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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hotel lost my children in booking

133 replies

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:18

AIBU or should they apologise properly? Long I know but it has all the facts…
as a family we recently visited a moderately priced hotel chain near London for 3 nights… booked as 2 adults, 2 children. All booked, double checked the confirmation email, all good. I called weeks ahead to enquire about car park to be told it would be sorted on arrival. Well we didn’t arrive until just before midnight (5 hour drive for us) and car park was locked (fair enough) but a well weathered sign over the intercom saying car park full… panicking a bit I called the hotel, they said they’d check and hung up. A bit confused I called again where they hung up again… a couple of minutes of waiting a member of staff arrived complaining we hadn’t pre booked parking, I explained what I was told previously but he looked annoyed. He checked the car park and let us in (loads of space I might add) and said quite sternly I must pay for parking right away. QR code located to pay for car parking, it would let you progress so far… then error. Tried again, error. So headed to check in where I mentioned the car park as to where another employee pulled out his phone, bought up the app, waved it at me saying what was my problem? It works! I explained you had to progress further through the booking in to which he realised I was actually in fact correct and backed down. Eventually the original staff member then processed my car park manually through the computer. Next problem, booking in seemed to take ages… bear in mind it was now after midnight, a very tired hubby and children, all hanging around in the lobby. Finally got our key, top floor, headed up, no children’s bed or bedding. So back down 10 floors to the lobby and asked the staff why my children’s beds weren’t set up and no bedding, to which his reply was “you only booked a room for 2 adults madam”. Being on the ball I whipped out my phone and showed him my email clearly showing 2 adults and 2 children. He analysed it and then backed down and said he would get some bedding. So at 12.30 am I’m in our hotel room pulling out a sofa bed and making up beds for my kids who were at this point absolutely shattered. Had a weak apology from the staff member who was helping but still felt like he thought I was trying to diddle them. This problem then arose every morning at breakfast and we were being eyeballed for having two children with us when the booking was for only two adult breakfasts. I did question the booking again midway through our break because I was fed up of getting embarrassed in front of staff and other guests having to prove each time that this was not our error, and was told it was a technical glitch. The response from the hotel was extremely limited and offered us preferential accommodation and breakfast on our next visit (this was a once in a blue moon thing for us, definitely no more trips planned for a while)…. But that’s not what I want.. I just want an actual apology for being made to feel the way my family did whilst there. AIBU?

OP posts:
Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:47

AnSolas · 11/03/2025 16:45

How odd, are they going with its your fault that they did nor select employees who could communicate in english?
Or hoping to prompt a "racist outburst" which they can use to ignore the problems they created?

I’m not really sure what angle they were hoping to go at with the whole language barrier comment…. I had no problem speaking or communicating with any member of staff at any time, everyone’s English was very good imo. Just think it was a rather weird assumption for them to make 🤔

OP posts:
EnglishGirlApproximately · 11/03/2025 16:47

This sounds very much like the Mercure at Heathrow! Very similar experience last time I stayed there.

AnSolas · 11/03/2025 16:45

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:38

I have contemplated what I’d put on their review page but giving them the benefit of the doubt that my 2nd email to them (and requested it go further to head office) might prompt a more empathic view and a proper apology - they even blamed a language barrier as most of their employees don’t speak English as their first language??? Not sure why they put that in

How odd, are they going with its your fault that they did nor select employees who could communicate in english?
Or hoping to prompt a "racist outburst" which they can use to ignore the problems they created?

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:38

ChocolatePodge · 11/03/2025 16:30

That sounds an incredibly stressful experience for what was supposed to be a nice break, I'd certainly never stay there again even with "preferential accommodation" so an apology seems like the least they could do. But I would be putting my thoughts on every review page possible to pre warn other families travelling

I have contemplated what I’d put on their review page but giving them the benefit of the doubt that my 2nd email to them (and requested it go further to head office) might prompt a more empathic view and a proper apology - they even blamed a language barrier as most of their employees don’t speak English as their first language??? Not sure why they put that in

OP posts:
Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:35

It wasn’t the nicest experience 😔 every time you had eyes looking at you and other guests making faces in their little groups as if to say “she’s trying to pull a fast one” when actually I was totally in the right. Making beds up past midnight wasn’t much fun either 🙄

OP posts:
ChocolatePodge · 11/03/2025 16:30

That sounds an incredibly stressful experience for what was supposed to be a nice break, I'd certainly never stay there again even with "preferential accommodation" so an apology seems like the least they could do. But I would be putting my thoughts on every review page possible to pre warn other families travelling

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:24

Pillarsofsalt · 11/03/2025 16:21

what hotel was this? (sharpening my pencil)

or if you don’t want to say… is it a well known budget chain by any chance?

It’s not a budget one like premier inn or Travelodge… I little bit more upmarket but not anywhere near mega bucks

OP posts:
Pillarsofsalt · 11/03/2025 16:21

what hotel was this? (sharpening my pencil)

or if you don’t want to say… is it a well known budget chain by any chance?