US/Portugal - Manaus - 6/22/14

Just got an email from Hotel Monaco saying they're under new management and all reservations made through Booking.com are being canceled. Did anyone else get this email? Not too happy at the moment.

 

WTF?!?! How can that even be? That's unbelievable. Really crappy.

 

I just did as well.

 

Just called booking.com and they are looking into it. All of the email address for the affected folks were conveniently in the To: line of the email, so I told booking.com how many of their customers will be affected. I also forwarded the email to them.

I am not feeling very confident that booking.com will do much, but they are our best bet.

 

WTF I feel for you guys. Hopefully Booking will be able to make it right to you. If that's not the case, let me know I might be able to find accommodation here in Manaus.

 

Interestingly they didn't cancel ours. Perhaps because it wasn't on the 22nd

 

I am not a lawyer, but most likely Booking.com did not have a clause in their contract with Hotel Monaco that all current reservations must be honored, while some/most of the others did. Doubt it had much to do with the exact dates around the Cup, but when I look and see that a single occupancy is now going for $900 pre-US/Port match then this is decision by this new owners makes sense, but sucks for us.

 

Any word from Booking?

 

Yep. Small wonder that they want to reprice their rooms higher. And it's not like they are alienating many return customers.

 

Let us know what you hear, I sent them a message but haven't heard anything back yet. Out of curiosity I asked Hotel Monaco what they're charging now; originally I had a 3-bed room for R$400 a night, now they want R$450 for a single bed room.

 

They seem to responde quicker on twitter. Just saw them replying to a Mônaco customer.

 

This action is just beyond the pale. It's one thing to gouge tourists during a special event like the world cup, but it's another whole level of sleaze to cancel people's reservations a month out from the world cup because you realize you could have gotten away with gouging them even more, especially when those people will have few if any options for lodging (why didn't FIFA do something about the lodging in Manaus, it's obvious there aren't enough rooms). I wonder what the Brazilian government would say, or the local government. This is the kind of thing that deserves loud public shaming, and just maybe somebody will do something about it.

 

If anyone affected by the Hotel Mônaco fiasco send me the infamous email inbox, I'll take it to the press and to the government. Either way, I'm heading to downtown Manaus this morning to check for accommodation options.

 

I've fwed' the email to a friend jornalist, but he needs the contact of a couple of you having this problem with Mônaco. Please drop your email on my inbox so he can get in touch.

 

Many thanks...I just sent you the email. Looks like their website - www.hotelmonacomanaus.com.br -- is down. Gotta imagine that many of the rooms will be taking up by either US or Portugal fans, so I hope folks who booked through the other portals are not in the same situation.

There were a tad less that 100 emails on the list...most had a .com domain. Average 2 folks per email (I am taking my 4 sons, so it is 5 for one email for me) and seeing the scarcity of rooms in town...this is a tough one.

I have been to each of the cups since 98...and this one has been far and away the most challenging (mostly planes and hotels, but I did also have my credit card as part of the Target breach so I lost my US Soccer lottery tix) to plan for.

 

We have a friend who went through hotel.info and he's still good with them for now.

 

@mpetrik need your email address.

Went to downtown Manaus today. Visited Hotel Belíssimo. I've mentioned them before. It's a small hotel, run by a family. It's in a good location, within walking distance to the Teatro Amazonas. I'll be the first to say it ain't the Ritz, but if you're looking for a place to just crash, it's worth a look.

They don't take reservations. I know, they need to revamp their business model. I talked to the owner and he doesn't even know how much he'll charge, but he said between 80-100 reais/night.

Anyway, if you're in trouble with your accommodation and want to stay there, let me know and I'll try to work something directly with the owner.

LOL @ the AIDS warning on the fridge.

 

^ I want!

 

I'm going to Mônaco Hotel later tonight. If you want me to check your reservation there, leave me your information inbox.

 

Hello All,

I have 2 extra cat 1 for US x POR game.

Let me know who is interested.

 

Went there yesterday. The guy working the reception claimed he didn't know anything because he "only works there at night time".

Also said he heard rumors the new administration decided to not honor some bookins.

I called them this morning to check on people's reservations and they refused to comment since "I was not an interested party".

Sorry I couldn't do more for you guys.

 

I call for a preparty in the Hotel Monaco lobby. Everyone brings their own drinks

 

Call back as one of the people that actually had their reservation. I'm sure someone on here will give you their name and booking info.

 

Let's go Project X on these a-holes!