Non weekend getaway

[rogerjac]

I bought a little getaway weekend for myself, my wife, my daughter and my stepdaughter.

My daughter and myself are Canadian citizens the other 2 are Dominican citizens.

When I booked online from triage there was no questions of any nationality for me or my guests. When I went to check in today I was told that I would have to pay an extra 50 US per night per person that is not a foreigner. For 3 extra persons it would be an extra 450US but they were willing to not charge for my daughter even though I didnt have her passport avaiable...so 300 US is what they demanded to check in. When I asked for the manager he says he was too busy to see me.

Imagine discriminating towards your own nationals. I couldn't see spending that much more for a weekend. It would almost double the cost. We stayed at the same resort last year with the same 4 people and had no problems and had a good time. All this fell on deaf ears. Give us the money or resolve it with your booking company.

The booking company in no way informed me that you must be a foreigner to attend this hotel. I checked all the terms and condition and it says nothing I think I deserve a refund. My wife birthday weekend was ruined. Its now in the hands of the credit card company and the booking company.

 

[AlterEgo]

Was this Lifestyles by any chance?

 

[rogerjac]

gran ventana in playa dorada. Last time I was in lifestyles you had to be a foreigner to purchase but never had a problem with Dominican guest.

 

[CristoRey]

Thanks for sharing this information.
Please let us know the outcome. In the meantime I'll be sure to take Gran Ventana off my list of places to stay or recommend to friends.

 

[bob saunders]

We never had this issue when we stayed at Grand Venta (group booking) 3 Americans, 2 Canadians and around 30 Dominicans.

 

[BelgianMik]

I went to Be Live, Gran Paradise, Lifestyle, Emotions, Casa Marina, Blue Bay and never had this.

 

[JLSawmam]

I bought a little getaway weekend for myself, my wife, my daughter and my stepdaughter.

My daughter and myself are Canadian citizens the other 2 are Dominican citizens.

When I booked online from triage there was no questions of any nationality for me or my guests. When I went to check in today I was told that I would have to pay an extra 50 US per night per person that is not a foreigner. For 3 extra persons it would be an extra 450US but they were willing to not charge for my daughter even though I didnt have her passport avaiable...so 300 US is what they demanded to check in. When I asked for the manager he says he was too busy to see me.

Imagine discriminating towards your own nationals. I couldn't see spending that much more for a weekend. It would almost double the cost. We stayed at the same resort last year with the same 4 people and had no problems and had a good time. All this fell on deaf ears. Give us the money or resolve it with your booking company.

The booking company in no way informed me that you must be a foreigner to attend this hotel. I checked all the terms and condition and it says nothing I think I deserve a refund. My wife birthday weekend was ruined. Its now in the hands of the credit card company and the booking company.

That says it all! Be sure to let the booking company know that little tidbit too...not that they can fire the guy, but maybe they'll inform the higher-ups of this terrible attitude.

 

[JLSawmam]

For those who wish to cross Gran Ventana off their list, it is one of three properties under VH Hotels & Resorts in Playa Dorada. I would assume that if this indeed is their policy, it applies to all three. @rogerjac , this phone number 809-320-2111 looks to be a central number for all three, if you would like to ask them to explain. Maybe (doubt it, but maybe) they will fess up to their mistake.

 

[Seamonkey]

I think you got scammed. I've never heard of that. In fact, the locals sometimes get better rates.

 

[AlterEgo]

gran ventana in playa dorada. Last time I was in lifestyles you had to be a foreigner to purchase but never had a problem with Dominican guest.

I’ve told the story before that when we went to Lifestyles (we were on north coast for a birthday party in Sosua) they tried to invalidate our reservation price because Mr AE’s American passport said he was born in DR. After accepting his USA driver’s license as proof he didn’t live there, they honored it.

 

[rogerjac]

The booking company was very prompt in their reply. Since it is an American regerstered site and paid in US dollars that it is only for Americans ( no mention of Canadians) any one else may be charged a supplement at the hotel. I imagine it is at their discretion. They say I should have read the terms and conditions. Pages and pages of legal gibberish that few ever read. The booking company is Travel Up offered through Trivago. Again I ask why was this not enforced last year, same place same people. Still waiting to hear back from my credit card

 

[keepcoming]

Over the years I have heard/seen hotels/resorts that have a price "special" that is not meant for locals. One must provide proof that they are not "locals". Not sure of their reasoning behind it.

 

[rogerjac]

Over the years I have heard/seen hotels/resorts that have a price "special" that is not meant for locals. One must provide proof that they are not "locals". Not sure of their reasoning behind it.

I think it was last year or so that some resorts were trying to discourage from their places. I have seen some Dominicans in resorts abusing the all you can eat and all you can drink policies of all-inclusive . Heaping plates of food and then barely touching it. getting drink after drink and letting them get warm in the sun then tossing them. Just a few will shed a bad light on them all.

 

[Manuel01]

I bought a little getaway weekend for myself, my wife, my daughter and my stepdaughter.

My daughter and myself are Canadian citizens the other 2 are Dominican citizens.

When I booked online from triage there was no questions of any nationality for me or my guests. When I went to check in today I was told that I would have to pay an extra 50 US per night per person that is not a foreigner. For 3 extra persons it would be an extra 450US but they were willing to not charge for my daughter even though I didnt have her passport avaiable...so 300 US is what they demanded to check in. When I asked for the manager he says he was too busy to see me.

Imagine discriminating towards your own nationals. I couldn't see spending that much more for a weekend. It would almost double the cost. We stayed at the same resort last year with the same 4 people and had no problems and had a good time. All this fell on deaf ears. Give us the money or resolve it with your booking company.

The booking company in no way informed me that you must be a foreigner to attend this hotel. I checked all the terms and condition and it says nothing I think I deserve a refund. My wife birthday weekend was ruined. Its now in the hands of the credit card company and the booking company.

Unf.....believable. Strike back with a nice review at Google, Booking and Tripadvisor. Also i would call Pro Consumidor. I cant imagine that this procedure is even legal. btw... Pro Consumidor are taking complains like this pretty seriously. Does not matter what is listed in their "Terms and Cobnditions". Their Terms are not above the Law !. If they would have "No Blacks allowed" would somebody honour this ?

 

[AlterEgo]

Over the years I have heard/seen hotels/resorts that have a price "special" that is not meant for locals. One must provide proof that they are not "locals". Not sure of their reasoning behind it.

In our case, they happened to be running a special aimed at trying to sell their Vacation Club/Time Share scheme to foreigners. Oh boy, they were aggressive. We’ve never gone back there.

 

[Father Guido]

gran ventana in playa dorada. Last time I was in lifestyles you had to be a foreigner to purchase but never had a problem with Dominican guest.

actually, you have to be an idiot to purchase

 

[Father Guido]

Was this Lifestyles by any chance?

been to lifestyles many times with a dominican(a), no extra charge

 

[rogerjac]

actually, you have to be an idiot to purchase

actually the word is not idiot, its sucker and they a born every minute

 

[Father Guido]

actually the word is not idiot, its sucker and they a born every minute

I think sucker and idiot are synonymous in this case, I've stayed there a few times and the talk at the bars with owners is always the same, words like Ponzi scheme are used, and also the golf cart scam

 

[MariaRubia]

In our case, they happened to be running a special aimed at trying to sell their Vacation Club/Time Share scheme to foreigners. Oh boy, they were aggressive. We’ve never gone back there.

Clearly this is the important point. They are offering a very low price for US residents as they may sell them a timeshare. It's far less likely that a Dominican is going to have the $100k or whatever it is they charge to buy that bag of fresh air.

A few years ago I was offered first class flights and 5 nights in a suite in a Hilton in Manhattan just for attending a 2 hour sales pitch on timeshare. And having done it I would say never ever again it was a horrible experience to be sold to under so much pressure. Completely ruined the trip.

By the way hotels often change their prices depending on nationality. For example you can charge different prices on different country sites on all the major booking channels such as Hotels.com, Booking.com, Trivago, Expedia etc. Quite often Expedia offers discounts of it's own - last summer prices on Expedia in France for DR hotels were much lower at some points because they were buying market share. This isn't illegal and pretty standard.