Accommodation Scams in Marseille

Overbooked or Substandard Budget Accommodation Switch

Budget hotels and hostels in the areas near Gare Saint-Charles (the budget accommodation corridor along Boulevard d'Athènes and Rue des Petites-Maries) accept bookings, then on arrival claim overbooking and redirect guests to a "partner" property that is lower quality, more expensive for the duration, or located in a significantly worse area. In some cases, the original booking is charged in full and the substitute accommodation demands additional payment. A variant involves guesthouses in the Noailles and Belsunce districts advertising online photos that do not match the actual room condition.