Patrick C. Price

Last week, I had to fly to Tampa for a conference. As the conference hotel was the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel, I decided to book a room for me and my college with them directly. Total cost of approx. USD 1200.- for 3 nights (2 rooms).

During the booking process, I noticed that they had a “best price guarantee” on their site, claiming: “If you do find a lower published rate prior to, or within 24 hours of, booking your room, simply submit a Best Rate Guarantee Claim to us and we’ll honor the lower rate.”

So in good faith, I book both room directly on their website.

Out of curiosity I checked my local price comparison site: www.vergleiche.ch/hotels for a room at that hotel and actually got a rate, that was 20% cheaper for the same room category!

I immediately contacted Sheraton’s Best Price Guarantee and demanded my refund.

Their initial answer was that the site I had book with was “specifically for travel agents and Expedia Affiliates who receive special rates, and is therefore ineligible under the terms and conditions of the Best Rate Guarantee Program”.

So long story short, as the site I had booked with was “ineligible” under their terms, I did not get my refund, but rather have learned, that their “best price guarantee” programm is just full of crap. If you take the time and check prices for the same rooms, you will easily find a better rate online than with their own booking engine. It might not be eligible for a refund, but you won’t need one either, as you’ll actually have saved that money instead of getting screwed by them.

Foto-Source: Photobucket

Ever dreamt of realizing your own project? Well now might be the moment! My friend, Ron Orp is organizing 100-days.net! A project, that helps your raise money for your own project, but only if you are successfull! Really cool!

100-days.net: Find out how it all works!

My dear little friend. For nearly ten days now, we’ve been enjoying eachothers company. Although I must admit, the pleasure was more yours, than mine.

I can only imagine, how your days have must been. Waking up with a terrible hangover from the booze we both consumed. Yet eagerly awaiting my return in the evening. Drowling of excitement, when you heard me entering the door. Looking forward to a night long of lustfull sucking, biting and playing seek and hide.

Well my little friend, i am sorry this all came to such a sudden and certainly unexpected stop for you. But enough is enough, you have by far overdrawn my limit of tolerance. Being in India, I hope you are reborn with a better future. Farewell.

So it’s been two years to the day, since the new american government has been sworn in. Today, I got an e-mail from Vice President Joe Biden (ok, it wasn’t a personal one) linking to the following report, about what the current administration has achieved during it’s first two years in office.

Now personally, I am a republican at heart. But the way politics are currently run in the US, I must say, I stand steadily shoulder to shoulder with the direction Barack Obama’s administration is going.

Although I believe strongly, that government should be kept small and that the private sector should be allowed to rules it self, I do also strongly believe, that the government representing us as a people, needs to set some ruling guidelines in order to controll corporate greed and keep the power balance between us as citizens and large corporations intact. It is we, wo are the country. Let us not be reduced to pure consumers.

Congratulations on your achievements Barack and Joe. Keep sailing on!

Pretty cool concert by the Bosshoss yesterday. A german country band from Berlin.

Nope, can’t talk about it …

Today, Swiss just started it’s six time weekly flight connection from Zurich to San Francisco, bringing Silicon Valley and the Bay Area even closer to Zurich.

I really like the design they put on their flight for the inauguration of the new connection:

This week I was called for an emergency PC / WLAN installation, at my sister, and got expert help from my little niece.

This week was my birthday again and ever since I’m 20 I don’t work on my birthday, but rather take the day off and do something special to reflect. This year I went sailing on the Lake of Zurich for 3 hours to refresh my sailing skills. What a great day it was!