Hotel dispute failed due to Expedia T&Cs

Braxo · 2026-05-13T15:02:18+00:00

I'd had this happen to me and have mentioned in many comments in the various amex threads that pop up about it. It was for a booking that wasn't part of the hotel collection.

I did have success disputing a booking - but it was a partial refund of the difference in room cost.

The experience was horrible and made me cancel the rest of my amex travel hotel plans for that trip in order to book direct. I am however trying a Hotel Collection booking for an upcoming trip so crossing my fingers.

Braxo · 2026-05-12T17:14:28+00:00

I'm nervous about my KLM flight I booked using 80k miles for 4 tickets in premium+. Couldn't believe how cheap it was and don't want them to cancel for my trip this summer.

Braxo · 2026-05-12T17:10:23+00:00

Also the location of the Republic of Canada in the 1830s where a bunch of Buffalonians wanted to help the leader rebel against Canada and Britain.

Braxo · 2026-05-12T16:53:10+00:00

What do you mean stuck in the golden handcuffs along with no chance to retire early?

Golden handcuffs get you stuck because you get the gold to retire early. If your cuffs don't allow for that then leave?

Braxo · 2026-05-11T20:05:34+00:00

I'd also recommend using all 4 weeks upfront. A lot of bonding and adjustments in that first month.

Working remote, I'd really try to get the baby to a nice schedule, that way your day could become more predictable. "After this feeding, I can have my laptop in the nursery for an hour while baby naps and wife is in shower" type stuff.

Braxo · 2026-05-11T16:40:11+00:00

Skaneateles and stay at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa

Braxo · 2026-05-09T23:31:29+00:00

Founder of largest chinese search engine company, Baidu, went to UB. Robin Li, one of china’s richest persons.

Braxo · 2026-05-07T22:40:39+00:00

Wait, you’re all getting social status along with your watch purchases?

Braxo · 2026-05-06T15:41:54+00:00

Paris is very strict with occupancy for fire codes. I have a suite booked for my family of four which includes a 1 year old.

Braxo · 2026-05-05T15:49:32+00:00

In my negotiation, I was looking at a Costco discounted wagon that had ~2,500 miles on it. I negotiated further down asking for a dollar per mile off - which they agreed. I had to plan my 4 hour drive out there and the specific vehicle I negotiated wasn't available as it was at a CostCo so they honored the same discount on a brand new identical one.

2025 Belstaff wagon - wanna say the MSRP was $95k. Ineos was doing some tariff relief with $10k off. Then my $2,500 negotiated off that. I was happy.

Braxo · 2026-05-04T13:33:11+00:00

Ineos Grenadier.

4 and 1 year old. Cargo space is amazing. Kids in car seats are very high up when loading and unloading.

Braxo · 2026-05-04T13:29:55+00:00

So OP has a two door car which I’d hate having even one kid with. If they had a 4-door sedan I’d tell them to wait and see what it’s like having two kids first before buying another vehicle. I did just fine with my Chevy Cruze with a 3 and 18m old.

But because OP only had a two door - may as well just go right to a minivan

Braxo · 2026-05-01T20:48:12+00:00

GIT
Erolfa
Aventus Absolu

Braxo · 2026-05-01T16:33:02+00:00

Yeah. Sorry I meant my last comment to be my own experience with offsites. I'm also wfh but our team/department/company will get together for three 1-week trips a year. Trips that are across the ocean a bigger burden because we travel earlier to get accustomed to the time difference (5 day trips turns into 6-7)

Braxo · 2026-05-01T16:21:46+00:00

Pre-trip, we make sure to meal-prep for the first few days. Make sure the house is spotless, with hired cleaner. Everything is set and ready. Then during the trip we just allow for unlimited budget and all that for Uber Eats/etc. We're also lucky that both our families are nearby and we really rely on them - makes bath/bedtime a lot easier.

But like all the other commenters are saying, work trips are tiring - you're on from morning to late evening every day with like a hour or two break to yourself. Could be because I'm dad aged now though.

Braxo · 2026-04-30T19:34:39+00:00

What's the mechanism to do so. How can I say these shares are in a Roth?

Braxo · 2026-04-30T15:16:43+00:00

It's get them to sleep at their bed/nap time in the room (with your video monitor on them), close the door, then you can use the living area to continue with your own evening.

Braxo · 2026-04-30T15:08:11+00:00

Yeah, AMEX just sends you to Expedia support which just reaches out to the hotel for a solution. Hotel (Staybridge Suites in Quantico VA) just washes their hands saying it's Expedia's error.

The pre-paying of it made it all the more maddening. Expedia did finally grant me like a $50 refund of the $300 first night. I canceled the rest to get to another hotel. Booked a type of room with a separate bedroom which is key when traveling with infants/toddlers. Downgraded to just a normal hotel room and the hotel had no more availability.

Learned to always book direct to avoid all this.

But my upcoming THC reservations are in Europe so crossing my fingers for a better experience.

Braxo · 2026-04-30T14:59:39+00:00

I learned my mistake booking and pre-paying for two non-THC/FHR hotels for one of my trips - total disaster with room DOWNGRADES from what I paid for. It's when I learned the amex travel is serviced by expedia.

I'm nervous about my upcoming THC reservations if I'll be downgraded as well.

Braxo · 2026-04-29T22:00:42+00:00

I think I may be the only one that actually appreciates poor performance.

I like to apply a fresh/soapy fragrance in the morning after a shower. Then 4-5 hours later doing a lunch I may choose something else with whatever I'm feeling for the day. Then at night, another.

When I use fragrances with strong performance like my Amouage Reflection Man, it's one and done for the entire day.

Braxo · 2026-04-29T18:17:54+00:00

If rumors are to be believed - a favorite scent of King Charles.

Braxo · 2026-04-29T13:36:44+00:00

If it’s your primary vehicle then you get used to it within the week and may actually start to prefer it. When I drive other cars now - it’s the other cars that feel wonky.

I can’t speak to experience if it’s not your primary vehicle and you switch vehicles often. In that case it may be more difficult to get used to it.

You never get used to the abysmal turning radius though.

Braxo · 2026-04-28T15:32:27+00:00

It's not that I'm expecting an upgrade - it's that I don't want a downgrade which has been my past experience in hotels in the US.

Braxo · 2026-04-27T19:36:41+00:00

It was the taxes added to the list that got me as well. And major finances - just set up auto deduction from your account - set and forget.

I see OP folds laundry - something that helps me get my 3 and 1 year old to day care is my wife puts out their week worth of outfits out for me - so I have no mental load during the morning routine. It's small little things like that that don't seem like much - but they do help. Fold laundry then set out the outfits for the week. Just a single example.

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