Lake County >> Rumors have spread about local hotels gouging customers, hiking prices for rooms that are quickly filling up. Taking advantage of the influx of Valley Fire victims who are in desperate need of lodging, there have been accounts of places bumping up prices $100 per night or more.
But anonymous calls to a number of facilities suggest that many are in fact giving discounts to people affected by the fire — that is if they have rooms available.
Lodging in and around Clearlake Oaks has become sparse. Lake Point Lodge Tuesday morning had a wait list of 13 names; most staying there are either displaced residents or fire personnel. One employee advised that the best chances of finding a place to stay are outside of Lake County in Ukiah or Williams.
Other facilities seem to hover at or near capacity. Clear Lake Cottages and Marina in Clearlake was nearly booked solid, but they said were offering 15 percent discounts to people seeking shelter from the fire.
June Vejar, owner of the Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast Resort in Nice, said that they have some openings available as well.
All of the resort’s guests currently are people affected by or fighting the fire. Some fire victims fled their homes so quickly they didn’t have many belongings.
“A lot of the left with just the clothes on their backs, they all had to leave really quickly,” Vejar said.
Indian Beach Resort in Clearlake Oaks is also giving an evacuee discount. A two-bedroom cabin with a small kitchen and a bathroom for three people would normally be priced at $145, but fire victims get a rate of nearly half the price at $75.
It may be true that some places are raising their prices, but those looking for lodging shouldn’t be totally disheartened. There’s still space for them, and calling around chances are they will find a place with a discount.
