Taxi Driver Online

Rugby fans face hotel price hike


THERE will be an atmosphere of romance and rugby in the air when Wales welcome their biggest rivals England to the Millennium Stadium in a fortnight.

But Six Nations fans visiting the city on St Valentine’s Day may also leave feeling they have been ripped off by hotels who have ramped up prices by up to FIVE times the average cost.

Some businesses want £510 for a standard room that normally goes for £85.

Concern has been raised about the outrageous price hikes before.

Millennium Stadium manager Gerry Toms spoke of his worries when rugby Super League bosses favoured Edinburgh over the Welsh capital because of complaints made by fans attending finals.

But it seems hotel bosses are intent on wringing as much profit from guests during the Six Nations fixtures, which are guaranteed income in the first months of the year.

For example, staying at the Marriott Hotel the week before the England game, you can book a room for £109.

But forget about staying there on February 14 unless you are willing to part with £400 and be left with pocket change.

Beating that, the Park Inn, in Mary Ann Street, goes from a normal charge of £85 to a whopping £510 two-night minimum stay.

For that money you could treat your partner to a night at Claridge’s in Mayfair, London, and still be left with nearly £200 for a shopping spree in Oxford Street.

Even budget hotels have become not-so-budget priced by tripling rates.

The Big Sleep Hotel has increased its usual £45 charge to £120 for a standard room with continental breakfast.

Marriott Hotel general manager Derek Harvey is chairman of the Cardiff Hoteliers’ Association.

He defended the charges and said it was “a simple case of supply and demand”.

“We appreciate there has to be sensible pricing, but what needs to be understood is that it’s market forces that drives hotel bed prices,” he said.

“What must also be remembered is that our hotels are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, right through the year.

“Beds need to be filled not just on big event nights – but on cold, wet and quiet Tuesdays in February.”

As a contrast, The Richmond Park Hotel, near Twickenham, does not apply any rugby rate and booking a room for the England v France game on Sunday, March 15, costs just £87 for a single room.

Likewise, The Petersham Hotel, about a mile from the ground, will charge £110 for an economy room on the same date, with no rugby rates applying.

Richard Thomas, managing director at Cardiff and Co, a public and private partnership established to attract investment into the capital and promote the city, said demand would always dictate hotel pricing policy.

He said: “In the context of the Six Nations, prices at Cardiff’s hotels are comparable with Dublin and Edinburgh,” he said.

“If hotels did not vary their prices in response to demand, such investments wouldn’t be made and the city would be worse off as a result.”

Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central, was given an idea of what costs fans where facing.

She said: “I’m surprised people would pay that and prices such as £500 seem very, very high. But hotels will charge what they can get away with.”

Fans are also being warned to be on their guard against greedy taxi drivers.

South Wales Police will be on the lookout for “flimping” during Six Nations games – when a Hackney carriage driver illegally picks someone off the street who has not pre-booked that vehicle, with a risk of the passenger being ripped off. Cardiff council said there were clear guidelines for Hackney carriage drivers which had to be followed.

A spokeswoman said: “During the Six Nations home games licensing officers will be on duty with police officers to make sure licensing rules are adhered to.”

Gareth Owen, director of Dragon Taxi’s, the city’s biggest firm, said: “Almost all firms do not put their prices up for the rugby. The cost of any trip should be £3.50 for the first mile and £1.64 for every mile after that, which is the standard Cardiff council tariff.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think someone has their knickers in a twist. A hackney picking up on the street when it should have been pre booked.

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Grandad,

It is pretty normal down here for the Hotels to rip people off under the guise of "Supply & Demand" However that cost us a very lucrative weekend with the Rugby League taking their tournament up to Scotland because prices are too high down here.

With regards to Taxis just like anywhere else you will get some over charging - usually by people not from around here

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

All I have to say is I'm glad they're their police force and not mine

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Who are they kidding - there will be 74,000 in the stadium and 30/50,000 outside and they are going to be concerned about drivers over charging I do not think so.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

And many of them have paid over the top, via touts, for tickets.

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IDFIMH