[This message has been edited by Neil]

I was staying at the Viscaya Real in Cali and noticed an additional charge on my bill for "SEGURO".  Not alot, but about $2 a day.  This is Spanish for insurance.  Not only was this on my bill every day but there was a 16% tax on it.

I don't normally pay for things like this so I protested and they took it off the bill.

Same story at the Intercontinel in Medellin.  

Anyone else have this problem?

Also, the hotel put me in a standard room.  There was a plaque on the check-in counter saying Standar 130000 Delux 150000.  At checkout time I read my bill and I was being charged 150000.  I protested and pointed to the plaque on the desk that quoted the standard room as being 130000 only.   The check out girl asked her boss about the rate and she came out and told me that 130000 was the rate for last year.  When I pointed to the sign on the front desk she removed the sign.  

I felt like I was being ripped off and charged gringo prices.  Again I said I would not pay more than 130000.  

My taxi driver for the week, who took me to that hotel, showed up to take me to the airport and I explained the two billing probems to him.  He took the side of the hotel and said I should pay these charges.  I told the taxi driver that his services were no longer wanted.

I do not like to get ripped off by anyone.  The hotel office manager reduced the room rate and removed the seguro charges after 30 minutes of hassle.  The Intercontinel in Medellin also removed the seguro charges.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

These (additional) charges need to be asked about up front or they will be loaded on at the end.  I have also seen charges for every local call being added at the Intercontinental.  Since this is common in the US I paid these without question, but the hotel bills sure seem alot more than quoted up front.

... in response to Hotel charges appeared excessive, posted by Neil on Feb 17, 2005

I stayed in a hotel for 7 weeks before getting my apartment in Cali.The room rate was $45 but when I paid the bill it was more like $65,about 45% more.Adds were taxes plus laundry plus local phone calls.Not counting trips to the internet cafe at Chipi Chapi and costs there.
So when I rent a room with bath in a luxury apartment for $35 including laundry,free local and international calls plus cable internet connection and breakfast I think its a pretty good deal.
My apartment costs me almost double the actual rent when I add utilities and maid.The internet cable connection alone is 465,000 pesos a month,about $200.Yes you can get low price accounts,but you pay for usage and they can cost you 1,500,000 pesos a month or more if you go way over.Thats what our October bill would have been but we have a tech  we know at the company who told them we had a virus and got the bill knocked down.We now have unlimited use,the way to go if you have 3 guys ,sometimes 4 using it.

Pete

... in response to Cable charges, posted by pablo on Feb 17, 2005

P,
I think what I have,Uniweb, is the only internet cable service in Cali.I will check that again with my Colombian friend.
The other services are much poorer.Anything over the phone line is extremely slow.Direct TV,the satilite dish co is supposed to be getting high speed internet but its not available so far.
Sounds like you have better options in Medellin.
In the US I could get what I have here for $40 plus drop AOL as an internet service comes with it.
My energy here is very high,415,000 pesos last month.I used the hot tub a few days of that,it might drop to under 400,000.like $170.It would cost me less than $100 in the states,probably $60 or so,about 150,000 pesos.
There are some things here that cost alot more,utilities being one.

Pete

... in response to Hotel charges appeared excessive, posted by Neil on Feb 17, 2005

I can remember paying a security charge as far back as 1990-
even for "smaller" type hotels like the Hotel Barlovento over on Cra 3 in Cartagena and the Hotel Monasterio in Popayan.  Never gave it much thought as it seems to be almost universal in Colombia  

... in response to Re: Re: Hotel charges appeared excessive, posted by Neil on Feb 17, 2005

it offsets the insurance coast for the use of the hotel's safe deposit box(es).  I to put it in the class of AHP.