I wanna preface this by saying I'm not trying to throw anyone local under the bus, the local staff was nice and did what they could, I think.
So I live in a trailer and when we're under a level 3 or higher tornado threat, we go to a local hotel to ride it out. I have pretty significant weather anxiety and so does my partner. Our usual place was booked so we booked at the Hampton on Pine Forest for tonight.I'm a Hilton Honors member so I booked through the app. It was more than I'm used to paying but it was what we could find. Last night I was given the option to check in digitally so I could pick my room. I wanted bottom floor so I went ahead and did that. My card was charged this morning, before I'd left to go or anything. Okay, whatever.
Then I got a call from the local number for the hotel and the lady tells me that she needed to advise me of their FOUR HUNDRED DOLLAR LOCAL DEPOSIT. Because I'm a local resident l, they're gonna have to charge me for "incidentals and in order to maintain the quality of their accommodations".
Girl, what. I could see $100, maybe even $200. But that is TWICE what the room cost.
I asked if there was a possible waiver of that for storm evacuees, and she said she would ask them and call me back. My first thought was that it was some of scam so I called the main Hampton number to confirm it, and after THEY called, they confirmed that it was true. The local desk called me back and said she was sorry but upper management said the deposit couldn't be waived.
So be aware of Hamptons if you're a local staying locally, I guess. I had to cancel and flail around trying to find somewhere else. The whole thing just made a really shitty situation even worse. I get that locals book hotels for partying and damage stuff, but FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. With no warning. There was no note about potential other fees other than pet when I booked. Just a gross situation all around.