Another reason to be furious with Wyndham - Charging for parking at PALM AIRE!!!

[Floridaman76]

I'm taking a cruise out of Miami tomorrow and decided to spend the 2 nights leading up to it at a Pompano resort using Wyndham Rewards points. Choices were Sea Gardens or Palm Aire and I chose Palm Aire because Sea Gardens has Queen beds in all it's 1BR units except Ocean Palms, which they could not guarantee me.

Anyway, I checked in and they notified me there is a $20/night parking charge at Palm Aire now for "non-owners". I explained that i'm not only an owner, but i'm a VIP CW owner and a WR Diamond tier member, and that there was no parking fee disclosed on either the website, or anywhere in the booking process, OR in any of the email or text correspondences I had received to date.

I've stayed here several times using both my CW points and WR points and never had to pay to park. The check-in person said "they started doing it a couple years ago".

The person checking me in gave me the business card of the resort GM and I will be paying a visit to him this morning

This is absolutely ridiculous that this resort charges for parking. There is AMPLE parking and it's all surface lots that Wyndham owns, not parking garages.

They stuck me in Royal Palm, which I wasn't super thrilled about, I called asking for Areca before hand, but I got Royal. It's a very nice unit, spacious and a corner with a wrap around balcony. No complaints about the room. I'm just super livid about this parking charge.

Palm Aire and Sea Gardens is 7500 WR points per night, which I feel is a steal, but this $20/night parking fee is complete BS

 

[tschwa2]

Hotels often charge parking fees to increase revenue the same as bag fees for airlines. Airlines have plenty of space for the luggage. It is just another source of revenue. I just looked on the Wyndham hotel site and it currently does say under Featured Amenities Onsite parking: fees may apply. Booking as an RCI exchange or through the wyndham hotel site for either cash or rewards is considered a 3rd party booking and vacation club membership benefits do not apply. Hopefully as a curtesy they will remove it this time but going forward, I guess this is a warning that if it says parking fees may apply, you should assume that parking fees will apply.

 

[Floridaman76]

If there's a fee, they should disclose it. They do that for the resort fee at Kingsgate.

Also, I just called asking for a bag of ice, and apparently they don't do that here. The ice maker has made like 12 total cubes in the 16 hours or so i've been here and i'm over it.

 

[Floridaman76]

I went back and looked and the "parking fees may apply" is on the resort details if you are looking at the resort main page. If you actually walk through the booking process, even under "amenities and details", there is no mention of parking.

I understand resorts with limited parking or parking garages they don't own have to charge for parking. But this is a huge resort with AMPLE surface lot parking and to charge for parking here is absolutely absurd. They don't charge at Royal Vista or Sea Gardens or Santa Maria or Ocean Walk, and parking is a lot worse at those sites

 

[paxsarah]

Although if I were an owner at Palm Aire, I'd be perfectly happy that they're charging guests through Wyndham Hotels/Rewards for parking. I attended the Kingsgate annual meeting last week by zoom, and they talked about how the higher resort fee they're charging for non-owners makes a decent impact on the resort budget. As an owner, that works for me. If I stay through another means than my timeshare points, even an RCI exchange, I don't expect to be treated as an owner booking on points through Club Wyndham.

 

[Floridaman76]

Although if I were an owner at Palm Aire, I'd be perfectly happy that they're charging guests through Wyndham Hotels/Rewards for parking. I attended the Kingsgate annual meeting last week by zoom, and they talked about how the higher resort fee they're charging for non-owners makes a decent impact on the resort budget. As an owner, that works for me. If I stay through another means than my timeshare points, even an RCI exchange, I don't expect to be treated as an owner booking on points through Club Wyndham.

$20/day for parking in a surface lot they already own and maintain is a pure cash grab. Kingsgate's resort fee at least in theory goes to maintain and keep specific items online and up to date. Especially the game room/arcade and theater. I can understand that.

A surface parking lot is a completely different story.

 

[HitchHiker71]

If there's a fee, they should disclose it. They do that for the resort fee at Kingsgate.

Also, I just called asking for a bag of ice, and apparently they don't do that here. The ice maker has made like 12 total cubes in the 16 hours or so i've been here and i'm over it.

Straight from the WR website (same goes for the mobile app):

When using the booking engine (same goes for the mobile app):

 

[paxsarah]

It's a cash grab that presumably keeps owners' maintenance fees lower by adding to the resort budget. It's not going into Scrooge McDuck's pockets or anything. The worst thing about it is that it should be published on the WR website with a dollar amount, then customers can decide whether it affects their decision to book there or elsewhere.

 

[paxsarah]

I mean, "may apply" is weaksauce. Simply publish "Self-parking: $20." But this is just one random company that I don't have much of a relationship with, so as an owner (unless I was a Palm Aire owner), it's a problem mainly outside the realm of Club Wyndham ownership.

 

[HitchHiker71]

It's a cash grab that presumably keeps owners' maintenance fees lower by adding to the resort budget. It's not going into Scrooge McDuck's pockets or anything. The worst thing about it is that it should be published on the WR website with a dollar amount, then customers can decide whether it affects their decision to book there or elsewhere.

The more explicit the guidance - the more often content updates are required and incorrect or old guidance is provided - and then people complain that the parking is more than what was listed in the first place - hence the generic guidance provided instead. Not saying I agree or disagree - but I can appreciate the logic.

 

[paxsarah]

The more explicit the guidance - the more often content updates are required and incorrect or old guidance is provided - and then people complain that the parking is more than what was listed in the first place - hence the generic guidance provided instead. Not saying I agree or disagree - but I can appreciate the logic.

Other hotel brands manage to do it, for instance Hyatt which is my most common hotel stay, also Hilton, Marriott, even Choice and Best Western (all spot checked just now). Even the dedicated url for Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek lists its parking fee (buried in the FAQ), even though it's not on the main Wyndham Hotels website.

"May apply" is a weasel word. If they don't have the staff to update changes to parking fees on the website, fine, but then clearly state "call resort for current parking fee" or something. I had never noticed their distinctly unusual practice of not publishing parking fees, but it can go on the list of reasons why I don't seek out Wyndham hotels.

 

[Floridaman76]

The more explicit the guidance - the more often content updates are required and incorrect or old guidance is provided - and then people complain that the parking is more than what was listed in the first place - hence the generic guidance provided instead. Not saying I agree or disagree - but I can appreciate the logic.

Go through the actual process to book the room, nowhere does it mention parking.

This is what shows up under room details

This is my actual booking

This is the fine print

 

[Floridaman76]

My point is, this should be explicitly disclosed. Especially the "$20/night" part of it. They should not be able to hide behind "may apply", which is crap.

Note my screenshot about "Rate Information", one would think if there was a $20/night fee, it would be disclosed at time of booking, and it's not.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Other hotel brands manage to do it, for instance Hyatt which is my most common hotel stay, also Hilton, Marriott, even Choice and Best Western (all spot checked just now). Even the dedicated url for Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek lists its parking fee (buried in the FAQ), even though it's not on the main Wyndham Hotels website.

"May apply" is a weasel word. If they don't have the staff to update changes to parking fees on the website, fine, but then clearly state "call resort for current parking fee" or something. I had never noticed their distinctly unusual practice of not publishing parking fees, but it can go on the list of reasons why I don't seek out Wyndham hotels.

No argument here - if those fees are listed on the hotel website - then chances are this data is stored in the back-end databases so it's centrally updated and controlled. Rarely do any of the actual hotel staff have any ability to update website content directly - it's all done via gatekeeping to preserve website integrity and consistency. It would be nice if Wyndham Hotels listed more explicit guidance for parking fees without a doubt - again I'm not agreeing or disagreeing - just trying to understand the logic and reasoning.

 

[tschwa2]

Hotels often only mention the mandatory fees when booking. If you are only charged when you use an amenity with a fee they don't disclose that in the booking process. The price of ordering a cocktail or parking or bringing a pet isn't disclosed in the booking process. Unfortunately we are in a society where business are trying to maximize their revenue and unless it lists an amenity as free parking, it likely isn't free. And if it doesn't list it either way, your safe bet is calling to confirm if it is free or what the price would be. At least the parking: fees may apply is pretty front and center on the landing page for booking with Wyndham. I had to page through several clicks for a Ritz Carlton in Florida, to the FAQ page to find out that parking was an additional $40 per night on top of the $1000+ rate and the $60 resort fee.

I think going forward, you are going to just have to get used to the idea that you will need to check if parking is included every time you book through the hotel site and not assume it will explicitly come up during the booking process, I know I have to do this with Marriott hotels. Ten years ago, it was only for city locations but now it is more than half for sure. Same with parking for exchanges through II and RCI. More and more are tacking that extra fee on and you can't assume because you stayed there in the past without paying for parking that it will still be the case.

 

[HitchHiker71]

My point is, this should be explicitly disclosed. Especially the "$20/night" part of it. They should not be able to hide behind "may apply", which is crap.

Note my screenshot about "Rate Information", one would think if there was a $20/night fee, it would be disclosed at time of booking, and it's not.

Agreed it would be ideal to have the parking rate listed somewhere.

It's interesting, though this isn't apples to apples, I know some Wyndham timeshare resorts charge for parking - such as Atlanta - screenshot below for reference - red emphasis mine - so at least some of the timeshare resorts with parking fees do list the fees explicitly in the Resort details area - though IDK if they also provide this when processing a booking - IDR that they do though - point being that it's not part of the booking process - I'm not sure it should be part of the booking process itself - but it would be good to have the fees explicitly listed in the hotel details for reference/planning purposes:

I'm actually surprised there's not a {subject to change) reference on that line - just to provide some cover in the event that stated price is not accurate.

 

[Floridaman76]

Correct, like with the resort fees at Kingsgate and a couple other places like Fairway Forest at Sapphire Valley, it's at least disclosed and in the resort info. Also with the Hawaii resorts they have that tax everyone has to pay. It's in there.

It's not a surprise when you show up...

 

[HitchHiker71]

Correct, like with the resort fees at Kingsgate and a couple other places like Fairway Forest at Sapphire Valley, it's at least disclosed and in the resort info. Also with the Hawaii resorts they have that tax everyone has to pay. It's in there.

It's not a surprise when you show up...

Same with all of the St. Thomas resorts - there's a daily government fee that has to be tacked on that's documented in the resort details here:

 

[Floridaman76]

Hotels often only mention the mandatory fees when booking. If you are only charged when you use an amenity with a fee they don't disclose that in the booking process. The price of ordering a cocktail or parking or bringing a pet isn't disclosed in the booking process. Unfortunately we are in a society where business are trying to maximize their revenue and unless it lists an amenity as free parking, it likely isn't free. And if it doesn't list it either way, your safe bet is calling to confirm if it is free or what the price would be. At least the parking: fees may apply is pretty front and center on the landing page for booking with Wyndham. I had to page through several clicks for a Ritz Carlton in Florida, to the FAQ page to find out that parking was an additional $40 per night on top of the $1000+ rate and the $60 resort fee.

I think it's weird you are conflating ordering a drink at a bar with something like charging for parking at a resort in suburban Florida, where you have to have a car to basically do anything. I'm sure the percentage of resort guests without cars is in the extreme minority.

Also, the Ritz Carlton probably doesn't even have self parking, so that's a moot point. They likely have mandatory Valet which you are paying for, plus tip.

I stay in Orlando every year for a conference at the Hilton Signia right across the street from Bonnet Creek. It's $30/day to park there, but it's a parking garage, secured with roving security detail, and FREE EV car charging. The important part is it is disclosed in the booking process.

This is a simple ask, i'm planning on discussing with the resort GM if I can find time, will let you know how this goes. I'm not expecting much.

Room is fine, for future reference Royal Palm does not have in-room laundry. Not a huge deal for us this time since we won't be here very long. Other than that our unit is very large and comfortable, albeit a little dated looking.

 

[easyrider]

I'm taking a cruise out of Miami tomorrow and decided to spend the 2 nights leading up to it at a Pompano resort using Wyndham Rewards points. Choices were Sea Gardens or Palm Aire and I chose Palm Aire because Sea Gardens has Queen beds in all it's 1BR units except Ocean Palms, which they could not guarantee me.

Anyway, I checked in and they notified me there is a $20/night parking charge at Palm Aire now for "non-owners". I explained that i'm not only an owner, but i'm a VIP CW owner and a WR Diamond tier member, and that there was no parking fee disclosed on either the website, or anywhere in the booking process, OR in any of the email or text correspondences I had received to date.

I've stayed here several times using both my CW points and WR points and never had to pay to park. The check-in person said "they started doing it a couple years ago".

The person checking me in gave me the business card of the resort GM and I will be paying a visit to him this morning

This is absolutely ridiculous that this resort charges for parking. There is AMPLE parking and it's all surface lots that Wyndham owns, not parking garages.

They stuck me in Royal Palm, which I wasn't super thrilled about, I called asking for Areca before hand, but I got Royal. It's a very nice unit, spacious and a corner with a wrap around balcony. No complaints about the room. I'm just super livid about this parking charge.

Palm Aire and Sea Gardens is 7500 WR points per night, which I feel is a steal, but this $20/night parking fee is complete BS

Wyndham kind of sucks, imo. Ten years ago I would be complaining about something like this too. Now days after calling customer service and having them explain I put it in the oh well file. In this case it would be the oh well Wyndham kind of sucks file, lol. Have a good time cruising.

Bill

 

[Jan M.]

We live about 15-20 minutes from Palm-Aire and book it mutiple times a year for visiting family and friends. As @FloridaMan 76 says, the resort is a large property with plenty of parking.

I have to agree that $20 a day is ridiculous. However if this discourages non-Wyndham owners from renting stays through the various travel websites that Wyndham sells stays on, I won't shed a tear over that. It also devalues using Wyndham Rewards.

 

[Floridaman76]

The thing is, Wyndham EMPHASIZES using Wyndham Rewards for travel. They give a bonus for paying your MF through the WR card, and then they pull crap like this. Literally it is a value decision for me to use WR points to stay at certain properties. Literally this entire stay was 15k WR points which was PART of an incentive/gift at a "update", they gave me 15k WR points plus $125 Amex + $50 tango.

I know now that I will book Sea Gardens next time I need a short stay down here if I want to use WR points rather than CW points. The thing with Sea Gardens is most of the 1BR rooms there have Queen beds which bug the hell out of me.