Vrotels Refused to refund my deposit New York New York

 It is unethical and illegal for a hotel business to charge consumers without providing them suitable accommodations

- You put down a Deposit for a specific flat.  The deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE.  The contract was for a specific flat at a specific price.  They are still willing to provide that to you.  Unless you had something in the contract that allows you to void it in the case of a medical issue there is no RipOff.  Not only that but what is "suitable"?  What if you rented it because it was in close proximity to where you were going, but then the place you were visiting changed.  Is it their responsibility to find you a new rental at the same price in a new location..of course not.  What if you your dates changed, is it their responsibility to find you accomodations on the new date for the same cost..of course not.

Then again one could say that it is just as unethical for someone to try and break a legally binding contracct they entered into.

Unfortunately, the replacement flat that Kim booking agent offered costs much more than I can afford. I was surprised and dismayed, to say the least.

- Why are you surprised?  People don't generally want to walk up stairs, so ground floor(or lower floor) flats are going to be at a higher demand..thus a higher price.  Do you really think that someone who normally rents a ground floor flat for $1000(for example), is going to rent it out for $400(again as an example) just because the person who wants it can no longer walk up stairs.  Of course not they are going to wait until someone comes with $1000.  Believe it or not landlords are a business and not charities. 

But what about this case, and not saying that this is the case for you.  But say someone knew they were going to need surgery and not be able to walk up stairs.  They go to a company to find the cheapest flat they could and put down a deposit.  That person then get the doctor to write a note saying they can't walk up stairs.  Then they go back and even though they knew that the ground floors were higher they try to get the company to give them a ground floor for the same price.  In this case who would be the one Ripping off the other person?

While it is too late now, this is exactly what Travel Insurance is for.  Travel Insurance can be purchased by many companies for a very small percentage of the cost, and covers cases where for medical reasons you can no longer make the trip.