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Friday, December 18, 2015

VACATION NICKEL AND DIMING


VACATION NICKEL AND DIMING
One thing that really bothers me about vacations is when resorts try and nickel and dime you. 

The first thing that gets my dander up (giyp) is internet charges.  Why do these places charge you for internet access?  Starbucks gives you access for free.  Lowes gives you access for free in their parking lot, why won’t motels and cruise ships give you free internet access.  Hell they don’t charge for TV, they don’t charge for towels, they don’t charge for the swimming pool and they don’t charge for soap, shampoo and conditioner.  Why do they charge for the internet? 

Ok, all those other things they do charge you for, they just include it in the total room charge package.  So why don’t they do the same for internet access.  I’d rather pay a little extra for my room charge than sweat out the minutes I use the internet because they are ripping me off.

This one really threw me for a loop.  At our stay in Vero Beach, a Disney Resort, before we took the ship to Cozumel Mexico and then to Key West Florida, there was a nice pool, and a beach.  The weather was a little iffy, so there was not much do.  They did have a nice little miniature golf course.  Mrs. C and I like mini golf and would have played several rounds, except…They charged ONE DOLLAR TO PLAY!

I know what you are thinking, what is one dollar when you are paying so much more for a vacation.

Exactly.  What is one dollar to Disney?  It is insulting to pay so much for a stay in the resort and to have to pay another dollar just to play mini golf for ten minutes.  

We did not play mini golf.

The Disney Resort does however provide free internet. The cruise ship wanted a fortune for access.

Some of you may be thinking, 

“Crap Cranky, you are on vacation first in Florida, and then on a luxury liner to Cozumel Mexico and Key West.  Both nice places, and a cruise ship is also pretty dang nice, why are you complaining about charges for mini golf and the internet.  What a Douchebag!”

The answer to that is simple.  I am cranky! I also may be a bit of a Douchebag!

17 comments:

  1. I agree--they should either give you that kind of stuff free or at least hide it in your basic rate so you won't know & it won't bug you!!

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  2. I agree....it's like buying a luxury car and then having to pay extra for floor mats. In this day and age who doesn't have floor mats in their fancy-pants car, and who doesn't check the internet occasionally for email or the news, even while on vacation?

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  3. Disney is the king of nickel and diming!

    When I vacation, I leave the Internet behind. That's what makes it a real vacation!

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  4. Nah, you're not cranky. You just appreciate the value of a buck... and the once-upon-a-time concept of customer service. You aren't alone.

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  5. I do admit I do look for free Internet while booking hotels :)

    I don't like that they keep the towels at a minimum. Two guests, 2 towels. Makes it hard if you are used to washing your hair and wrapping it in a towel but you can't because there isn't a spare.

    betty

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  6. “Crap Cranky, you are on vacation first in Florida, and then on a luxury liner to Cozumel Mexico and Key West. Both nice places, and a cruise ship is also pretty dang nice, why are you complaining about charges for mini golf and the internet. What a Douchebag!” Exactly Cranky.

    I just love your posts. I really do.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  7. These little charges can be such a pain in the butt. I hope you're having a good time.

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  8. You and my husband are on the same page. There is nothing he hates more than to be charged for Internet at a hotel. The funny thing is, the ritzier the hotel, the more likely you are to get charged. We also hate the unquoted (hidden) fees and taxes that you only find out after you've decided to make the reservation. Why not just list everything upfront so people can decide if they want to pay the price or not? Sorry for ranting - this is definitely a pet peeve...

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  9. I am wondering if the golf charge is an add-on that they cannot transfer to the course manager from their books. Maybe it is a tax issue?

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  10. Why do they all charge for these things? Because they can. Because people will pay for it. And I suppose that hiding it in the cost of the room penalizes those who don't care to have internet access. But then again, I don't suppose that they hotels much care about that either. I'm actually surprised that one of the Disney extras is only $1.

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  11. I'm with you, Cranky. I guess that makes me a Douchebag, too.

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  12. Until 5 years ago, I travelled weekly, hotels were my norm. It was the usual Holiday Inn, Hilton, Marriott, etc.....and for the last near 10 years I don't remember getting charged anything for wifi....in Europe, yes, but not the us.
    The cruise ship I was on, 'Mariner' from Regency, had a 300 minute free, then some charge. I never did get to the 300 in the 10 days.

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  13. I guess you showed them! No two dollars from Cranky and the Mrs. for Disney mini golf. I'll be watching the paper for their bankruptcy proceedings.

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  14. When we stay at mid-price hotels, @ $75-100/night, internet is free. When we go to the expensive places, $300&up, they charge for it. No, i've never understood that, either.

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  15. I'm right there with you on this one. I think they lose goodwill and it tarnishes their brand.
    When I came back from our cruise, that was my biggest complaint.
    With technology today, fast internet access should be a cinch.
    R

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  16. it does seem like a weird little needling insult. :)

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  17. It's always the little things...and they do lose a lot of customer goodwill like that. Please sign me up for the douchebag club.

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