The FoML was on his first sleepover and my wife and I decided to take advantage by going of to a romantic getaway. The Claremont in Berkeley is the local premiere romantic resort, so we decided to go there. We were hoping for something like the Hotel Del Coronado , where we got married. It certainly didn't live up to that reputation by any metric, least of all, fair treatment.

We reserved a "newly renovated large bay view room with a king size bed". We arrive right at checkin and after what seemes to be an unusual amount of clicka-clicka-clicka by the manager, we got keys for room 231. We get to the room and discover that it is a) not newly renovated (ungrounded plugs are the givaway), b) faces a hill side beyond a parking lot and a dumpster, c) is barely large enough to accommodate the queen sized bed.

So we go back down. Now there's a huge line. We are a bit disturbed to see that the guy who had been checking in next to us is still there, and seems to be having some sort of animated discussion with the clerk. After fifteen minutes, as we approach the same manager who originally checked us in, a woman who had just finished in front of us whispers "good luck" as we pass.

The conversation is simple:

Me: "We seem to have gotten the wrong room. We reserved a newly renovated large bay view room with a king size bed. Room 231 was none of these."

Manager: [looks confused]

Me: "See, here" [hands manager a printout showing the reservation]

manager: "Oh, I'm sorry sir! Let me see what I can do." [goes clicka-clicka for another ten minutes]

He gives us room 200. He is just about to toss our printed reservation in the trash when my wife demands it back.

Room 200 turns out to be just across the hallway from room 231. It also turns out to be identical to room 231 with the exception of the view, which does, actually, face the bay. It is half obstructed by part of the building, but it does, at least, face the right way.

Now it is important to realize that no one has said anything about the fact that they are charging us for a room that is substantially better than we are in.

I call the front desk. The first time, the phone rings for 10-15 rings before I give up. The second time, it only rings seven times before the manager answers.

Me: "This is still not right. It has a bay view, but it's not newly renovated, large, nor does it have a king size bed. I just want to find out what the cost of this room is."

Manager: "I'm sorry sir, I can see that you reserved one of our "distinctive" rooms and we were unable to put you in one." [more rambling explanation follows]

Me: "I understand that. I just want to know what this room rents for.

Manager: "Ok, I'll tell you what, I'll just give you your first night free."

This is a bit unexpected.

Me: "Er...we're only staying one night."

Manager: "There ya go!" [hangs up].

This obviously did not leave me with lots of confidence, but after spending an hour of our "romantic getaway" at this, we decided to enjoy ourselves for a while. And we do.

The next morning, the bill is slipped under the door. And, as expected, we are being charged the full rate for a large, renovated room with a king sized bed.

After another call, I get them to knock the price down to that of the actual room. Obviously I checked at the desk to get a physical piece of paper confirming this.

What is so irksome is not the overbooking...that's annoying, but I could have dealt with that. What is irksome is the blatant lying and fraud. It's one thing to screw up, and overbook. An apology and a discount takes care of that. But trying to out-and-out rip me off is quite another. It crosses the line from "possibly annoying the customer" to "send customer to Better Business Bureau".