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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
Movinghouseatlast · 04/04/2025 10:54

This has happened to me, luckily I'd bolted the door inside. I've also been given a key and walked in on a naked man. They make mistakes at the front desk, but I wonder how often it happens in very high end hotels where staff are better trained?

I used to stay in hotels a couple of nights a week for work. Wax earplugs are the answer to every hotel noise problem. I have to say my heart used to sink when I got booked into a Travellodge by a client. Every single one I have stayed in has been grim, but Epsom took the biscuit. When I complained that the room smelt of wee I was told yes, they all do on that side. It's the homeless people'.

GofE · 04/04/2025 10:54

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:34

Oh come on. It was a staff member with a key not a rapist, and he left immediately.

Show quote history

Right, but being woken up by a man coming into your room, you wouldn't immediately know he was staff. My response was to the above saying calling the police would be laughable... all i am saying is, if genuinely feeling threatened then not so far fetched to make that call.

Obviously if they left straight away no major issue, other than feeling compromised that anyone might let themself back in at any point during the night.

I stay in hotels alone from time to time, i'd be abit freaked if this happened to me and i'm a 'pretty hardy' Londoner.

It seems to have been dealt with now as a mistake and i wouldn't carry this on, but, at the time, the split second of waking up in bed with someone in the room would be scary.

Katiesaidthat · 04/04/2025 10:50

Take the refund and buy a doorstop. I would also leave an opinion on socials.

Eyesopenwideawake · 04/04/2025 10:48

I had this very recently - a member of staff letting himself in the room mid afternoon (while I was resting) on two separate days. I complained at the time and got nothing more than an apology so I wrote a lengthy review on Booking. As a result I got a full refund.

Fluffypotatoe123987 · 04/04/2025 10:44

Basically they gave the room away the the night staff sleep in on rotation (against the rules)

Maitri108 · 04/04/2025 10:42

ClairDeLaLune · 04/04/2025 10:18

Banging was mentioned in the original post. So unless you wrote your comment before that and really are psychic then your sarcasm doesn’t really wash.

I'm not sure what your problem is but I don't work for MN, I addressed what I believed to be the most pressing issue which was people trying to get into her room.

If you think the actual knocking on the door is the most important thing here, then please feel free to offer useful advice.

I was referring to the noise the OP experienced the next morning which I could not have anticipated.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 04/04/2025 10:32

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:13

The police surely would not be concerned about a staff member accidentally walking into an occupied room and immediately leaving when told to.

Show quote history

It the question is is it accidental. The staff have been warned about this and it has happened again - if this is the same person then it could be for nefarious reasons, some men enjoy scaring women. Plausible deniability only works if no one joins up the dots.

KrisAkabusi · 04/04/2025 10:26

they only had to check their booking-in records to see that you were a female solo occupant of that room and certainly should not have disturbed you - apart from emergency evacuation.

The whole point is that their booking system was wrong - it was showing an empty room!

ClairDeLaLune · 04/04/2025 10:18

Banging was mentioned in the original post. So unless you wrote your comment before that and really are psychic then your sarcasm doesn’t really wash.

ClairDeLaLune · 04/04/2025 10:15

Oh my God OP that’s awful. I would’ve been absolutely terrified, and wouldn’t have slept a wink after that. I sleep in the nude! Won’t be doing that in a hotel again. You definitely need to pursue a complaint.

NetZeroZealot · 04/04/2025 10:08

Premier Inn is better than Travelodge in my experience.

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

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 09:56

HotelStrangers · 04/04/2025 09:08

re Taking this further: I will have consequential losses.
re Police: I had not considered reporting to police but driving to venue was thinking about how this is repeat behaviour despite reprimand. There is a chance this behaviour may escalate (typical path). Will consider reporting so the person can be flagged

Don't be absurd. Nobody did anything illegal. 'Flag' what??

MyDeftDuck · 04/04/2025 09:55

Complain and don't take a pathetic 'sorry' for an answer! They were totally out of order, they only had to check their booking-in records to see that you were a female solo occupant of that room and certainly should not have disturbed you - apart from emergency evacuation.
Take this to the very highest level in their management structure!
Personally, I would demand a refund AND compensation - it would have disturbed the shit out of me.

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 09:54

GofE · 04/04/2025 08:35

I would hope, that as a lone woman, staying in a hotel, and a strange man broke into my room, the police might help me if i felt threatened .. or would it only be acceptable to call them once he's potentially on top of you in the bed?

Show quote history

Felt threatened? But she wasn't threatened? Nobody committed any crime, and nobody was at risk of danger. It was annoying and upsetting but not a criminal offence. What on earth do you think police should have done? Stood outside her room all night for security? Arrested the staff member for making a mistake?

Singinghollybob · 04/04/2025 09:44

Iwanttoshopnow · 04/04/2025 09:31

Was the first person who came into your room male or female?

If it was male I'd be very worried as it looks as if they told another male member of staff to 'have a go' and get you to open the door to them.

It doesn't make any sense that someone would walk in and then 20 mins later another man is banging on your door insisting you open it and ask for your ID.
Why would he do that?

I'm guessing the first person walked in, not realising there was somebody already in the room, and maybe not checked in. They left, and told the second person (maybe more senior colleague) that the room was occupied.
The second person maybe banged on the door asking for ID to verify who the unknown person in the room was.
I'm not defending the staff, just explaining the possible reason for doing it.

TheMauveZebra · 04/04/2025 09:40

I had staff come into my room in the morning to check something in that folder left in the room

Still annoys me to this day I didn't say anything

sellotapechicken · 04/04/2025 09:38

That’s horrendous.

Iwanttoshopnow · 04/04/2025 09:34

RedRoss86 · 04/04/2025 09:05

Sorry this happened to you OP.

You'd be surprised how often this happens in hotels.

  • you sign in at reception, get handed key but receptionist doesn't check you in on system
  • few hours later, next guest comes to check in, you are still on the 'arrivals list' and staff member decides to move a few rooms around, sees you still aren't here so gives new guest your room, gives key and off they go. *a few minutes later, guest that just went upstairs comes down saying someone in their room. *insert panic by staff trying to figure out who is in the room....

Judging by the timings, I'd say late shift staff gave you key. Then it was night staff on at 11pm & they were left to figure out the mess.

Should this happen? No.
Unfortunately does it happen. Yes.

(On some hotel systems, if they have key systems that are linked with the booking system, you physically can't give a key unless the guest has been 'checked in' on system.

For the majority of hotels though, they can just cut keys and forget to check in the guest)

I don't get this.
Keys in Prem Inns are a card system.

Not sure about a TL.
If one has already been given out the staff would see this- and same for a physical key.
And yes, I know each room has 2 keys for 2 occupants, but they should still see one key wasn't there.

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:34

GofE · 04/04/2025 08:35

I would hope, that as a lone woman, staying in a hotel, and a strange man broke into my room, the police might help me if i felt threatened .. or would it only be acceptable to call them once he's potentially on top of you in the bed?

Show quote history

Oh come on. It was a staff member with a key not a rapist, and he left immediately.

Iwanttoshopnow · 04/04/2025 09:31

Was the first person who came into your room male or female?

If it was male I'd be very worried as it looks as if they told another male member of staff to 'have a go' and get you to open the door to them.

It doesn't make any sense that someone would walk in and then 20 mins later another man is banging on your door insisting you open it and ask for your ID.
Why would he do that?

Gwenhwyfar · 04/04/2025 09:30

Shessweetbutapsycho · 04/04/2025 07:57

OP you’d have been better reading a book or having a bath than spending an hour staring into your phone typing lengthy mumsnet posts and emails to travelodge

Please don't take bath in the middle of the night in hotels. There's no need for everyone in the neighbouring rooms to be woken up as well.

Menobaby79 · 04/04/2025 09:29

RedRoss86 · 04/04/2025 09:05

Sorry this happened to you OP.

You'd be surprised how often this happens in hotels.

  • you sign in at reception, get handed key but receptionist doesn't check you in on system
  • few hours later, next guest comes to check in, you are still on the 'arrivals list' and staff member decides to move a few rooms around, sees you still aren't here so gives new guest your room, gives key and off they go. *a few minutes later, guest that just went upstairs comes down saying someone in their room. *insert panic by staff trying to figure out who is in the room....

Judging by the timings, I'd say late shift staff gave you key. Then it was night staff on at 11pm & they were left to figure out the mess.

Should this happen? No.
Unfortunately does it happen. Yes.

(On some hotel systems, if they have key systems that are linked with the booking system, you physically can't give a key unless the guest has been 'checked in' on system.

For the majority of hotels though, they can just cut keys and forget to check in the guest)

This 💯
Previous staff didn't check you in.

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:28

TennesseeStella · 04/04/2025 08:56

You've got a full refund. Genuinely, what else do you expect them to do if you "take this further"?

Show quote history

They will hopefully train staff to be much more careful but how can they compensate you for a disturbed night’s effect on your performance today? Do you want money?

Crazybaby123 · 04/04/2025 09:22

I would be annoyed.
But I also wouldn't have had migh expectations from a travel lodge, it's one up from sleeping in the forecourt of a service station. Just the decor makes me feel like I am in an institution.