Where not to stay:
Back on Oct. 7 I booked 4 nights at the Ascutney Mountain Resort. Since then I found another (I'll admit, cheaper) place where some friends are staying, and called today to cancel my reservation at the Ascutney. I have now been informed that there will be a cancellation service charge of $32.74. Keep in mind that I am not cancelling the day before my reservations, but a full 13 days before. I should have been warned something was up when they charged 1/2 the 4 night's charges to my credit card UP FRONT when I made the reservation. I talked to the manager there today and she assured me that keeping my money is justified because it is part of their policy. I told her my personal policy was to not pay for something I don't receive, but that didn't fly. I told her I thought this was fraud and she assured me its not fraud, its their policy. Then she said I was informed of this policy when I booked, and also by mail after I booked. Providing a written copy of a cancellation policy probably satisfies some VT state code technicality allowing the Ascutney to keep my money. Regardless, I never received it, either at the time of booking or as of today in the mail. I did, however, receive a few days ago a nice copy of the Winter 2004/2005 edition of Ascutney Magazine. I thought for sure the "we're-keeping-your-money policy" must be spelled out somehwere in its 38 glossy pages, but I can't find it in there.
You might want to clarify the policy of your hotel before you book. The manager at the Ascutney is called Lucille, and can be reached at
802-484-7711. Just don't give out your credit card number.
Anyhow, I am now staying at the Super 8 in White River Junction. Their number is 802-295-7577.
Bill Chernoff