Major Transportation VENT!

brainybrunette

So, yesterday we were back in our hometown and we decided to stop over at the hotel where the bridal suite will be (ours parents and a few guests are staying there as well) to ask about the shuttle service from our hotel to our venue.  A little bit of background, the hotel is literally across a parking lot from the venue (about .25 mile).  It's a bit too far to walk in a wedding dress and especially if the weather is bad.  

We get to the hotel, and the girl tells me that it will be $475 for 4 hours plus an additional $75 for every additional hour.  Being that we need the shuttle to take us over to the venue at 3:00 and pick us up at midnight, they are making us pay for 9 hous which works out to over $850 to drive us across a parking lot!  I almost laughed in the girl's face when she told us this!  Originally, I had NO transportation budget.  I figured that we were staying so close that it would not be a problem for the hotel shuttle to take us over given that they will take you to downtown Saratoga (a few miles away) for FREE. Why they think it's acceptable to charge over $850 to bring you to your wedding a 1/4 mile away is beyond ridiculous, especially when you and your guests have booked about 10 rooms at the hotel.

Today, I've looked into some other options and the most cost effective thing I can come up with is a trolley that will take us over for $475.  Even that is crazy given such a short distance.

I'm calling the hotel back today to argue that this is unacceptable.  However, because this hotel has been nothing but difficult every time I've dealt with them over the past few months,  I think I'm going to end up getting in my car and driving myself over!

mbuckley85

What?!?!  That's crazy?  

I actually have no clue how FI and I are leaving the wedding...Limo, maybe?  Seems kind of silly to take the limo from Canfield to Saratoga Arms where we are staying.

I'm almost thinking we will just walk.  Its just a little hike up Broadway, and it might be fun walking through the town in my dress :-)

brainybrunette

I forgot to mention that the hotel where the majority of our OOT guests are staying is only charging us $150 to make 4 shuttle trips (2 to our venue and 2 back to the hotel).  Also, this hotel is located further away (about 8 miles).  

I'll also be using that fact as a bargaining chip in my argument to the bridal suite hotel!

mbuckley85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_major-transportation-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:6226201f-15a2-4196-9a6f-fbf3ca981948Post:00ba3df6-cf6f-483d-bc9f-97cd92fc6e45">Re: Major Transportation VENT!</a>:
[QUOTE]I forgot to mention that the hotel where the majority of our OOT guests are staying is only charging us $150 to make 4 shuttle trips (2 to our venue and 2 back to the hotel).  Also, this hotel is located further away (about 8 miles).  <strong> I'll also be using that fact as a bargaining chip in my argument to the bridal suite hotel!</strong>
Posted by Nic12184[/QUOTE]

<div>I would!</div>

brainybrunette

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_major-transportation-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:6226201f-15a2-4196-9a6f-fbf3ca981948Post:297fe634-957f-4471-b583-256f84baf88d">Re: Major Transportation VENT!</a>:
[QUOTE]What?!?!  That's crazy?   I actually have no clue how FI and I are leaving the wedding...Limo, maybe?  Seems kind of silly to take the limo from Canfield to Saratoga Arms where we are staying. I'm almost thinking we will just walk.  Its just a little hike up Broadway, and it might be fun walking through the town in my dress :-)
Posted by mbuckley85[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>After the wedding, I would have no problem walking (as long as the weather is ok!).  The it's probably around the same distance from the Gideon Putnam to the Hall of Springs as it is from Canfield to Saratoga Arms.  It's ridiculous to pay that much money for such a short distance!

</div>

mbuckley85

Oh!  I missed that you needed them before...Yeah, I wouldn't want to walk before either.

Stina2012

Any chance you could just move to the other hotel? If they're more accomodating that would be a real benefit! Or, any family member willing to take you across the street to the venue?

Our main criteria for a hotel was one that had a bar for an after-party. Yup, my friends and I are lushes!

mrshall1027

You could also try a cab service or maybe one of those lincoln car services that offer pick up and drop off.  Just don't mention you're the bride and it's for a wedding.

That's pretty stupid that they want to charge you that much for that short of a distance.  And they don't need to stay there the whole time either.  I would try to speak with a manager.

brainybrunette

The other hotel is nice, but does not have the big beautiful suites for the bridal suite.  I don't think my BMs, MOB, MOG, hair and makeup, etc would fit in a room at the other hotel.   Plus, our rooms are already paid in full, so I don't know about their cancellation policy.  If I had to do it again, I would never work with this hotel!

If I can't get this hotel to come down on their price, I'm going to ask one of my cousin's friends to shuttle us over in someone's van (I'll pay them...but not $475 LOL!).  Not exactly the most classy entrance, but at this point I don't care!  Guests won't  see our arrival/departure anyway!

Stina2012

Would the other hotel come to your hotel and pick you up?

BTW, I was also disappointed by my hotel's "shuttle service". They kept touting "free shuttle service", but that meant one shuttle for 9 people there and back...once. Transportation was definitely more than I thought it would be for our wedding as well. #BudgetBuster.

CarolineandDean

That sucks that something which seems so minor (considering the distance between the hotel and venue) is causing such a major headache.  Hopefully something will come of your bargaining tactics.

fishinflagrl

I would threaten to take the whole wedding out of the hotel and move them to their competitors hotel. That is just ridiculous. I would def go off on them.

kimm260

I second Stina-

Since many of your OOT guests will be using the shuttle from the other hotel can that shuttle come pick you up? 

I would be pissed at the way the hotel is treating you, and paying customer! 

Or could you go to a car rental place? a lot of times they have deals.

brainybrunette

I can't have the other hotel shuttle pick us up because they won't be bringing guests over until 5:30 and we'll be taking pictures at our venue at 3. I am going to look into renting a van (or something big enough for a group of people) to bring us over. I have a whole list of things to argue about with this hotel... I actually made a list lol! I called them early this afternoon and of course no one has called me back.

ivedonethisb4

Wow! That is stupid! So glad we are foregoing transportation! WP are responsible for getting themselves to the church and the reception venue 15 minutes away. I'll go with my mom to the Church and Justin will have his truck so we'll ride in that to the reception and our room is on the other side of the building from there.