Are walk-in rates usually this much higher?
Was thinking of staying in a Holiday Inn Express, but was ambivalent about it bc it has a skeevy parking lot. I had looked at the price at the IHG website and it was $153 (total). Since I was waffling, I didn't book it online. I went there and walked in and asked the price. They said there was only 1 type of room available and it would be $231. That's more than 50% higher than the online rate!
I went to my car and called IHG and was quoted the $153 rate - after I told them I had found it on their website - and was told both that it is common practice for the walk-in rate to be higher, and also that it was a different type of room, although the desk guy told me there was only one type of room left.
Is this normal? Do all hotel brands quote ridiculously high walk-in rates? I'm just curious. Obviously I now know never to accept the walk-in rate without checking the rate online!
(I decided to go to a Hampton Inn which is much nicer, and about the same price.)