Country Lodge, Homestead

After making reservations at the Country Lodge a month in advance (we were coming to town for Nascar, so we knew every room in town would be sold out if we delayed), I called a few days before arrival to confirm the reservation and let the owner know we would be arriving between 12:30 and 1:00 AM. The owner said a late arrival was fine, but needed a different credit card number because he doesn't take American Express. I thought this was odd because he took my Amex number when I made the original reservation, but I gave him my Visa number and re-confirmed the reservation. The day of our arrival, I called the owner to remind him we'd be arriving late that evening. He acted as though he had never spoken with me before and said that would be too late. I reminded him that he had told me it was fine just a few days before. He immediately back-tracked and said ok, but that he would need another credit card number to hold it. I told him he already had 2 of my credit card numbers, but he insisted upon another. Since my boyfriend was planning to pay for the room anyway, I told him my boyfriend would call him right back with his Visa, which he did. He also gave the owner our cell phone number, just in case there was a problem. After driving 1 1/2 hours, we arrived at 12:30 AM, only to be told by the owner that he had sold our room already. We were flabbergasted. He gave us a litany of excuses, ranging from we had arrived too late, to our credit cards didn't work (btw, he had a big sign on the front desk that advertised they take American Express). When he showed us what our Visa company remarked when he tried to run the card, the form simply said "card not present" - well, of course the card wasn't present! We are supposed to present the card upon check-in! The owner knew we were driving in that night and didn't even have the common courtesy to call us to let us know he'd sold our room to someone else. We had to drive all the way back home that night, since every room in town was, of course, already booked. It is pretty apparent that this owner was offered more money for our confirmed room from someone else, and simply gave it to them instead. Also, they have 3 of our credit card numbers, so we have to now closely monitor our statements to make sure they don't make fraudulent charges with them. Avoid this hotel like the plague!!!