Complaint Review: Hotel Icaria Barcelona

We have just returned from a six day stay at Hotel Icaria, Barcelona. We booked online. Although I am pretty sure I started from Google and the hotel website, it seems we ended up booking via CentralR.com. We found that if we had booked by phone we would have paid a total of 1474 euros for four people for 6 days but because we booked online we paid 1474 + 260 euros (so-called deposit). The so-called deposit was in fact a charge taken by CentralR.com.

CentralR.com claim that Hotel Icaria agree to this arrangement. If that is so the Hotel should deduct the deposit from the total costs ie 1474-260. However, the receptionists at the Hotel claimed that they had nothing to do with this charge.

One or the other of these two is lying. Either Hotel Icaria collaborates fully with CentralR.com in which case if it agrees to let them take 17% of a booking as part of their 'advertising' then this should be deducted from our bill. Alternatively, if Hotel Icaria did not agree, then CentralR.com is lying and should refund the so-called deposit. There is no justification for charging 17% more for the 'privilige' of having booked online.

Take care in booking online - use the phone instead!
Avoid Hotel Icaria and CentralR.com

Ray
Plymouth
United Kingdom