<p>I am posting this a separate thread from the Bed Bug Thread because it is a broader subject and I am hoping for some good advice.</p>
<p>I have bed bugs in my house. I had a canine inspection yesterday (298 dollars) that revealed that they are active in both of my Ds beds and in my luggage. It is going to cost at least 1200 dollars to exterminate them, possibly more if we need additional treatments. I have to dry clean all the clothes, draperies and bedding that cannot be washed in hot water.</p>
<p>The fact that they are in my suitcases means that I must have picked up hitchhikers when we went to my Ds graduation and stayed at a hotel that was less than pristine (we stupidly waited too long to make our reservations and were left with no choice). The hotel inflated the price (I’m guessing it was double the normal rate) and imposed a two day minimum stay.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for getting results from a complaint to the hotel? I googled the name of the hotel along with the words bed bugs and found four or five reviews that mention a bed bug issue at this establishment. That indicates to me that the hotel is well aware that they have a problem. I only wish I had checked before I went.</p>
<p>I don’t have any answers, but just another consumer gripe. I stay at a Marriott Residence Inn when I visit one of my D’s. The small rooms with one King bed and a small living/kitchen area are usually $89-99 a night. Game weekends they are $199 with a 2 night minimum. i went to reserve one of the 2 bedroom units for graduation, one that usually runs $159-169 a night, with game day costs usually $299-$399, two night minimum. For graduation weekend they are $1000 a night with a 2 night minimum. I said NO WAY.</p>
<p>There are 3 graduations (state flagship), one Fri night one Sat am and one Sat pm. They could easily fill both Fri and Sat nights and fit that many more families. But no, a 2 night minimum at $2000 a pop. CRAZY. Instead we are going to rent a 5 bedroom house about an hour away ON THE GULF that sleeps close to 20 (one is a bunk room with doubles on the bottom and singles on the top.) for 3 nights for LESS, and we can sleep grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc all under one roof. That way we don’t have money being thrown away by family who cannot afford to come. I think we will all have a ball. D is excited.</p>
<p>Geez. What a rip-off to charge five times the going rate with a 2 night minimum.</p>
<p>I am so sorry your family has to deal with these stubborn pests.</p>
<p>I guess the first step would be: figuring out who to contact at the hotel (is it the manager? Is it a chain? Is there a customer service manager?). Next step is being very specific about what you want. Is it: reimbursement for the canine inspection? a free night’s stay at their hotel (probably not in a million years, right?) An apology? </p>
<p>Second, was the hotel recommended to you by the college? Was it listed on their website under “accomodations” or “visiting”? Can you contact the hotel manager and suggest or imply that your next call will be to the school to recommend that they do not list their hotel for visiting parents? That’s almost a public service announcement at this point.</p>
<p>You can see if the hotel you are considering has had reports of bedbugs. </p>
<p>I would call the hotel and let them know you are going to report a suspected infestation. Maybe they will do something for you…maybe not, but you would be saving someone else the trouble you are currently experiencing.</p>
<p>That is brilliant! I just checked the very upscale college that is nearest to this hotel and not only do they recommend it but they have a link to it! My D didn’t go there but the manager won’t know that. </p>
<p>I want the hotel to reimburse us for our stay which was over 500 dollars. That would go a ways toward paying for the extermination. I doubt if I could get them to pay for the whole thing as it really is impossible to prove that I got them there (although it is the only thing that makes sense).</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion (and the sympathy!)</p>