night there, and when the realistic
price I was given was $160.00 for the night, I was even more staggered.
I will use them again whenever I travel/stay in Brisbane.
My summation on my experience.
1.
Essentially I was lied to by the Manager of the
Soho.
2.
I (and others) found the Front of House staff to
more than a little rude and condescending to deal with.
3.
The hotel does not have a lift.(almost every
hotel today has a lift!)
4.
The rooms at the Soho are quite small and
outfitted (in my view) most inadequately and were what I considered to be
inferior and poorly outfitted. The hotel is quite old by current
standards (although some “older” hotels are magnificently kept and maintained.)
Fittings and furnishings were mediocre.
5.
I witnessed one international guest, who had
paid and booked in earlier than me, return to reception to complain that the
room size was much smaller than expected. He was summarily (and a
little curtly) dismissed by the front desk manager as a trouble
maker. When the manager seen me looking a little taken aback about
it all, she just gave me a smirk and later said “foreigners – you can never
please them.”
6. The
guest went away unhappy because it was plain that he was not going to get a
refund, regardless. He could also not get a larger room, they were
all the same size!. I became a little worried because I had prepaid
for a week. I could see the same thing happening to me, so I shut
my mouth!. When I was given a key, ushered out of reception and
told to take the stairs, key in hand (yes, key – no cardkeys in this place – or
a lift!) When I entered the room, I realised just what the gentleman was
complaining about.
To sum up, I am trying to be non-judgemental here, but the
two establishments are like “Chalk and Cheese”. It is not usually
my desire or place to make these kinds of comment, but you did ask.
Comparing the “Soho” to the “Metro Mill Inn” just 3 doors
down. For price and value for money, there just is no
comparison. At the Metro, he staff were friendly, helpful and
professional. After paying, I was given my Key Card and personally shown
to my room, via the Lift. The room was on the 7th of 10
floors. Considering my age and health, had I had to climb stairs, I
don’t think that I would have made it. My impressions in comparison with
where I had spent the last 6 days…. The room was most spacious,
modern, clean, well appointed. It was a quiet and better place to
stay. Although my stay with them was but one day, I was afforded
every courtesy. (and no! I knew/know no one there. Nor had I ever
set foot in the place before.)
In Summation.
The Soho
The images shown in your website are of cute lamps on tables and other close
ups. This sort of “sell” does not show the potential customer a
good representation of the actual rooms. Shots such as the “swishy”
picture of a womans’ back as she entered the Reception area, actually shows
just how small it really is (interestingly though, they cut out the softdrink
fridges that makes the room look more like a convenience store.)
They do have a restaurant in the place, but it is in the
basement area and is not even represented in the shots, even though the food is
quite pleasent. (I think that is because it is “run by
others”) Other images show shelves etc. in the bathroom but not
much else. The advert promises “ Best Price Guaranteed” and
a rating of “Very Good - 8.4”.
Metro Hotel Tower Mill (images on your same website),
Show the real deal and a realistic room rate! All you have
to do is compare the two side by side and you will know the one at which you
would rather stay. I do NOT have to use words here, the photos on
your pages speak volumes!. The advert promises “ Best Price Guaranteed” and
“Good - 7.7”.
But just what do you base those ratings on? (It seems
that they are back to front)
They confuse me a little when your spreads actually (to me)
make the Metro shine over the Soho (or is this perhaps just a
little subtle bias showing through?)
To be honest with you, now that I have undertaken this
exercise, methinks that a more truthful and realistic appraisal of the various
establishments would be much more helpful and useful to the observer, in aiding
them to make a choice. Let me assure you that, the next time
I browse the internet looking for a place to stay ANYWHERE, I will look a
little closer at your (and now other) pages and try to assess with a much more
wizened set of eyes.
It may be that what I have written might not be quite what
you were looking for, but maybe it is time for your critiques to be more
realistic, or penned by someone who actually does stay at the various
locations. Give the reader something genuine and realistic that he
or she can actually base a choice on. Maybe some regulation as to
what must be included in any critique could include such things as realistic
room sizes and appointments, including bathrooms, etc.
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