Stranded in Calcutta-WARNING to booking over the web

[rogerthefish]

Bit of a travelers tale and a warning at the same time, It was a very last minute decision, picked up visa-went to cafe booked hotel and then flights and 6 hours later at airport, arrived at the hotel after 20 odd hours of travelling to be told that despite having email confirmation they the hotel had no records of my booking, it was now dark and 7pm local time, I then phoned this one of the largest very known web only agent in London who have a reputation for booking LAST MINUTE deals (aware of PH,s name and shaming rules) to be told after many minutes of pressing buttons and finally to be told hotel agreed booking-I said then email hotels confirmation to my phone, which they agreed, many phone calls later and still no email 4 hours later I realised I was stuffed as no hotel rooms were available in Calcutta due to Cricket/wedding season/conferences.

So at mid-night local time, tired walking down town with my small suitcase in tow thinking about going back to airport, I saw a face emerging from a bar that I vaguely recalled from 2 years previously at a cricket match in Australia, who, telling him of my situation let me crash on his hotel room floor-cheers Dave of the Barmy Army.

My annoyance was that this website was still advertising Hotels being available days later-when other hotel aps where showing no rooms available (this despite me emailing daily for confirmation still and advising they were still advertising vacancies) I have been refunded my monies but as a seasoned traveler have been shocked by the whole experience..imagine wife and kids in tow, anyway a warning as it was a last minute organised trip.

Edited by rogerthefish on Sunday 16th December 23:14