Topic: Traveling without a credit card
Traveling without a credit card
This is continued from the "credit card fraud" thread, it seemed more appropriate here.
Unfortunately, my hotel has had several thousand dollars in losses and damages in a ONE MONTH period, all from cash-paying guests, so we had to start saying credit card or NO ROOM. I don't think it is limited to just us, I just can't speak for the 1500 other hotels in my chain.
Sorry, that is the reality of the travel world these days. People expect breakfast for 4, free parking, free everything, in a double room for $99, so we can't "eat" the losses caused by deadbeat thieving guests. I am sorry for the decent people who are the most affected, the ones who don't plan on stealing tvs and breaking windows and punching holes in walls, the ones who think we are challenging their personal integrity by "not trusting them" but unfortunately, good people sense can't be taught in the Hospitality and Tourism course at NBCC, so the desk clerk generally CAN'T tell the difference. You might think it is obvious that YOU are an upstanding citizen, bringing your three clean, well behaved Dean's list children with your matching Samsonite luggage in the trunk of your 2008 Elantra, but thieves come in all sizes in these desperate financial times. I have checked in greasy scary people on motorcycles who left a huge tip and a spotless room. I have checked in businessmen in Armani suits who trashed the place, insulted the staff, attempted to assault housekeepers, and left a couple of pennies on the floor by the table. I have checked in women who looked like suburban housewives who have proceeded to be crack-using hookers that stole everything not nailed down. 2/3 of the theft and damages we had last month were from "repeat" guests, i.e. ones who had been with us once or twice before and so we did not suspect they would be trouble this time.
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