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AIBU?

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Woken by hotel staff

207 replies

HotelStrangers · 04/04/2025 01:16

I've been at an important 2-day work meeting further from home than usual. Due to a long-term condition, which causes fatigue, I booked myself into a Travelodge overnight to avoid a bit of commenting (me paying, not work).
At check-in the lovely staff gave me a 'quiet room' when I explained the reason for the stay. By 9.30-10pm I was asleep, yay (despite it being like a sauna).
Then at 11.30pm I woke as a stranger was walking into my room! I jumped out of bed and shouted to get out. They did and I barricaded the door assuming I'd forgotten to put the snitch down (was sure I had).
Was just drifting off again when abput 11.55 there was banging on the door. Got up asked through the door if they were wanting me, yes. Had to open the door to a male staff member. I was stood there, bleary eyed, in just a 'Should not be seen in public' nightie, and had to confirm my identity. He said a brisk 'sorry for waking you' and when I said I was already awake as had had a stranger in my room 25 mins earlier he confirmed it was another member of staff as there had been a room mix-up. He seemed a bit annoyed.
No idea why they didn't call my phone and that they had to take my name with me there not dressed, face to face.

I'm now fully awake, hoping they're not coming back, regretting having booked this room, wishing I'd just done the driving, and dreading being exhausted in the meeting tomorrow.

I've just sent an email to the only email address I could find for Travelodge.

Am I unreasonable to complain?
(If I disappear will be due to trying to sleep)

OP posts:
BillyILash · 06/04/2025 13:05

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

Omg please tell us you called the police!

you sound terrified in the video, I would have also gone to the press. I’m actually surprised the press haven’t picked up on this.

LittleBigHead · 06/04/2025 12:59

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

Good Lord, @MandyTraveller ! was he sacked? What an awful awful lout (not a man). I hope you're OK.

LalaPaloosa2024 · 06/04/2025 10:35

I always take one of those door wedges with an alarm with me to hotels after a staff member let himself into my room while staying at The Westin in Malta. I was getting dressed in the morning and the door swung right open. Mortifying and scary.

mrstrickland · 06/04/2025 10:08

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

That is bloody awful. Gaslighting little prick. I hope you were taken seriously by the police and he has had his sorry arse sacked

Waitfortheguinness · 06/04/2025 08:32

I’ve heard of this as sometimes staff, particularly those on late/early shifts, will use empty rooms to have a secret kip in. Obviously they thought yours was empty.
i would definitely ask for a full refund, and make sure the highest management know a male member of staff let themselves into your room. Totally unacceptable!

Starseeking · 06/04/2025 04:56

This thread terrifies me as a woman who regularly stays in hotels alone. I assumed that once the door locked behind you you were safe, it has never crossed my mind that someone may enter with another key in the night.

I’m going to buy one of those door jammer things someone posted upthread, and in future use my suitcase as a blocker behind the door when I stay in hotels.

I don’t think I’d be able to sleep the rest of the night in that hotel, I’d be too terrified.

I hope you get an appropriate response and full refund OP, none of what you have described here is acceptable in any shape or form.

Candy24 · 06/04/2025 00:36

Refund the whole way. That is so bad.

HeySnoodie · 06/04/2025 00:30

That video is shocking! Did you forward to Travel Lodge management's?

I wonder if this is an issue with a limited number of travel lodges or if it’s across the whole company. Name and shame the travel lodges location

HotelStrangers · 06/04/2025 00:05

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

I’m so sorry this happened to you @MandyTraveller , it’s appalling. How are you and did the Police respond?

OP posts:
BeKeenRaven · 05/04/2025 22:58

This happened to me this morning! A housekeeper let herself in without knocking at 9am.. I was asleep (and not wearing a lot to sleep in of course). I was intending to have a lie in after a late night at a gig. I went to reception to let them know and I've written a complaint too as i had other customer service related issues during my stay. I wasn't happy as I stay in this hotel chain loads and usually enjoy it

Abracadabra12345 · 05/04/2025 22:11

Avatartar · 04/04/2025 10:00

Sorry this happened OP. I’d love the idea
of having a bath and only agreed to work away with the thoughts of a long quiet bubble
bath to myself, no family wanting things, only to find that most hotels have ripped them out and only have showers now

Yes, it’s happening a lot with Premier Inn hotels which I’ve used regularly over the years, and I hate it!

Never had intruders though so I feel very sorry for the OP

PerkyGreenCat · 05/04/2025 21:07

@MandyTraveller that's awful, you must have been so scared! You were so composed but I could hear in your voice how frightened and powerless you were feeling. I hope that "pathetic bitch" of a man got his comeuppance!

Thebloodynine · 05/04/2025 20:37

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

Their hallways would have had CCTV, so what happened? Was he at least fired and what did travelodge say?

That’s so awful, and he looks properly pathetic and sounds desperate.

MandyTraveller · 05/04/2025 20:33

It happened to me, I woke up when the receptionist grabbed my leg I was asleep he let himself into my room. I screamed he ran out, I went to reception to find out what was going on. I said to himWhy where you in my room, He said ' cos you are a pathetic bitch' I turned on video on my phone as no one would beloeve it else .......

SalfordQuays · 05/04/2025 20:16

I’d put a review on Trustpilot. Companies often respond to that.

Thebloodynine · 05/04/2025 20:15

Mamamiaaaaa · 05/04/2025 20:11

You should get a refund

I thought she said she was offered a refund by the staff on site, but didn’t take it for some reason?

Mamamiaaaaa · 05/04/2025 20:11

You should get a refund

Vinomummyinlockdown · 05/04/2025 19:43

I once stayed in a quite pricey spa hotel and was trying to relax from a chronic illness as a birthday treat ALONE. Last thing at night after a relaxing bath I was naked and a man let himself into my room!! I managed to grab the duvet to hide. I was so scared and freaked out all night. He was staff! I complained but nothing came of it except a lame apology! I was so upset! Too upset to deal with it further.

andrinaballerina · 05/04/2025 19:25

My firm have blacklisted travelodge due to this happening (room mix up, stranger entering a room) on more than one occasion.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 05/04/2025 18:37

HotelStrangers · 05/04/2025 18:18

Well, Travelodge haven’t appropriately responded to my complaint, but have sent through a ‘Tell us about your stay’ survey. You can guess how this is going to go …

These surveys are often conducted by an outside company, who'll probably ignore you.
I'd keep on with the CEO .

HotelStrangers · 05/04/2025 18:18

Well, Travelodge haven’t appropriately responded to my complaint, but have sent through a ‘Tell us about your stay’ survey. You can guess how this is going to go …

OP posts:
Alwaysinamood · 05/04/2025 08:22

Gosh this sounds awful I’ll definitely won’t be staying in a travel lodge in future!

geekygardener · 05/04/2025 00:31

Remember the lady who posted on here about being assaulted by a male staff member in a travel lodge in the middle of the night. There was a video of him then locking her outside when she was trying to put something in her car after confronting him. It was 1am ish and he wouldn’t let her in. It was also a news article.
seems it’s a theme for travel lodges. Very worrying for lone females who travel

ReadingSoManyThreads · 04/04/2025 23:16

So you didn't accept the full refund you were offered when you were at the hotel? That was foolish. You should have taken that in addition to pursuing it with Head Office.

HotelStrangers · 04/04/2025 22:32

Was cuddling my DD tonight reflecting that both staff members #1 and #2 are very lucky she wasn’t with me in the room. If she had been I would have had a full blown defensive-mother response and the whole floor may have been woken. It would have been like a Alex Ferguson hairdryer response that they wouldn’t easily forget 😁

OP posts: