why is that TWICE now, we've made hotel reservations, given our credit card number, told them we'd be a late check-in, called a few hours before our arrival to yet again confirm that we have a room waiting & that we're on our way, only to get there and, not only have they given our room away, they have NO MORE ROOMS?!?! is this like the airlines overbooking flights, in hopes of having several cancellations, and bumping a few people if need be, to ensure a full airplane? what recourse do we have? they always secure us a room at a nearby hotel, but it's never as nice as this one. last time, we stayed at Alternate Hotel #1 one night, and then the next day, moved back over to the original hotel. this time, it was hubby's business trip, and they bumped him to one night at Alternate #1, the next night at Alternate #2! he never did end up staying at the original hotel, which is where the conference was being held. it's just so inconvenient and infuriating!

anyone else have this trouble with late check-in's?????

 

Annette - Whenever you get treated like this, write a reasonable letter to the hotel's management explaining what happened and your disatisfaction with how you were treated.
You will probably be pleased with their response.

 

I have done that many times when I was traveling with a Fraternal Organization. Never had a problem. I told them when I booked my room that I would be a late arrival and gave them an approximate time. Also told them I would not accept another location. They have your credit card number so if you don't show, they WILL deduct the money. I guess I just yell louder than you.

 

but when you take time off from work, for a rare getaway, nothing can make up for a disaster like that. the first time i mentioned, my husband was going to be going to a conference somewhere, so me & the 2 very young kids went along (5 hour drive) to do nothing but stay in a nice hotel, sleep in & lounge by the pool all day for 2 days. when you're shuffled to a different less-nice hotel, with NO POOL, then you have to get up, pack up & be gone by 11am to go back over to the original hotel, that's not relaxing! i want to know (a) how they can get away with doing this and (b) how on earth can you avoid it? i thought your credit card number HELD THE ROOM - period. we even called when we were 3 hours away to say "hey - we're 3 hours away, we'll be there at 11pm - hold our room!" then we get there at 11pm, and no room! un-bleeping-believable!!!

 

That REALLY sucks! Did this happen twice at the same location??? Hopefully for your sake...it never happens again. Next time, instead of writing them a letter, ask them "what's your name?" and the ask manager on the spot.

Maybe no one ever complained out loud to them.

Don't go to the same location next time.

 

2 different hotel chains, 2 different towns.

i wouldn't have even gone back to the original hotel the first time, but the indoor pool was the ONLY thing we'd planned on doing while there!!!

i just can't believe they do that. knowingly, consciously giving a room to someone else when they know for a fact that there are people on their way there who won't have a room for the night. people who took the time to call ahead for a reservation, with a credit card number. it just boggles the mind.

 

I seriously feel for you...buy MAYBE, just maybe both places had a bunch of newbies who screwed up?...or very bad management, or bad communication skills with each other, or their system broke down or...lol...I'm kidding...just trying to make good excuses for them that shouldn't be there. I'm suprised you didn't yell at them. You seem to be the kind of person that can get through to people or would tell people EXACTLY what's on your mind.

 

fortunately for the doofus at the counter, i was waiting in the car with 2 sleeping toddlers, while the hubby went in. he's much nicer than me. you're right......i'd have FLIPPED! at 11:00 at night, after driving for 5+ hours WITH TODDLERS, i was in no mood to be told there's no room at the inn!!! i seem to recall we stayed free, but it still didn't make up for the fact that my little mini-vacation was pretty much ruined. i'm sorry, but i'm just not the "oh, it'll be okay, we'll make do/compromise/adjust. it's all good!" type of person. i'm more the "Steve Martin at the rental car counter in Planes, Trains & Automobiles" type.

 

This has happened to me twice - both times at Marriott properties. The first time I was a late arrival, however I had confirmed my reservation and informed the hotel that I would be late. They put me up in a comparable marriott but by the time I got there it was 2 AM. The second time I refused to go to a different hotel. They put me in a jr. suite at a standard room price. I was not loud or abusive to the manager, but I was certainly cranky, obnoxious and stubborn.
After the second incident I wrote a letter to Marriott management expressing my disatisfaction. I got a nice apologetic response along with two free room nights at the San Diego Harbor Marriott.

 

Always write down your confirmation number.

Even if the local hotel does not have it and you have a number in the correct form, things will happen quickly.

Also sign up for every "preferred guest" program available before you travel and carry the number. This gives the local desk clerk an easy reason to upgrade you to whatever is available.

Often, the executive suites are empty and are available.

Dick

 

In both cases where I had reservations, I had the confirmation e-mail with me including the confirmation number. IMO they are worthless. If the room has been sold it's sold.
Any hotel will do what they can to try to fix the problem, but they are going to do it as cheaply and as easy for them as they can get away with.

 

Just travel only to Las Vegas. I don't think there is such a thing as "late check-in" in that town.

 

I tend to stick with brand name hotels, I get their rewards cards by signing up for them on the internet, then I sign up for rooms on the internet, not over the phone. I travel frequently and have never had a problem using that method.

But, to be safe, you can give a phone call late in the afternoon and tell them when you expect to arrive and to make sure the room is ready.

 

they were brand name hotels, and we DID call to make sure the room was being held. at 8:00pm, it was ready & waiting for us. we told them we were on our way, with an eta of 11:00pm, they said okay. we got there at 11:00pm and no room at the inn!

but thanks for the advice.

 

When you gave them your credit card number did they take the money out? You should have gone in and if your like me I would have raised a fuss and yelled at the manager demanding why they don't hold the rooms when you reserve a room.

heres a true story about what im talking about (if i remember right).


This lady was in the store raising all kinds of heck because she did somthing to the rug to ruin it and demanded a refund they would not give here one and she threw a fit. Finally they gave her the refund anyway just to get here out of the store. ( true story).