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Golden Nugget Rate Guarantee

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by marksind, May 30, 2013.

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  1. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Made a reservation awhile back for the Golden Nugget for next week at their web site, but being the cheap b*stard I am I always keep my eye out for a better deal. There were a lot of Memorial Day weekend sales from third-party booking sites, one of which, Hotels.com, offered a savings of almost 20% over my GN direct rate.

    I booked that and was going to cancel my other reservation when it occurred to me that maybe the GN has a rate guarantee. I figured why not let them have the whole pie instead of giving Hotels.com a slice? So I Googled it, and sure enough they offer a guarantee that if you find a better rate they will give you 10% off that rate if you fill out a one-page form and email it with proof of your better deal. So I do that, figuring it's likely they will cite some fine-print and not do it, but would probably at least match the Hotels.com deal (which I can cancel with full refund).

    As I suspect, I get an email response the next day saying that because the Hotels.com offer is a special promotion the guarantee doesn't apply, but that the GN currently has a better direct rate than I booked, and they are pleased to inform me that they have lowered my rate to the new direct pricing. It is 10% higher than my Hotels.com rate, which of course they know since I have sent them all the details of the Hotels.com booking.

    Now I am really confused. Why would I keep that reservation (which offers no perks over the Hotels.com one) when it is 10% higher? So I respond saying that if they will at least match the Hotels.com rate I'll keep the direct reservation, which I assume will net them more than the one through Hotels.com. Two days later, no response. I need to cancel one of them by tomorrow night. I'd really prefer that they get the whole amount. Go figure.

    I am assuming the woman who has handled this probably made a note to give us the dungeon room next to the garbage dumpsters for being so demanding. I'll post once known.
     
  2. uli_1515

    uli_1515 Low-Roller

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    Personally not only in Vegas I just prefer to book directly. In case anything comes up it is all with them and you're not having to stand there and make phone calls to any other party. I'd take the 10percent hit!
     
  3. High_Iron

    High_Iron Tourist

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    I agree. Unless we are talking about a substantial sum of money. I am staying there in june in a Carson tower room and 10 percent would be about 35 bucks. If it were closer to $100 then I would save the money and treat myself to dinner.
     
  4. bu$hman

    bu$hman Guppie trying to become a whale

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    Just received an email from Golden Nugget with a promo code for reduced rates. Book online, or give them a call. Might work for your dates. The code is: EB529. Check it out online to see if it helps reduce your rates. It looks to be knocking about $10.00 off regular rates. Hope it helps.
     
  5. BCeagle

    BCeagle Tourist

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    Also remember if you book direct you may get it comped.
     
  6. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

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    I would keep the Hotels.com reservation, just because, like you, I am a cheap b*stard, and every penny saved helps fund my next trip. I doubt your reservation will be flagged in any way unless you threw a tizzy.
     
  7. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Yes, I feel I have to keep the Hotels.com reservation for two reasons: it's a better deal, and the GN's response to their rate guarantee was so bizarre I'd feel like an idiot taking it. Here's how their "Best Rate Guarantee" begins (copied directly from the web page):

    WE GUARANTEE THE BEST RATES AROUND
    If you find a lower rate publicly available on the internet we'll match that rate and REWARD you with an extra 10% off.

    But instead they cite some vague fine print and say "how about we charge you 10% more instead of 10% less and call it a deal?" When I offered to do it with them directly at the same rate I'm met with silence. I'm not the hostile type, so my communications have been cordial, at least from my perspective. Obviously the reservations woman is not on an incentive system tied to profit!

    When I call to cancel I'll ask if I can use the VIP check in and/or am eligible for a possible upgrade since I am a Landry's member. If they say yes, I'll keep the GN reservation. Most likely they will say no, since I am booked at a discounted rate rather than the Landry's rack rate. In that case, I'll cancel. Then I can find out if we've been booked into the "bed bug special" room!
     
  8. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    Is your GN reservation refundable? When I booked for a trip late last year they charged me for my first night up front and when I had to cancel they wouldn't refund it but would hold it as a credit on a future stay for up to six months. I was able to use it not too long after that though.

    Oh and they told me I couldn't use the Landrys card benefits if I booked at anything but rack rate. Even rates GN emails me don't qualify. It kinda sucks.
     
  9. bu$hman

    bu$hman Guppie trying to become a whale

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    A bit curious they wouldn't refund your first night's rate. How much notice did you give them? " A credit card and photo identification are required at time of check-in. Any deposits made are fully refundable upon notice of cancellation at least 48 hours prior to arrival." It was kind of cool that they let you use it at a later time, rather than just forfeiting the amount altogether.

    As for not getting use of the Landry's Select perks, I agree, it does kind of bite. However, they put it (in small print), "Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or membership club at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas and is subject to availability. Rates apply to individual reservations and are not available through group sales. Must be at least 21 years of age. A major credit card is required upon check-in. Management reserves all rights."
     
  10. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    Yeah, you refreshed my memory. We had to cancel our trip at the last minute (dog got very sick) and since GN was our first stop it was less than 48 hours. Matter of fact I'd already checked into my Southwest flight. They gave me a refund btw.
     
  11. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    I cancelled the GN direct reservation last night, which gets me a full refund since it's more than 48 hours before our day of arrival.

    When I called I mentioned that I had a duplicate reservation at a lower rate from a third-party site and might need to cancel, but first wanted to see if the GN reservation was better in some way. I asked if it included the coupon book. She checked and said no. I asked if, since we are Landry's members, we could use the VIP check in or be eligible for an upgrade if available. She said no, because we were booked at a "web rate." So, I cancelled.

    I don't know why this bothers me so much. I guess it's the poor training so many companies give employees, or the "one move deep" thinking of so many corporate managers (I work for a big company). I am convinced that the GN will receive substantially less from my Hotels.com reservation than they would had they met the rate or even honored their "10% better" guarantee. I'd rather they have the money. Just couldn't make them see it that way.
     
  12. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    All that you're goin' thru just seems so exhausting and guaranteed to put you in a bad mood before you even walk thru the doors. I hope you end up having a GREAT visit despite all this... :peace:
     
  13. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Thanks Smartone.

    I'm not trying to portray this as personal suffering. It isn't like it's been a complete preoccupation. You know how something occasionally causes us (sometimes to our own surprise) to react disproportionately? Well, this is one of those things for me. I'm a bit of a Spock type - illogical responses can be very frustrating. This one seems so obvious. Anyway, it'll be great trip assuming we're not consigned to the galley kitchen.
     
  14. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    I hear you Mark. I find myself in that boat to.

    In reference to smartone's statement, I don't think this endeavour is going to sour your experience. I stayed at the GN on my last trip for the first time and I had a bit of an issue at check-in. I had to get testy because I was already frustrated and what they were doing wasn't making any sense and was going to end up with me in a smoking room. They ended up making it right and it was all smooth sailing after that. We really enjoyed our stay there and loved being able to take our time exploring downtown for a change (as opposed to day trips).
     
  15. thejuliet

    thejuliet Tourist

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    I stayed at the GN for Friday and Saturday this past Memorial Day weekend. I booked directly with the hotel a Rush Tower Club room with elevator key card access. My friends booked a package thru Allegiant and stayed in the Carson Tower. I was a new guest and went and signed up for a slot club card, my friends had received a coupon book and I didn't. I went back to the Rush Tower desk to inquire about the book and I was told that it didn't come with my booking. I also found it curious that third party bookings got the book but high paying VIP room guests that asked didn't.

    Another situation happened while I stayed there which lead me to write a letter of complaint. I will give management some time to reply to my complaint before I gripe about on forums.

    The pillows on the beds were awesome!
     
  16. Clarkson7

    Clarkson7 Tourist

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    If I were to go through all this time consuming mess, I would have a major headache. You mentioned (more than once I believe) that you would "rather GN got the extra money" or words to that effect. Really? Why? If I feel like I've been mistreated, I certainly wouldn't want the offending party to be rewarded for their presumed mistreatment.
     
  17. bu$hman

    bu$hman Guppie trying to become a whale

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    That seems to be the modus operandi, for the past few years. Sometimes you win, when you ask for the book, sometimes you lose. Lately, I have lost.

    Aww, c'mon. Tell us what the gripe is. Somebody might have some information on how to remedy the problem. Or, you might help someone who is going in the immediate future (not me, not until Aug.)
     
  18. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Rest of the Story

    After cancelling the reservation I made directly with the GN in favor of the cheaper one with Hotels.com, I was surprised to get an email from the GN reservations woman. She said she was sorry to be so late getting back to me again and had noticed what I had done. That was interesting, as it told me she had made a reminder to check once we were within the 48 hour cancellation window. Based on that, I was expecting the worst when we arrived Monday afternoon.

    Turned out to be a non-event. We got a nice end of hallway room in the Carson Tower, 19th floor, and even though the Hotels.com reservation didn't include a coupon book, I was given one when I asked. It was a very pleasant stay, other than the fact that the gambling gods weren't kind to us.

    A few random observations - Landry's credits work in the Chart House. We used them one day for happy hour. Very good happy hour food at reasonable prices, and a great atmosphere.

    We were amazed at the hordes of kids at the GN. The pool was a madhouse, with so many toddlers and diaper-clad infants in their mom's arms that we questioned the water quality. The upstairs pool lounge chairs are free after 5 pm, so that's where and when we went. It was never crowded.

    The higher floor elevators for the Carson Tower weren't all in service. There were often lines to even get into the elevator waiting area. Got annoying, particularly Friday/Saturday when things were at their busiest.

    I guess school's out in much of the country at this point. Tons of kids everywhere. While some casinos like the Cal, Fremont, Binions, and El Cortez didn't seem very busy, the GN seemed slammed all week. Downtown in general appears to be attracting more 30-something and below adults. Average age on the FSE seems to be dropping considerably. Bums and costume characters were abundant but we weren't approached once during our six day stay (Monday-Saturday). And it was very hot (111 on Saturday), which makes being downtown as opposed to the strip that much better!
     
  19. thejuliet

    thejuliet Tourist

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    Well this may not be a big deal to others but it was big to me, and it's been over a week since I sent an email with my complaint and I haven't heard anything back.

    We checked in for 2 nights on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, had a nice turn down service on the Friday evening, but not on the Saturday. No big deal but it is part of the service for the Rush Tower club rooms. I paid around $300.00 for the Saturday night and when it came closer to our trip the same room was going for $400.00 for the Saturday night.

    I got in quite late after being out on Saturday - 1:58 a.m. Sunday morning. Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on the Sunday there was a knock on our door. I got out of bed to see who would be knocking and then a key card started to access our room I slammed the door shut just as it was opening and threw the deadbolt on. When I looked out the peephole there was some one who I assumed was house keeping running away from our room and entered a doorway across. We were never provided with a "do not disturb" sign for our knob or my roommate would have had it on the door the night before. I called down to the front desk and they had someone come up with a door hanger.

    I really feel that 8:00 a.m. is pretty early to be knocking on doors by housekeeping on a Sunday of a long weekend and of what they consider a VIP room. I had even tried twice to ask for late checkout and was told I couldn't because of bookings.

    I took the time to complain, someone from the GN could take the time to reply. Like I said it's a complaint to me maybe not to others.
     
  20. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    At Least They're Consistent!

    Hotels.com has great rates for the GN today on a special sale, plus another 9% off using code "summerfun9." We're going to Vegas the end of September/beginning of October, so I have been watching room rates and this is the best deal by far I've seen.

    When we went in June I'd book through the GN, but later saw a better deal through Hotels.com. After checking the GN web site I found I could use their "rate guarantee" to get a better rate - or so I thought. They wouldn't even match the Hotels.com rate, even after a few email exchanges with one of their marketing managers wherein I tried to pin down why they wouldn't prefer to get the "whole pie" through a direct booking rather than only part of it through a third-party booking site. Never could make any sense of it, so I cancelled the reservation with them and went with the cheaper Hotels.com booking, which worked out just fine (even got the coupon book!).

    So today I figured I'd spare the drama and just call them before I booked with Hotels.com to see if they'd match the rate. Nope. So once again I'm booked with Hotels.com at about $16 a day less than they offered directly. Makes no sense, but at least they are consistent!
     
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