Hotel Chains Criticised For Making Their Best Deals Hard For Consumers to Obtain in Bad Credit Debt Times
Premier Inn and Travelodge are two of the UK’s most recognisable hotel chains offering bargain stays without compromising heavily on quality.
Their television and billboard advertisements feature some amazing cost saving prices, but independent research by Which? Travel has questioned how easy it is to actually obtain such offers.
“With the ‘staycation’ becoming more popular in the UK as families decide to spend their holidays in Britain, such deals are important to keep costs low,” said Andrew James, spokesperson for Bad Credit Loans 4 You, a UK finance specialist at sourcing holiday loans for bad credit and holiday finance.
“Consumers are understandably looking at ways to still take a trip without the need for a large holiday loan for bad credit to cover them and the amazing prices on offer are a good way of doing just that.”
But when the consumer magazine tried to locate the cheapest room rates at 182 Premier Inn and Travelodge hotels, it only managed to book the advertised prices on 13 occasions.
Using a two-night stay during December in hotels in 13 cities across the UK as an example, Which? Travel managed to secure the best rates just 7% of the time using the 'search and book' facility on the Travelodge website.
Rooms at the cheapest advertised price of £19 could often not be booked unless users requested one night at a time.
When booking with Premier Inn, Which? Travel found that details buried in the company's terms and conditions also foiled some rooms available at £29 a night.
The chain's website initially stated that prices were only available for a minimum 'two-night' stay, but elsewhere on the site consumers were told the deal could only be applied to one-night stays.
“People don’t want to take out holiday loans for people with bad credit or holiday finance to enjoy a well earned rest, especially if they’ve seen advertised prices which mean they wouldn’t have to.”
Which? Travel also discovered that cheaper deals were more commonly available for midweek stays only and often for hotels which were located outside the city centre.
Guy Parsons, Travelodge CEO, said; “In 2010 we sold over seven million rooms with 40% of these being sold at a price of £29 or lower and one million rooms being sold at £19 or less.”
“On our website, all of our saver prices are highlighted in orange, so that consumers can easily find them.”
“Also in our upcoming website refresh, the booking glitch that was identified by the Which? report will be resolved.”
Premier Inn were also quick to defend their pricing strategy, with a spokesperson saying; “More than two million Premier Inn rooms were available at a great value price of £29 last year, for bookings made 21 days in advance at selected locations.”
“A dedicated option on our website provides a calendar view giving guests easy access to the best available prices.”
Opposition MP’s fear the VAT rise from 17.5% to 20% will directly affect inbound tourism to the county and accused it of not caring about the industry.
Gloria De Piero, Labour's shadow tourism minister, said; 'Tourism plays a vital role in our economic growth.
“The Tories should be helping the industry, not saddling it with this unfair VAT hike.'
VAT in some European destinations which include France and Germany, is reduced on hotel rooms and restaurant meals in a bid to keep tourists costs low and visitor numbers high.
However, the British tourism industry will feel the full brunt of the 20 per cent rate and that includes the UK citizens who plan on holidaying at home.
Some of the country's leading accountants have also added their say to the debate, going so far as to suggest that some UK families will not take a summer holiday at all this year.
Bill Dodwell, head of tax at accountants Deloitte, said in an interview that families on higher incomes would be particularly affected, with an average of £600 extra in tax to pay annually.
Mr Dodwell added that families may decide to 'forgo' their annual holiday altogether.
The government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport is hoping this year's Royal Wedding and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, along with the Olympic Games in 2012 will boost the industry and attract new visitors to the country.
“As costs continue to rise throughout the UK, it could soon be cheaper to holiday abroad anyway,” stated Mr James of Bad Credit Loans 4 You.
“There is no guarantee that the British summer will offer good weather either, so many families will continue to obtain holiday loans for bad credit and enjoy a break in the sun away from their bad credit debt and worries at home.”
Bad Credit Loans 4 You helps out people who fear they have been blacklisted because of past poor credit history which could include CCJ’s and defaults, arrears, late credit card payments or repossession.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You holds a Consumer Credit Licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You is also covered by the Financial Ombudsman.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You is also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office for Data Protection.
For help, phone 0800 011 4503 or visit
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Loans 4 You of London Ltd
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Tel: 0800 011 4503
Bad Credit Loans 4 You was formed in order to ensure people with bad credit had access to specialist help in securing the bad credit loans they need.
From its UK head office in Monks Brook, Loans 4 You operates across Britain, sourcing bad credit loans for people with bad credit.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You holds a Consumer Credit Licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You is also covered by the Financial Ombudsman.
Bad Credit Loans 4 You is also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office for Data Protection.
