Orbitz Hotel Reservations Consumer Reviews - Page 2

Orbitz is for suckers. I learned the hard way that proper due diligence in getting a decent price on a hotel room includes the old fashioned step of CALLING THE RESERVATION DESK. Orbitz sold us a hotel room for $99 per night that was available to any AAA member who called the hotel reservation desk for $71 per night. I suspect that Orbitz paid no more than $60 per night. This hotel's computers made available to guests for checking e-mails, etc., are right by the reservation desk. Nothing ruins your vacation like being reminded how much you got gouged with every new check-in behind you when you are reading your e-mails.

In Orbitz's defense, based on their last e-mail, they are genuinely very sorry that I FOUND OUT HOW MUCH THEY OVERCHARGED ME. Don't use Orbitz for your travel plans. They rely on people being lazy and not checking around. That is their market niche. As more and more people wise up to their game, they need to make as much as possible off of the remaining suckers. Don't be one of them. Orbitz sucks.

I sent a complaint letter to Orbitz about their service and all I got in return was a form letter. Screw this company and I advise anyone and everyone not to book with this company. I booked a hotel through Orbitz 1 1/2 months before my vacation. When I finally arrived at my hotel (America's Best Inns, Carbondale, IL Sept. 3rd, 2009) I found it to be closed for renovation. I contacted your customer support via cellphone and was placed on hold numerous times for an approximate period of 40 minutes.

During this time, the manager of the hotel came around the corner and asked if he could assist me. I explained my situation to him and he informed me that he had contacted Orbitz two weeks prior and that Orbitz was rebooking their customers to a sister hotel 30 miles away.

In the meantime, the representative came back on the line and told me that Orbitz had no idea the hotel had been closed; lie number 1. Knowing I was in town for a reunion, the manager contacted another hotel nearby and asked them to honor the price I was quoted by your company. The representative then came back on line and told me he had the hotel on the line and that they are working on the situation; lie number 2 seeing as how I had the manager directly in front of me.

The manager of the closed down hotel ended up finding a room for me nearby at that rate. The representative again came back on line and told me that he had rebooked me in another hotel, which was the same one the manager also called, and that Orbitz could get me in there but I would have to pay full rate; lie number 3 seeing as the manager was able to get my original rate only because I had my documentation from you in front of me.

It was about this time I snapped. First of all, the representative knew I had the manager in front of me yet he insisted he was on the line with very same person I was talking to. Not only did Orbitz screw up by not informing me that the hotel was not in operation and remedy the situation long before my arrival, your company directly lied while in conversation when the problem was discovered. I had just spent 11 hours in transit and did not need this aggravation upon arrival.

I arrived at my location with absolutely no place to stay because of your company's incompetence. If it were not for the assistance of the hotel manager, who just happen to show up to check on restoration progress, I would have been stranded as it was a holiday weekend and hotels were pretty much booked solid in the immediate area.

I would suggest when dealing with your company mistakes you instruct your reps in learning how to lie to customers efficiently and not continue with the lie when it is obvious they have been caught. I am very disappointed in the performance of your company. Orbitz was absolutely no help to me in my vacation, in fact, Orbitz was almost the cause for ruining it altogether.

So we are in Ft. Lauderdale Florida for a business trip. This trip was supposed to be taken originally with our RV, but that didn't happen thanks to my carelessness. Since that, this trip has had some serious frustration, so let me clarify. Ft. Lauderdale is actually really nice, aside from overly priced food that really isn't that great, this area is beautiful and is clear why Florida is so popular. The nightmare is Orbitz, and for those that don't want to read more, just follow these instructions. DON'T USE THEM.

For the rest who are curious, the trip went fine to get here, but I had booked the hotel and car with Orbitz. I booked the airfare directly with Continental thankfully. So got the car, economy was what was requested, and according to Hertz the Toyota Prius was economy and that's what they gave me. TOTALLY AWESOME, people should know we are big fans of green, and was happy so far.

Then we got to the hotel. So right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, but the room was disgusting. You could feel the mold, dust mites, and bed bugs partying at the sight of humans, it was that grungy. I was expecting cheap, but still sensible.

So I call Orbitz after 4 nights. They call the hotel and they confirm the hotel would allow us to check out and would refund the rest of the stay, so I followed Orbitz instructions and called them right before checking out on the morning after 5 nights. Hotel clerk charged me 8.88 extra for some safe in the room, which I never even saw, but then thought, maybe that's where the mold, dust mites and bed bugs are not at. I would pay a few extra bucks to have a spot like that. But whatever, 9 bucks is nothing compared to us hacking our lungs out as soon as we get in the room.

Orbitz said we would see the refund within 7-10 days. I saw it, come Monday, which was only a couple business days. Still sounds good right, got out of there, moved into a hotel right behind it that was still about $106 a night after discounts for long stay and AAA. Owner was a real nice guy too. The problem, the refund was for $1142.86, the whole trip total was going to be $2534.53. That means that 14 days of hotel was only $1142.86, but 5 days hotel and 21 days economy car is still $1391.67.

So I take $1142.86/14 and get $81.63 a night for hotel. Now this hotel really shouldn't even charge that, but considering location that seemed awful cheap. So taking $81.63 x 5 to figure out out of the $1391.67 Orbitz is still charging me was the 5 nights, I get $408.16. Subtract that from the $1391.67 I get a car rate of $983.50 for 20 days, though the Hertz receipt says 21 days. So let's go with the 21 days, though we are talking just a couple hours beyond day 20. My economy car is $46.83. Not so economy.

Then after screaming at Orbitz I get this: "It is our understanding that you have requested an itemized cost breakdown of your Hotel + Car package. While we do not have a way of breaking down the individual components, our best estimate is the following: Hotel $2019.04, Car $515.49. The total cost of $2534.52 for this pre-paid reservation was paid in full on 2007-12-25. Thank you for your payment. Please note Orbitz Hotel + Car packages are priced and presented as a bundled package, and Orbitz will be unable to provide you with a receipt for the individual components in the future."

"Please allow us to explain the reasons behind our policy. Orbitz takes great pride in offering our customers a comprehensive selection of trip planning options. For customers who prefer or require more flexibility and wish to know the individual price of each component, Orbitz offers a vast selection of options under the Flight, Hotel, and Car tabs that are priced individually."

"Additionally, Orbitz has collaborated with our airline, hotel and car suppliers to provide our customers with even more choices in how they book travel. Orbitz now offers bundled packages, which may offer even greater savings. This option can offer substantial savings for those who are able to abide the more restrictive conditions which accompany these lower rates and fares. You may also print a copy of the itinerary and total trip cost details from the "My Trips" section on the Orbitz site. Again, thank you for choosing Orbitz."

Now that makes sense right. It works out to about $25 a day car, and $106 a night hotel. Fine, but then my refund should be more like $1400, when you do the math, I am about $340 short. So here is my thing. If there is any lawyer out there who sees any valid lawsuit here, if for any other reason then because I am tired of shady business practices and corporate America taking hard working people's money for services they don't actually give you, if you help me sue, and win, I will sign a contract that any winnings are yours.

If I get no takers, then I am going to look into small claims court. Just because giving me an estimate of what I paid for is just downright wrong, and that estimate being contradictory of the refund I got, after they said I was OK to make the change is also just wrong.

In mid June I decided to go to Europe for an August vacation. I spent a great deal of time researching prices and accommodations online on several of the discount websites. I finally selected a hotel that, according to the Orbitz website, was a 4 star hotel and booked at $144 (U.S.) per night. I could not determine from the website whether fees and taxes were included. But I booked the hotel. The following day I received a confirmation from Orbitz, but the confirmation did not have anything re: the price of the hotel. At this point, the only information I had re: price was the $144 on the web site.

About a week before my trip, my daughter called the hotel to verify a non-smoking room and the price as there had been no confirmation of price. She was told that the room had been booked, but at 150 euros per night which is $202 plus taxes and fees.

I contacted Orbitz customer service (what a joke that is). I explained my problem to them and each time I had to speak to someone off the coast of Australia, Manilla, and finally South Dakota (I think). Each employee argued with me that the price was in euros and Orbitz did not have the hotel listed at $144 and implied that I did not know what I was talking about. I asked to speak to a supervisor. The agent would argue with me again and tell me the same garbage that they had just stated previously that I had told them was not addressing my problem.

I would have to raise my voice to them and command "I want to speak to a supervisor" before they told me they would get a supervisor, only to be put on hold for 15 or minutes then be hung up on. This happened 2-3 times before I was finally put through to a supervisor.

I told her about the price online and that the price of the hotel was not discussed or in writing anywhere at any time during the booking process or on my confirmation. She asked me to fax her a copy of the email that Orbitz sent me to confirm the reservation and stated that she would get back to me. 24 hours later, I had heard nothing. So I called back and spoke to 3 other agents (3 separate calls) before being connected to a supervisor. This one was finally in the U.S. but was of little more service than any other representative of the company. She did tell me that I had to verify the 150 euro price 3 times when I made the reservations.

I reminded her that if that had been true, she and I would not be having this current conversation. She said that she would have technical support to look at it (5 or so business days) to see if there was a problem. I reminded her that I would be on my trip by then, but I assured her that I would not let this drop because bait and switch was not an acceptable means of conducting business. I asked for the corporate address and phone number which she gladly provided me. I called the number, got the same answering service I always got when calling Orbitz and another agent off the coast of Australia who insisted that he could help me.

I told him that he would just put me on hold and then hang up on me. He insisted that he would not, and then did so. I called back and was able to select another option and finally got a voicemail - who knows where. This is where I leave the story for now, but I will be back with the conclusion. Bottom line, If you have no other choices but Orbitz, you should just stay home. I will never use them again and will spread the gospel of Orbitz for the rest of my life. This was supposed to be a vacation.

Orbitz SUCKS, Booked Flight, Hotel & Car Via Orbitz. Had a four night stay in Flagstaff A.Z @ Quality Inn.Had to leave after 2 days, The room was just dirty. Front desk told me to get refund from Orbitz. Just getting runaround from Orbitz. They said they paid hotel all ready. Hotel refuses to refund me. Informed manager will be back in 1 week ????. What Bull shit. Orbitz basically told me I am screwed for the 2 days. Use Hot wire. Or Hotels.com.Got really tired talking to third world representative from Orbitz. Who's English sucked also.
9/9/18

Worst experience ever!!! The hotel I was trying to book was incredible and Orbitz was horrible. The hotel helped in every way possible but the 3-4 people in the Philippines were not able to help telling me the hotel was sold out but the person (from the hotel told them it wasn't). So tired of people not in America trying to run the country. Very sad that companies like this are not based here. Will never use again!!!

MINNESOTA -- I had to pay on check-in after prepaying through Orbitz. Can't get them to refund my money. Never use Orbitz, read other reviews!

My husband and I booked a room to just get away for the night. My father gets sick and lands in the hospital. We try and cancel the hotel reservations and we're told flat-out no, we would not be getting our money back. They have the worst customer service I have ever had to deal with even in my 10 years of retail.

The silly commercial that shows the 'hovercraft' landing and giving a check to someone for 'doing nothing' is so much baloney! They need to offer a website, that can be verified, of the actual money they have indeed refunded! EVERY Professional Travel Consultant in the country can do the exact same thing! Anyone that buys on one of these mega travel sites should make 1000% sure they read the fine fine fine print! [Customer service is pretty non existent with the big mega travel sites! Be forewarned!]

Reminder: do business with your local travel agent, who in all probability is your client! Economics 101 Support local businesses so they can support you! That is not 'Rocket Science' and certainly not "hovercraft science!"
It just ticks me off that a giant mega company [operating in the red] can pay thousands of dollars for a dumb commercial and bypass small business owners in your own neighborhood.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- On Saturday 8/3/2013 I booked a room at a hotel in Oregon through Orbitz. When I arrived at the hotel I was informed that they did not have a reservation and they had no rooms. After telling them it was on Orbitz they told me they had been full all day but Orbitz kept sending them rooms and it was not their problem. THIS ROOM WAS PRE-PAID AND I WAS CHARGED AND GOT A CONFIRMATION!!!

I called Orbitz, and the agent who was obviously speaking English as a second language called the hotel, was told they were full and then blamed everything on the hotel. The most he was willing to do was to cancel the reservation. When I asked about another room he wanted to do nothing until I asked for a supervisor. I was then told he called every other hotel showing as available and told they were full and it was the fault of each hotel and not Orbitz. He told me to book another online that I did and then came back and told me they were full as well after they charged my credit card again.

He only offered to refund the first charge in five days and wanted to do nothing else until I demanded. There was no customer service, I was lied to about what hotel's he called, the website does not display proper rooms available but they sure do instantly charge your credit card but they are not willing to refund for their errors.

I told them it was their responsibility to find me another room and to pay for it which he said his supervisor said they couldn't do (after I was told no supervisors were available) and then after pushing they said they could find a room 25 miles away, gave me a name of a hotel but would not give me directions. I didn't know where I was at the time. When pressed for directions he then hung up on me. I called back and was told the only note in the account was that I agreed to a refund of the first hotel and that was it.

Needless to say I was left stranded and without a room that night by Orbitz. Yes, you still charged my card! When I contacted them about the charges they claim that I stayed at the second hotel which I was told was full after making the reservation. NEVER NEVER book through Orbitz or trust what they say they have in room inventory.