That's exceptionally good value for Butlin's and I've been in the Shoreline Hotel myself a few years ago on a family holiday; I'd say it's the equivalent of a better 3 star normal hotel. It's also at the edge of the camp against the sea front - probably worth paying extra to guarantee a sea view room...
We're usually able to get a Friday to Monday off-peak for around £120 or so. Often we find that even if we're only staying Friday to Sunday, it's cheaper paying for the 3 nights rather than 2 in the PI.
. I was gambling and it has back fired.
I have never encountered this. I do a generic location search, it brings up a list of hotels in the area, I click on one (or right click to open in a new window and keep the original search) and the prices are the same, albeit as @Bletchleyite said, there are many rates (more expensive) displayed representing more flexible rates or plus rooms etc.
On an anecdotal basis, I find the flex rate doesn't change that much. It seems to be set and stays there from months ahead right up to the line. Perhaps if a big event is announced and bookings go through the roof it might. You pay for the flexibility of course. I have previously booked a room at the flex rate to secure a room more than 59 days ahead, then cancelled and re-booked at the semi-flex rate when that comes into play. I see little benefit in the Advance rate that you have to cancel 28 days ahead for a refund (not a date swap).Well the 5 night stay at Premier Inn I booked late last night I woke up this morning to find was £50 cheaper so that was certainly something!
Pretty annoying really, I could have booked the Flex or Semi Flex at a considerable extra cost to Standard but then you run the risk of the price on the Standard not coming down between booking and stay so you've just throw away the extra money that way instead...I did consider changing my booked days forward a day then back again to see if that would fool the system but thought better of doing so in the end
I noticed this happened for the first time earlier this year, and I've seen it a few times now. Mostly the difference was small, and on at least one occasion, the price on the second (individual hotel) screen was lower than on the first (summary) screen. I put it down to different refresh conditions between the two webpages, but it does seem to have been a recent development.
Or use 'Privacy' mode so that the cookies are not stored and updated to show that you have been looking....
Conversely, but maybe because of the Bank Holiday, I have seen some hotels particularly around Liverpool to be more expensive on the Sunday night than the Bank Holiday night. I therefore lost interest in staying the night, but split them into 2 non-adjoining day trips instead.
Most likely, bank holiday Sundays still have tourists staying. The Monday night tends to be cheaper than usual on bank holiday weekends
Most likely the ones which are a lot more money haven't got many rooms left due to a large group booking?
Perhaps, though no one with sense would book them at that price.
I am sure many businesses thrive of customers with no sense or just impatience.
None of the Travelodges offer bag storage of the last 8 I have used - they’ll want to charge you for early of late check-in/out as ‘we don’t store bags’!
Yes. Used this facility at Premier Inn two weeks go in Glasgow. Staff happily facilitated it. It was v handy. Used on check out day until c4pm
The problem over time is “discretion creep”. Using your example (but not about you, if you see what I mean). Discretion is given and you get the key 15 minutes early. Where do you draw the line? 16 minutes, 20? 45? Eventually you start getting people relying on getting room access early (because “they always do”) and not getting it, causing more aggro in the end than sticking to the only logical deadline, which is the published one.
It's what other hotels have been doing for years without any issues. The difference here seems to be that they've identified a basic part of the normal service, which doesn't cost them anything, but which they can charge you for. They're leaning hard into a Ryanair model, which is alright bit definitely isn't for everyone
The basic part of the normal service is to permit check-in from the time stated when you booked. No more; no less.
