C J.

Hampton Inn, Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant, Charleston S.C. List FREE INTERNET as one of the amenities on their web page. Please see the screenshot of the hotel reservation page in which they list FREE WI-FI under conveniences.

I stayed from 11/23-26/2023. When I checked out on 11/26/203, a fee of $4.95 for Premium Internet Access Wi-Fi was added to the bill. I consider this to be FALSE ADVERTISING, and Bait and Switch.

In addition, there was a JUNK FEE, called destination fee, of $1.82 per night.
In the original quote for the price of the room, only state & local TAX was listed in the room price quote. What is a destination fee? Am I being charged for coming to Charleston? This is a manufactured fee. Hotels should be required to advertise the total cost of the room at the time the reservation is made and stop shaking down the customer after they arrive.

In addition, when I went to the page where my reservation was saved on Hampton Inn Website, it was gone. They eliminate your original reservation with the original charges.

Not only does Hampton Inn add on JUNK FEES, they have reduced the quality of the service they offer. You can no longer find tea bags in the room, only coffee. You have to get dressed and go downstairs in the morning to get tea. In addition, they use to set out cookies in the lobby in the afternoon, GONE, no longer offering that. Dealing with hotels feels like going to a used car lot, knowing you will be sold a lemon. I am fed up with this type of pilfering from corporate businesses. The government needs to STOP THIS SHAKE DOWN of consumers. I am through with Hampton INN.

I am filing a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection/Federal Trade Commission

In March of 2023, we signed on for a trip to Ecuador with Gate1 Travel but cancelled after earthquake 2 days before we were to depart. We had both Gate 1 travel insurance and Arch Right Insurance. We were told that neither insurance covered our situation. We spent over $4,000.00 for this trip.

After many emails to Gate1 Travel, pleading our case, Gate1 Travel offered as a goodwill gesture, to provide airline credit of $972 with American Airlines and a travel credit of about $1300.00.

In June 2023 I called to reschedule the trip to Ecuador, using the airline and travel credits. I was told by the agent that I could use the airline credit, BUT I had to pay a SURCHARGE of $376. For what, I asked. Well, he said, you are getting a direct flight so you have to pay extra if the flight is nonstop. I was baffled. I never heard of such a thing. There is only 1 American Airline flight from MIA (Miami) to Quito each day and it is a direct flight and the price of the ticket should reflect the total cost without adding a surcharge. Has anyone out there ever heard of being charged a surcharge for a direct flight above and beyond what the ticket cost.

The agent said he could not provide any information about the airline credit until, I committed to book a reservation for the trip and paid a NON-REFUNDABLE FEE of $600. The point of this was to lock me into a reservation in which I would lose $600 if the air faire credit turned out to be bogus, which it did. This is about as predatory as you can get.

THEN the agent told me the cost of the ticket from MIA to Quito would be $1800.00, twice the original amount of the ticket. What appeared to be a credit suddenly turned into a debit before my eyes. A $972 ticket faire credit turned into a $1800 debit and a $376 surcharge to boot. While pretending to give me a credit, Gate1 clawed back the credit and required me to pay the actual faire that I originally paid. I then called to see if I could use the credit for domestic flights. NOPE. You can only use the credit for a scheduled tour with Gate1. I am betting that the faire will be double what is advertised on the airline website and I will end up owing Gate1 money for the ticket if I attempt to use it. Offer an air faire credit and construct barriers to prevent the customer from using it.

I was incredulous at how fast it happened as the ticket agent, was talking a mile a minute, but I was in such disbelief, I went to American Airlines website, keyed in the air-faire on my computer while talking to him, and saw on my computer screen the actual price of the ticket on American Airlines listed at $432, per person not including tax from MIA to Quito. It was the exact same flight that the Gate1 Travel agent was booking me on from MIA to Quito, for $1800 + $376 surcharge, leaving and returning at the exact same time as the flight the agent was booking me on. WTF!

Gate one did allow me to use the $1300 travel credit. Since we have not gone on the trip yet, scheduled for September, I am holding my breath that no surprises arise. Based on other reviews I expect to have to cough up tips, fees for everybody I encounter on this trip. They lure you in with low prices and then nickle and dime you after you arrive at your destination.

I am astonished at the used car lot sales tactics used by Gate1Travel. Sleazy, deceitful, manipulative. After this trip to Ecuador is finished, I will never do business with Gate1 Travel again. Has anyone out there had a similar experience with Gate1travel deceptive air faire credit.

I am done with these travel discount companies. My business will be with Triple AAA from now on.