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Thursday, October 10, 2024

'Despicable' hotels in Florida and Georgia raise prices from $95 to $700-a-NIGHT as desperate Hurricane Milton evacuees flee

[...]

A Marriott hotel was offering a room for two nights this week for $548 per night - or $707 for guests wanting to park their cars.

Comparatively, the same room is available in November for $94 per night. 

'Sad and inhumane,' one person wrote.

The woman who spotted the huge price difference, Suzannah Collins, said she'd filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's office.

'Look at the difference in the price of this hotel now, for people fleeing the hurricane, and in November. And the charge to park? $159 extra. WOW. Price gouging is illegal.'

In Florida, price gouging is forbidden during a state of emergency.

The state Attorney General has fielded hundreds of complaints from consumers about price gouging, with at least 160 active investigations underway. 

[...]

Two Hilton properties in Kingsland, Georgia have more than doubled their nightly rate for people seeking accommodation on Wednesday, October 9.

The rate is $233 and $291 respectively for the hotels, which are located off the I95. But if you're seeking a booking for Wednesday, October 26, just three weeks away, those prices drop to $116 and $115.

Another, the Hampton Inn and Suites in Brunswick, Georgia, was offering a room Wednesday night for $617. 

Comparable rooms for a Wednesday night in November are available for as little as $131 in the same hotel.

One woman who is trying to find accommodation for a friend and her son, whose mobile home is in the direct path of Milton, said the best hotel she could find was in Kissimmee. 

Kissimmee is still in Milton's path, but more inland and there are hopes the damage won't be quite so severe. 

'It's not ideal,' she said. 

[...]



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