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Original poster

Hotel bumped us to another hotel at midnight!!

161 replies

rabbitwoman · 13/10/2025 08:26

This has never happened to us before, can anyone shed light on it?

Me and some pals went for a girls weekend away. We booked and paid for our rooms months ago.

four of us on Friday night, booked into our hotel, two per room. We were joined on Saturday by two pals, and tried to check them in when they arrived, around midday, but were told the extra room wasn't ready yet.

So we all went out for the day, came back around 11pm - to be told the hotel was overbooked, our third room was no longer available and two of our party was now being moved to another hotel.

The staff on duty seemed utterly bemused that we were furious. As if we were being unreasonable. We suggested at the very least they cover our bar bill while we waited for the taxi to take our friends off to another hotel, but no, not possible apparently.

Anyone had this happen to them before, anyone shed any light?

OP posts:
Lulubo1 · 13/10/2025 12:51

I used to work for a hotel and this sadly happens. Hotels, much like airlines, overbook the rooms. However, we would never break up a group and we absolutely would give them some sort of goodwill like a bar tab and reduce their bill for the hassle. Sometimes an issue in a room would make it unusable, like a prior guest throwing up all over the place (yes, it happens), a leak, broken furniture etc.

I would recommend speaking to the duty manager and asking for some sort of goodwill or compensation. They should not have broken up a group of rooms. We would only do it to people staying one night and with no other guests with them

agoodfriendofthethree · 13/10/2025 12:51

nomas · 13/10/2025 11:10

Someone should have checked them in, this is what I did for my best friend. She would not have been able to have her room otherwise.

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Someone did - about an hour after check in opened. The other people who the hotel had booked into the same room had already arrived 30 mins before and so the bride and groom got bumped.

Really not sure why you are so keen to defend hotels who do this ridiculous practice?!

ComfortBadService · 13/10/2025 12:49

I would be pretty upset. I spend a lot of time researching hotels, looking at reviews, location, facilities, cleanliness etc. To have that taken away from me would be really irritating.

Linenpickle · 13/10/2025 12:48

Appalling. Leave a review on TripAdvisor and definitely claim for the expenses and try and get some compensation for the inconvenience as the hotel was bang out of order.

CautiousLurker01 · 13/10/2025 12:37

Quite often hotels don’t like same sex parties of 6+ as hen/stag parties often cause conflict. When I booked mine for 8 women 20 years ago, many hotels expressly stated that they would not book us in. We ended up going to Amsterdam as it was one of the few places that didn’t have an issue. I suspect Prague is another one, but we couldn’t get a hotel in Barcelona or Paris if I recall correctly.

Because the 3rd room was booked on for the 2nd night, so sort of a separate booking, they may not have picked up that there were 6 (likely to be rather drunken) women in one party staying.

Not saying it’s right, but given you asked for your bar bill to be covered, I’d say they got the measure of your party …

Toofficeornot · 13/10/2025 12:33

Happened to my DH a few months ago, the sister hotel was actually much nicer so he was happy.

Original poster
rabbitwoman · 13/10/2025 12:32

I can definitely see both sides.

Hotel anticipates no shows so overbooks to maximise profits. So there's a risk there won't be enough rooms if you turn up too late

My objection- firstly, we were there earlier!! So not no shows. And secondly, if that does happen, offer compensation. Immediately. Not argue that there's 'nothing they can do.'

OP posts:
Tiswa · 13/10/2025 12:29

Happened to us once when the guests in the room refused to check out

Suednymph · 13/10/2025 12:29

The issue is the fact they left the bags in your room and not in reception which they should have done. Did they pay for the taxi to the other hotel?

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:28

Kuretake · 13/10/2025 12:26

Why are you so keen to defend the hotel on this thread, it's bizarre! Of course the hotel is at fault for not noting that the guests had arrived and would be returning later. I worked in a hotel (a looooong time ago) and this is totally standard.

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I'm just trying to see both sides.

The guests tried to check in very early and didn't leave any bags. The hotel may have thought the guests were hanging around the hotel.

3packspls · 13/10/2025 12:27

The hotel they went to - same chain? Same standard?

Original poster
rabbitwoman · 13/10/2025 12:26

It was not a hen trip, just six of us - in our late 40s, by the way, if that makes a difference- having a weekend away together.

OP posts:
Kuretake · 13/10/2025 12:26

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:22

I think 12pm is so early that the staff may not even check if a room is available.

It's effectively a paid for benefit to check in that early.

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Why are you so keen to defend the hotel on this thread, it's bizarre! Of course the hotel is at fault for not noting that the guests had arrived and would be returning later. I worked in a hotel (a looooong time ago) and this is totally standard.

3packspls · 13/10/2025 12:25

saraclara · 13/10/2025 10:01

Since the group had been out from noon until 11pm, the hotel hadn't had time to form any opinion of them.

Others have explained how hotels work. The new arrivals didn't check in, so the hotel had them as no shows and gave the room to other people. That's entirely normal, though the staff on the shift when they arrived too early, should have communicated that they had arrived, to the evening shift.

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Well aside from when they rocked up at 11pm and wanted a free bar tab as an apology! I imagine that gave them the hint of an “impression”!

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:23

NeedWineNow · 13/10/2025 12:18

We had this with Travelodge a few years ago. Booked and paid in advance for a room in Knutsford as we were going to to the football at Old Trafford. Arrived to be told that our booking had been moved to the Travelodge on the motorway that we had passed on our way in. We were told that ' all football guests' had been moved.

I stood my ground, asked them how they knew we were going to the football as nowhere had this been disclosed on the booking, and we never told them when we arrived to check in. Lots of 'um's and ahhs'. Then they said they didn't have a room at which point I told them that we had booked and paid for a room at that hotel, and that they'd better find us a room PDQ. Manager appeared, and I reiterated our position. He asked if we'd mind going next door to have some lunch, come back in an hour and we'd have a room ready which we did.

I wouldn't mind but we had purposely emailed the hotel to ask if we could check in early as we had plans in the afternoon and had the the printed confirmation from the hotel that this would be okay.

I wouldn't mind but we had purposely emailed the hotel to ask if we could check in early as we had plans in the afternoon and had the the printed confirmation from the hotel that this would be okay.

You were well prepared.

ComfortBadService · 13/10/2025 12:22

That’s so annoying OP. This has never happened to me in 54y but I would not be happy at all.

Can I ask, was this a hen trip? I wonder if the hotel does not like hosting these perhaps? Hope you have a good trip anyway.

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:22

LarkspurLane · 13/10/2025 12:16

They may do, but if they said that the extra room wasn't ready, that sounds like they might have taken a look.
That's what I would have (wrongly) assumed anyway.

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I think 12pm is so early that the staff may not even check if a room is available.

It's effectively a paid for benefit to check in that early.

Firedrink · 13/10/2025 12:21

Leave a stinking review.
Yanbu.

Bloozie · 13/10/2025 12:21

This happened to my nephew. It's very bad form.

NeedWineNow · 13/10/2025 12:18

We had this with Travelodge a few years ago. Booked and paid in advance for a room in Knutsford as we were going to to the football at Old Trafford. Arrived to be told that our booking had been moved to the Travelodge on the motorway that we had passed on our way in. We were told that ' all football guests' had been moved.

I stood my ground, asked them how they knew we were going to the football as nowhere had this been disclosed on the booking, and we never told them when we arrived to check in. Lots of 'um's and ahhs'. Then they said they didn't have a room at which point I told them that we had booked and paid for a room at that hotel, and that they'd better find us a room PDQ. Manager appeared, and I reiterated our position. He asked if we'd mind going next door to have some lunch, come back in an hour and we'd have a room ready which we did.

I wouldn't mind but we had purposely emailed the hotel to ask if we could check in early as we had plans in the afternoon and had the the printed confirmation from the hotel that this would be okay.

LarkspurLane · 13/10/2025 12:16

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:03

If you turn up at a hotel at 12pm and check in is at 3pm, they may just tell you it's too early without taking your details. You need to tell them you'll be back late.

What is so ridiculous about that?

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They may do, but if they said that the extra room wasn't ready, that sounds like they might have taken a look.
That's what I would have (wrongly) assumed anyway.

Lunde · 13/10/2025 12:16

It happens sometimes - although it's really frustrating.

Often a previous guest has trashed the room and it can't be re-occupied until repairs are complete

nomas · 13/10/2025 12:03

DreamyTealGuide · 13/10/2025 11:49

because it's so bloody obvious you want the room you BOOKED and tried to check-in for, that you don't need to tell the hotel? 😂

I don't call the hotel the day before my booking to check they understand my booking means I actually want the room?

Why do people need to be babied so much
😂😂this must be the most ridiculous comment I"ve heard on here

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If you turn up at a hotel at 12pm and check in is at 3pm, they may just tell you it's too early without taking your details. You need to tell them you'll be back late.

What is so ridiculous about that?

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 13/10/2025 11:55

I'd put a complaint in :Tried to book in was told to come back later - had booked stuff to get to - did things got back when done to find paid for room given away.

It's not great service really.

There was some suggestion we come back later that rapidly went when DH said are you refunding the early check in then.

DreamyTealGuide · 13/10/2025 11:54

LarkspurLane · 13/10/2025 11:31

To be honest, if I was told that my room wasn't ready, I would assume that I had a room to come back to when I did turn up later.

I have learnt now that that is not good enough.
Why can't hotel staff accept that this person has shown up and not give their toom away?

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It doesn't cost anything to say it I guess, but I can imagine most hotel reception staff will be a bit puzzled if you turn up with a booking, luggage in tow, try to check in too early, have to come back later when rooms are ready

and tell them, can they make sure they understand your booking means you actually want the room 😂

Or they think you take them for complete idiots

It's very possible someone will sulk and go back home, but it's not that likely 😂