Scam in Portugal, revised

[TulasiPriya]

So, my post about the albergue in Portugal was removed because it violated the rule against "second-hand posts that bash businesses that can't give their side." Fair enough.

But I also think this is a safety and well-being issue, so I'm just posting again without naming the business.

There was an incident where the host of the albergue lied to a female pilgrim, saying that booking dot com "double-booked," and then tried to get the woman to go in a car to a private house. When the woman refused, she was accosted by the host and pressured to comply with their wishes. The pilgrim said that guests at the albergue where she eventually stayed said that this was a known scam. The albergue is presumably being reported to booking.

So, beware. If someone tells you that booking dot com is double-booked, be skeptical, and verify directly with their customer service. I don't think it's a good idea to get in a car with anyone you didn't hire yourself.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I have had an experience where there was a double booking so it does happen.

I also have various experiences where the accommodation wasn't quite what I thought I'd booked. Almost all were positive, including staying in the home of a lady in Sarajevo when we were expecting to have a private room in a hostel.
I think being a bit open-minded helps. Just because it isn't quite well you expected doesn't make it a scam.
I was also amused by your description of the car in your first post. I suggest if you're fussy about the car that gives you a lift, you never travel to Greece!

 

[SabsP]

I have had an experience where there was a double booking so it does happen.

I also have various experiences where the accommodation wasn't quite what I thought I'd booked. Almost all were positive, including staying in the home of a lady in Sarajevo when we were expecting to have a private room in a hostel.
I think being a bit open-minded helps. Just because it isn't quite well you expected doesn't make it a scam.
I was also amused by your description of the car in your first post. I suggest if you're fussy about the car that gives you a lift, you never travel to Greece!

Indeed!

Before the first post got deleted I searched for the hotel. It got some quite good reviews and yes also some more negative ones. The same for the reviews on bookingdotcom.
All in all average score was 4.3 on 5.

Haha regarding the car. If you got a lift today from me in my Fiat 500 , you would have had second thoughts too ( long story ) .

 

[Flog]

I think being a bit open-minded helps. Just because it isn't quite well you expected doesn't make it a scam.

I didn't read the original post, but I agree..

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Years ago I stayed in a cheap rented room in Hania old town. I read the reviews.
One young couple were upset that when they showed up at 11pm the hostess had let the room to someone else. They did acknowledge that she found them another room in the same area.

Some people are never happy!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

So, my post about the albergue in Portugal was removed...

I can't help feeling you're giving Portugal a bit of a "bum rap." Yes, it's on the Portuguese caminho, but the town where this happened is actually in Spain, in Galicia!

 

[Robo]

I had booked a well known and popular Hotel in St Jean, using booking.
The day before we arrived I got a message from the Hotel, saying they had cancelled our room, as they had a large group that needed it!
At the last minute we hunted around for something else….

 

[ShoshTrvls]

I agree that one should not just jump into a car with a stranger, particularly if something feels "off," But owners of accomodations along the camino often work with one another when there are problems with bookings. I had a situation on the Portugues where the people who were staying in an AirB&B I had booked in Pontevedra hadn't vacated the property. The owner of the AirB&B, upon realizing this when he went to change the sheets, etc., called around and found a pension that could take us for the night.