# 4 Star Hotels are out to fuck you! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726 "2003-04-28T17:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/41 "2003-04-29T16:48:22Z")
**bernse** , were you staying at the Palliser? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/42 "2003-04-29T16:52:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bernse \* > \*\*Right the first time! > > \*\* **bernse** , honey poopsie darling - you were staying in a _ **CP HOTEL** _. Don’t you know that when you’re staying in a _ **CP HOTEL** _ you will pay the extra charges thankfully and bow down and kiss the feet of the concerege on the way out thanking your lucky stars that you’ve been given the privilage of handing over hundreds of dollars of your hard earned cash?!? I mean, My God Man - it’s a _ **CP HOTEL!!!** _. BTW - if you think the Palaser is bad, you should try the Banff Springs - trust me - you have no idea the demented stuff they can charge you for. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/43 "2003-04-29T18:24:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*you should try the Banff Springs - trust me - you have no idea the demented stuff they can charge you for. \*\* Sorry, but the Banff Springs is great and worth every penny. Same too for the Royal York in Toronto. :: drifts off into reminiscence :: ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/44 "2003-04-29T18:57:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*Sorry, but the Banff Springs is great \*\* Yes, well great or not great, they still charge you for demented stuff. And you can get WAAAAY more bang for your buck if you stay at the Rimrock in Banff. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/45 "2003-04-29T22:47:20Z")
“Charge 'em for the lights Charge 'em for the mice Two percent for looking in the mirror twice Here a little slice There a little cut Three percent for sleeping with the windows shut When it comes to fixing prices There are lots of tricks he knows How it all increases All in bits and pieces Jebus, it’s amazing how it grows!” ``` -Master of the House, Les Miz ``` ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/46 "2003-04-29T23:05:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\* > > I mean, My God Man - it’s a _ **CP HOTEL!!!** _. > > \*\* Heh. I once had a meeting at the Chateau Frontenac in Québec. Talk about selling atmosphere over room space. OK, so the Atlantic Alliance was here in the 40s. Yay. My take was that this time I could make a case for paying for the location, which in all honesty _rules_ … too bad all our rooms were “interior”. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/47 "2003-04-29T23:21:59Z")
BTW, there are no more CP hotels. They were all bought by Fairmont hotels and resorts. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/48 "2003-04-30T00:33:50Z")
Um, yes, well, I work for a division of one of those hotels mentioned above. (M\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_). We depend heavily on business travelers. When business travel fell off after 9/11, we were hurtin’ a little bit. Business travellers, as a rule, do not sweat the “small stuff” because it’s all on their expense accounts. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/49 "2003-04-30T00:52:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\*I’m confused. > > I have stayed in hotels from LA to Alaska to Washington DC to Vegas to various towns in Europe. Some were two and three star others were four. > > I have NEVER seen a hotel that doesn’t charge for phone calls. > > Is there really such an animal? \*\* Sure, lots of them. We have generally travelled south from Maryland, like Williamsburg, VA, Raleigh, NC, and through Florida. We get hotel coupons from [Roomsaver.com](http://Roomsaver.com), where they list all the amenities. I’d have to say 80% offer free local phone calls. However, the hotels that Roomsaver deals with are mostly mid-class, such as Fairfield Inn, Clarion, sometimes a Holiday Inn, AmeriSuites, stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/50 "2003-04-30T01:18:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TaxGuy \* > \*\*So I guess you don’t do any of the following: > > (1) Go to an all-inclusive resort where the drinks are included (the price of others’ drinks is included in your ticket price); > > (2) Work for a company that hosts employee events that serve free alcohol to employees and guests (you pay for others’ drinks through lower wages or salary); or > > (3) Fly on airlines that offer free drinks to passengers (although this is relatively rare these days) (higher ticket prices again). > > And these are just the most obvious examples. \*\* No, that’s correct, I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/51 "2003-04-30T07:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*BTW, there are no more CP hotels. They were all bought by Fairmont hotels and resorts. \*\* Other way around. CP bought out Fairmont and kept the name. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/52 "2003-04-30T07:27:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRDelirious \* > \*\*Heh. I once had a meeting at the Chateau Frontenac in Québec. Talk about selling atmosphere over room space. OK, so the Atlantic Alliance was here in the 40s. Yay. My take was that this time I could make a case for paying for the location, which in all honesty _rules_ … too bad all our rooms were “interior”. \*\* Don’t underestimate the value of location. Not to mention the fact that there are a “lot” of people willing to pay for the atmosphere. The majority of historic properties will have small (especially by todays standards) rooms, but people still flock to them for the atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/53 "2003-04-30T12:44:55Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally quoted by Dr\_Paprika_ > \*\*“Charge 'em for the lights > Charge 'em for the mice > Two percent for looking in the mirror twice > Here a little slice > There a little cut > Three percent for sleeping with the windows shut > When it comes to fixing prices > There are lots of tricks he knows > How it all increases > All in bits and pieces > Jebus, it’s amazing how it grows!” > > -Master of the House, Les Miz\*\* A bit of an aside, but I actually read the book I was delighted to discover that most of this verse is lifted verbatim from Hugo! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/54 "2003-05-06T16:15:36Z")
Well, I just got back from Calgary and a stay in the Palliser. Like **bernse** said there is no information in the room that indicates there is a charge for local calls. I was going to complain about it when I checked out, but I called them out on the fact that it took 45 minutes for a message to appear on my phone. A hotel that does cater to business clients can’t be run so poorly. However, they did comp my mini bar charges (I wish I drank more). That said, the hotel is great for large functions, they don’t seem to mess those up, and this weekend they did a very good job. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/55 "2003-05-06T16:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > However, they did comp my mini bar charges (I wish I drank more). Damn! I should have thought of that! The function itself that we were there for was handled quite well, too. They catered all the meals (including a fantastic breakfast buffet in the Alberta room) and those were quite nice. Did you use the Valet parking? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726/56 "2003-05-06T19:37:28Z")
No, I didn’t use valet. I almost never do. On Friday I did pay $26 for parking, $13 each time I left the lot, once in the morning, and once in the evening. That is insane, but I got them back as well, but not by anything I did. Something on their end fouled up and when I left on Monday morning, instead of being charged another $13.00, I was only charged $1.50, and I don’t know why. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-star-hotels-are-out-to-fuck-you/171726.md?page=2)