Anybody know hotel laws?

Here's something about which I've always been curious.

Right now, I'm in a crappy Motel 6. Even crappier than most Motel 6s, but I was tired and just needed to sleep.

All in, the room cost me $38.21, including $2.99 for this lovely WiFi.

On the back of the door, like every other hotel room door in America, there is a sign with the hotel laws of this state. There is also a room price list. The price listed for this room is $199.99.

Nobody has EVER paid $200 for a Motel 6 room. I'm pretty sure I could buy this entire dump for not much more than two Benjamins.

Every hotel I've ever stayed in has some ridiculous price on the back of the door.

Does anyone know the purpose of posting thes absurd figures?

They have to publish a max rate. They are allowed to take less on any given day but if The Super Bowl comes to that town, they are going to charge $199.99

JohnRW is right about having to publish a max rate, but I think it's more something they charge to deadbeats who won't leave or pay (or to scare people who are thinking about it).

When I worked at the hotel, we either had your credit card on hand or a significant ($150) cash deposit. I'm not sure how they handled people that stayed over, but as I said, we had a CC for nearly everyone.

I feel like people staying over isn't necessarily a problem, right? Just keep charging them at their normal room rate...unless the hotel is due to be booked up full the next day?

SWMBO says at her old hotel they would put prices on the door that were higher than what they charged so they wouldn't have to change them all when they had to "up" their price.

So it was pure penny-pinching laziness.

I might have paid max rate at some hotels. Park City around new year come to mind (at least I felt that way).

It's like MSRP. Unlike autos they are not allowed to add "additional dealer markup" but the rack rate listed is something they wouldn't complain about charging.

Okay, thanks - it all makes sense now.

Side note: the place was such a dump, I called corporate to complain. They generously gave me a certificate for a free night at any (other) Motel 6.

Now... where's the most expensive one?

I drove over to Detroit one night around 9pm and found a Motel 6 for $39 in Jackson, MI. I figured, how bad could it be? And I might save the company some money.

First clue was the guy standing near my door with his shirt off drinking a beer. It was the worst hotel room ever. Sandpaper sheets......never again would I stay here........

I can't believe you stayed in a Motel 6. You better check your luggage for bed bugs.

Years ago I used to stay in some pretty cheap places. Not any more.

Meh. I've stayed at some decent ones, and walked out on some crappy ones. If I wasn't so tired last night, I would have moved on.

Motel6 is a franchise. There are some good owners and some crappy ones. The big issue is that corporate can't/won't check each location well.