I happened to zero down to this small but a peacefully located hotel at munnar after a strenuous online search for its said merits and with a due advance information about my check-in/out details (with my other 3 family members taking 2 double rooms @ Rs.2500/- per day per room for 3 nights).
And also my intention to pay through credit card (as it was a hefty amount working to Rs 16600/-)and was in receipt of a reply mail just telling ’booking confirmed’ and with no initial down payment perhaps. I checked in on 05th of August, 2009 afternoon duly informing about my intention to pay through credit card but was told by the reception people that there was some problem with the swiping machine or so with my suggesting them to look into the same immediately.
Before my check out on the 08th August so that I would be able to settle the bill through credit card facility and almost every morning reminding them in this regard to get ready. But to my utter disappointment on the day of checking out, I was again given the same response that the machine was ’yet’ to be corrected and suggesting me(as if I am not aware) to draw from some atm and make cash payment.
But after aprotracted arguments either side they somehow could go ahead with the using of the machine saying that it was got ready for our sake (I am not aware to the ’truthfulness’ of their saying so or .....)and when the credit card was swiped the telephone line of the machine was repeatedly taking quite a lot of time to ’get connected’ with ultimately proving the efforts ’futile’ to our interest.
I am still not convinced that about its somehow intentionally made ’non’ functioning attitude(probably with the collaboration with the hotel authorities themselves-playing a ’trick’) and ultimately arranged for the cash payment as their attitude was found so much ’non co-operative’ and also ’not inclined in accepting the credit card payment’ in any way and as we were losing our time unnecessarily.
Hence although our stay was so nice in that hotel in all respects but with a very much delayed restaurant services(added to that the hotel provides complimentary COLD break fast (not with heating provision- that too in a hill station- amazing)when served as ’buffet’), it ended with this ’bad tasted’ note finally with my advance informed note of making credit card payment ending in futile in spite of the due advance information having been given at different stages. I am still at dark why this hotel and as I gathered information for that matter a few more reputed well known hotels in Munnar are averse to accept payment through credit cards in spite of their announcing so.So please be prepared for a shock before planning to pay through credit cards in any hotels at Munnar!!!!!!!!
V Sampath Kumar
Bengaluru 560079.
Dt:16/08/2009