( Tribune Media Services ) -- Gabriel Medina ca n't reach his hotel in New Orleans because there 's a police barricade in front of it . A manager promises to `` help '' him cancel the reservation , but three days later , his credit card is charged $ 113 . Now his credit card has sided with the hotel . Is there anything else he can do ? Q : I do n't know where else to turn . I recently booked a room at the Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau Lemoyne in New Orleans through its central reservations phone number . When I arrived , the New Orleans Police Department had the entire block closed off . I immediately called the hotel and told a manager I could n't access the hotel . He said he did not know when the blockade would be lifted and could n't help get my car or luggage to the hotel . He could n't cancel my reservation because I had made it through Holiday Inn 's central reservations number . After several more attempts to reach the hotel , he agreed to help me cancel my reservation . I stayed at another hotel that night . Three days later , a $ 113 charge appeared on my credit card from the Holiday Inn . I disputed the charge , but they told me I could n't get a refund because I could not prove that they refused me the room . When I called guest relations they said they needed a cancellation number before they would consider a refund . Otherwise the hotel itself would need to reverse the charge . When I call the hotel , I get only voicemail . Can you help ? -- Gabriel Medina , Elk Grove , California . A : If a hotel representative says your reservation is canceled , you should n't be charged for your stay . But a review of your correspondence raises a few red flags . First , a manager told you that it was impossible for him to cancel a reservation made through Holiday Inn 's 800-number . Then , a few minutes later , the same manager agrees to `` help '' you cancel the reservation . I would assume that `` helping '' you means your reservation is officially canceled , but what if he just looked into it and then decided it could n't be done , and left your original reservation intact ? Since Holiday Inn did n't have a cancellation number , it probably means there was no cancellation . Here 's what you did right : You noted the name of the manager with whom you spoke . You followed up with Holiday Inn , and you were persistent but polite . Here 's what you overlooked : You should have called the central reservations number and asked for a cancellation number . If they refused to give you a number , you should have given a representative the name of the manager you spoke with . I would have followed up with the manager and not let Holiday Inn off the hook until you had a number . But getting a number is n't enough . Instead of continuing to call Holiday Inn , I would have sent it a short , cordial email asking for a verification of your cancellation in writing . If you send an email through a hotel company 's Web site ( Holiday Inn ) you 'll typically receive a meaningful answer in a matter of days , if not hours . With that information , your credit card dispute would have probably been a slam-dunk . Before getting to the resolution on your case , let me add one more thing . As far as I can tell , Holiday Inn was under no obligation to refund your money . You could n't reach the hotel because of a police barricade , which the property could n't control . But since a manager assured you that he would help you make a cancellation , I think it 's reasonable to expect a refund . I contacted Holiday Inn on your behalf . It reviewed your case and apologized for the way in which your refund was handled . `` Clearly the inability to access the hotel was beyond your control , and in as such , you should be relieved of the $ 113 charge you have received , '' a representative wrote to you in a letter . You 're getting your $ 113 back . Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine . E-mail him at celliott @ ngs.org . Copyright 2009 CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT , DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES , INC .
Guest finds his hotel surrounded by a barricade and calls the hotel manager . The manager promises to help him make the reservation , and he stays elsewhere . Days later , he finds his credit card used for unused , blocked hotel room . Holiday Inn hotel apologizes and returns the man 's $ 113 .