Why Booking Hotels Through Third Parties Can Be a Trip—For Everyone Involved
Picture this: It’s late at night at your friendly neighborhood hotel front desk. There’s just one name left on the arrivals list—a reservation that’s already screaming “Trouble Ahead!” with a pile of notes: “Guest called several times to cancel,” “Wants refund,” “Didn’t prepay.” The front desk agent (let’s call them The Night Owl, after the original Reddit poster u/TheNiteOwl38) braces for impact. What ensues is a masterclass in customer confusion, a tale of policies versus expectations, and a window into the wild world of third-party hotel bookings.
If you’ve ever wondered why hotel staff get that thousand-yard stare when you mention “Canceling my Expedia/Booking.com/TravelShmavel reservation,” buckle up. This one’s for you.