janbiker

I'm Belgian. And the bashing of the hotel is because I first contacted the hotel and they referred me to the Epic organisation. Epic said, and I quote: "Unfortunately the hotel is unable to refund riders not using their post-accommodation package as per their cancellation policy." A communication that I can only understand as: it's the hotel that does not want to refund.

Via Epic because coach transfer was element of that package. And I will come back to you when, you never know, the entry for this year will give us access to next year's edition. So you can help me with a less convenient but much cheaper option.

Some people, like my co-rider, can only just afford to do the Epic. It's a dream so they use their savings to buy a decent bike, train and pay for the entry. They buy a ticket for a flight, book a cheap b&b for the days leading up to the Epic and return one night after the event is over. To lose the race because of cancellation and no refunding in sight yet, needing to book other, extra, lodging because you can not rebook your flight, spend money on food and drinks, whilst worrying whether and when you will return home and how your family is doing, that there will be no work nor income for you when you return home... Yes, then you may expect that some of the bigger players do not keep 100% of the money they get paid for their non-performed service. As nearly all hoteliers are doing in Europe and as one of the Cape Town guesthouses we stayed in did when we asked them to delete one night.

Yes, you can. Because you are a South African. We had to find ways to transport 2 bikes, luggage and riders. Together with a lot of other international riders. The number of taxis/ubers able to do this are limited, so yes the hotel option is by far the best one.

Just received the message that the not used post Epic accomodation will not be refunded "as per their cancellation policy". This was an expensive booking as for many international riders it was the only way to be able to get from Val de Vie back to Cape Town (without spending huge amounts on taxi's that can fit the bikes). So that's why you book this expensive room. And then: no refund. What a crap hotel chain. I do hope this is the last time this hotel will be used and that the Epic will take extra care of reading the small print and cancellation policies.