Keith
December 25, 2023
This family owned motel charged me for being a no-show for a stay that I called them 6 weeks in advance to cancel. I spoke at length with their manager, Dan, for over 15 minutes (calling from the USA) as I explained to him that I may have more than one reservation and I could have one booked direct and one through *******. He told me with certainty there was only one reservation and he would cancel it. Two weeks after my stay would have ended, I find a charge for $900 USA on my credit card. I called and spoke to the husband and wife who own the business and they refused to return a single $ stating that Dan knew he can’t cancel a reservation made through *******, so it’s my fault that they charged me as a no-show. And their reason for giving me no refund and no accommodation, “we’ve already paid a fee to *******”. Never mind that they had full knowledge that I would not be arriving and could have booked the room to someone else!
I have travelled to New Zealand over 15 years and dozens of places and have never dealt with as reasonable and rude a couple as these owners. If you are used to friendly New Zealand hosts and American level of Customer Service, STAY Away and definitely book somewhere else!