Tagaytay Country Hotel
If my blog existed in an alternate reality, it would be called SPAdventures of a Beauty Queen for one main reason – I LUUUURRRRV SPAS!
So on our tenth anniversary, my hubby and I decided to take a weekend off at a resort with a spa in Tagaytay. After some online research we chose Tagaytay Country Hotel because they had nice photos of the place, a spa with well-price services and a Rainy Day Promo that was way within our budget – it offered overnight acommodations plus a one-hour massage.
I called the Manila office of Tagaytay Country Hotel on a Monday to make reservations for the Rainy Day Promo and the lady who answered was very friendly, answered all my questions and took my reservation.
But four days later, when I asked my hubby to call them up again to reconfirm, he was surprised; the person who answered said that the price of Tagaytay Country Hotel’s promo went up! ARGH!!!
My husband asked to talk to the manager but when he got on the line he did not seem inclined to give us the original price of the promo saying that the promo price was increased on Tuesday, the day after I made the reservation. He was quick to point out that in Tagaytay Country Hotel’s ad for the Rainy Day Promo it is clearly stated that prices were subject to change without notice.
My hubby was quick to respond, “Well, in that case, my reservation is also subject to change without notice,” and he put the phone down.
Now I am not from the hospitality industry but the sudden rate change that Tagaytay Country Hotel foisted upon us felt so inhospitable. And I was angry because our anniversary plans were dashed to pieces.
Was I wrong to feel this way?
Tagaytay Country Hotel’s promo DID have that caveat, “prices are subject to change without notice,” written on the ad. I’ve seen that phrase many times but I always thought that ONCE YOU HAVE MADE A RESERVATION the price at that point is the price that you pay.
Can anyone from the hotel industry explain this to me? Is what Tagaytay Country Hotel did messed up or were they justified?
Thankfully, there was another place in Tagaytay we could go to – Nurture Spa. It was twice the cost of Tagaytay Country Hotel BUT well worth it!!! Will be writing a review on our weekend stay there… that’s coming up next!
PS. Someone else had a similar experience with Tagaytay Country Homes – click here and read the 2nd review.
hi joyce, did you give a DP? or a reservation fee? if you did, the price change is illegal.
Nope, no downpayment, thank God! Or reservation fee. I would have hit the ceiling if that happened! Right now I’m just disappointed and want to warn friends. And hopefully if Tagaytay Country Hotel reads this blog, they will do something to improve their service. That would be wonderful
very unprofessional service… they wont last long with such a bad reputation building… thanks for the heads up!
I think, when you say reservation. It is just the room that is being reserved and not the price, unless you did give a DownPayment. And as Arlene said, if you did give a DownPayment, and they increased price, that is Illegal.
actually the reservation is already a contract with or without a down payment as long as they’ve acknowledged it. I suggest you write a letter to DTI. If their promo doesn’t have a permit, they would be penalized by DTI and as far as I know, DTI wouldn’t even allow that caveat statement because it is tantamount to deception.
Fight for your consumer rights!
The promo that I saw was online. I don’t know if there are rules covering that. But yes you are right, people MUST fight for their consumer rights… I will try to find out who the DTI head is and email my blog story and write them a letter as well. Thanks!