HELP!!!! I think my B&B is trying to cancel my reservation in Venice

The first move would be trying to give them another card. If they are really trying to get rid of you, then it might be better to think of a plan B instead of insisting to stay in a property that doesn't want you there. Especially in a honeymoon.

I was and am still so upset about this. Anyways....my wife found another place for a little more money, luckily. We got the last room. There is not a room to be found in Venice (at a reasonable price meaning under $1,000 per night) next weekend because of La Biennale.

I would be flipping furious as well if I were you. But things like this do happen, and there's little or nothing to be done about it. I hope you will be able to get past it and not let it ruin your honeymoon. Some unscrupulous hotelier is just not worth it. And, it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I always remind myself of that whenever I encounter a flight delay, cancellation, or other inconvenience while traveling. Nobody died, no one has been physically harmed, and no money or property has been lost. And, it happened in time for you and your wife to repair the damage quickly.

Later, if you have time and patience for it, write a precise, but cogent negative review on Trip Advisor, with some title like "almost ruined my honeymoon". It is the most effective payback you can give to bad business on the travel industry. Don't make it a rant or other people won't take it seriously, write what happened putting the details of the situation and casting the B&B in the worst possible light so that it loses business in the future from other travelers.

Andre's advice is spot on. I was refused service in a restaurant that is listed in a Rick Steves guidebook as being excellent. I went there because of the guidebook recommendation, and the way the place was described was just what I wanted at the time. The rude way in which I was declined seating startled me. It was just around the corner from a hotel also recommended by Rick. I spoke to the night manager at Reception and he appeared outraged. The next day he told me he had filed a 'formal' complaint and the hotel's staff had been instructed to NOT refer guests there and discourage them from going if they inquired about it. I also posted a firm but unemotional review on TripAdvisor.

Thanks. Since I organized my hotels and b&b's by utilizing Trip Advisor, that was my first thought. After sleeping on it overnight I will definitely writE a negative review when we come back. I covered myself by copying my credit card company with the email I sent them canceling the reservation and destroying anything with my credit card number on it. I also had pointed out that since it was 7 days until my arrival there should be no cancellation fee as per there own policy. Thanks for all your help. The name of the B&B is called Residenza Al Doge Beato. The only thing that sucks is that I had reserved a superior room with a canal view and now I swill be getting a double room with a street view for more money but will probably end up being a much better place.

You have to wonder if the business owners who practice unscrupulously (like this one) actually think they will benefit from treating customers like this? In an era when information is shared almost instantaneously around the world how can any business owner hope to get away unnoticed? Actually the #1 rated hotel in Venice Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo treated me much the same way during my planning of our group trip there in about a week. Owner said they had available rooms but really wanted me to reserve the higher priced rooms. I declined and opted for the cheaper rooms. After supplying my credit card information I heard nothing from them. Finally they replied and said my email was sent to their spam folder and miraculously the cheaper rooms were now all booked up but the higher priced rooms were still available. Of course I declined and left a dismal rating. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187870-d558796-r148376987-Hotel_Al_Ponte_Mocenigo-Venice_Veneto.html Back to the Pensione Guerrato we go! It's not the nicest place, but the people treat you fairly. Don't put up with this kind of ill behavior, and tell the world about it. The next honeymooning couple who dreams of staying there just might read Andrew's review and decide to stay elsewhere.

I agree that unscrupulous practices occur, but disagree with you leaving a poor rating on TripAdvisor based on an assumption. Did they actually cancel on you, or did you choose to go somewhere else because you thought they were about to do so? There may not be a record from your credit card company because perhaps they entered a couple of wrong numbers. Assumptions towards the other end can also be made. Unless they cancelled on you after you gave them the follow up they required, then I don't see any cause for you to actually complain. Did your worries get the better of you in this case?

@Maryam....here is what they sent me....I had made my reservation and it was confirmed already a week ago when I had confirmed a change from 3 nights to 2 nights. Dear Mr. Andrew, after a double check we found that the credit card you sent is not valid to be processing in case of no show, PLEASE CONTACT US ASAP by mail or by phone not too late of the next 2 days other wise if we haven't a not valid card the reservation will be cancel. Waiting for your prompt reply we send to you our best regards. TOP URGENT Nicola Manager Doge Beato Venezia Dimora Al Doge Beato Santa Croce 1662 Venezia Tel 041-5241732 Fax 041-0993261 www.aldogebeato.com
[email protected] after sending this...I spoke to him on the phone for the next two days and he wouldn't confirm with me the credit card numbers nor would he take a new one even though I emailed him both credit cards. I even had the credit card company call him and speak to him and he told them the same thing. The credit card company is the one who confirmed to me that he is most likely trying to cancel the reservation based on their conversation. Nicola keeps telling me as the manager he is trying to work with me but the owner wants to cancel.

"it was confirmed already a week ago when I had confirmed a change from 3 nights to 2 nights" This may have been the problem. B&B owners don't like short-notice booking changes because of the difficulty of re-booking unused nights. He may have decided that it'd be easier to re-rent your original 3-night booking than your single cancelled night. And then decided to use a roundabout method to cancel you out of your entire stay. Just a guess.

I bet that Tom has hit the nail on the head. 2 nights equals only one full day in Venice. Just one day would be a shame. 3 nights gets you much more than double the experience. Sorry you've short-changed yourself, and I'm sorry that your Honeymoon has had a real trip-up. I hope you and your bride can get over it.... Enjoy what time you have in Venice. Get off the beaten path....

I totally agree. That was my first assumption was that he was trying to wiggle out even though when I spoke to him on the 15th he assured me everything was great and we would see him there and that it was not a problem. Still changing my reservation...and giving them a prime night to resell, two weeks before I arrive is plenty of time for them to resell the room for a Saturday night not to mention the start of La Biennale. It still doesn't excuse overbooking and it doesn't excuse making up reasons to cancel a long standing reservation only a week before.

Nigel I agree. I wish I could spend that extra day in Venice....but seeing the Three Tenors in the Verona Arena in concert is a one in a lifetime experience. Venice on the other hand will hopefully stay floating and we will return. :-)

Andrew
Tom and Nigel have most likely diagnosed the issue. While we may not approve, small business owners may resort to less than ideal decisions are they are working to stay afloat (pun intended, since we're talking Venice here). Travel, and this wonderful Helpline, has taught me many things, a couple which I'll share with you: a) even though you're being open and honest in your transactions/reservations, it may not be reciprocated; b) different cultures have different 'rules' and interpretations; and c) you have to be flexible and nimble when you travel (kudos to you, you have been!). Lastly, some advice as you begin your honeymoon...let go of everything being perfect and just enjoy the experience and each other. You may not have a superior room and a great view of the Grand Canal, but you will have a superior time and the Grand Canal will be everywhere you look! Congrats on your marriage and have a wonderful time.

I also agree with Tom and Nigel, if it's that busy a weekend and rooms are hard to come by, most places will have a 3 night minimum stay and when you ped it down to 2 nights, they calculated that they could re-reserve it for 3 nights. From their perspective, you messed up their plans. Not a slam on you, just the likely explaination for their position. Under that circumstance, I wouldn't post a negative TripAdvisor review since they had good reason to you. On the other hand, they could have been more straightforward and told you there is a 3 night minimum and they wouldn't allow you to change, rather than the "your credit card won't work..."

I didagree you should leave a review, just state the facts people can then decide if they want to risk booking somewhere that conducts business that way. If they had come out and said "sorry only 3 night minimum booking" that would have been fine.
But playing tricky sneaky would pss me off.

Regardless of what happened it is all speculation, so rather than let this bad energy hang on... just let it go and don't think about it again. If it were my trip, I would have to think it happened for a reason:)) Have a wonderful honeymoon!

Here's the scenario I imagine took place: 1. Andrew changes reservation from 3 nights to 2. Owner has no standby requests for those dates. So owner tells Andrew OK, because 2 nights booked are better than none. Owner doesn't mention 3-night minimum because there is no such policy. 2. New rental request comes in requesting Andrew's original 3 nights. 3. Owner - with no valid reason to do so - dumps Andrew. 3 nights booked are better than 2. Owner decides to use ruse that Andrew's credit card won't process. Andrew is left whistling Dixie. Just a guess.

Next time, just make the 9€, 1h train ride b/n Venice and Verona...you'd probably still be on the canal. And calling Two and a Half (a Quarter?) Men "The Three Tenors" is a bit much for my ears; Bocelli is no Pavarotti :-( (ducking and running from the Bocelli fans!) FWIW, some Venice hotel owners/managers DO have a bad reputation for 'not having rooms' even with confirmed reservations...esp. during high season...so you're not alone.

What Susan said, "Let go of everything being perfect." To which I'd add - ESPECIALLY in Italy. Italy is a country where you REALLY have to roll with the punches. Keep telling yourself that everything will work out - because it always does. If you can laugh and enjoy the experience, you will really like Italy. If not, Italy will become one your least favorite European countries to visit. The most memorable travel experiences you will have will start with things not going perfectly.