How much of a refund would you expect for this (hotel related)

[SelfCareBear]

Stayed in a hotel last night as had to be at a meeting a long way from home this morning. Not exactly cheap but not super ££ either, just a mid range 3* place. Arrived quite late, went pretty much straight to bed. Got up this morning and went to have a shower but there's no hot water! Went downstairs to ask about it and the staff said oh yeah there there's been no hot water to the rooms since Tuesday, sorry about that, should be fixed later today. I've obviously washed the best I can in cold water in the sink but my hair isn't looking it's best as I just can't stand being in a cold shower long enough to wash it properly!!

Totally would have been expected to have been told way before check in. I’d ask for a refund (ex hotel receptionist here)

A full refund, hot water is a basic requirement and they knew days before!?

I’d be so annoyed if I’d planned to wash my hair and then couldn’t. And you probably didn’t pack dry shampoo/hair clips to make it look presentable for your meeting either. They should have pre-warned you, I’d be wanting a full refund.

Hilton once gave me 100% and brought hot water to rooms in buckets.

Agree with others @SelfCareBear - as they knew they should have told you, ideally ahead of time so you could either go elsewhere or wash hair at home etc before leaving. I’d expect at least 50% refund and I’d also wonder why they haven’t tried to make arrangements with local gym or leisure centre to use showers at least.

A full refund and a unfavourable review on Tripadvisor!

They should have pre-warned you.

ALWAYS pack dry shampoo (sorry not helpful now)!

Also, boil a kettle for hot water to make the stand up wash slightly more bearable.

Hope your day gets better.

I wouldn't expect a refund. The same thing happened to me a few years ago in a hotel in Manchester. Sometimes, things go wrong at hotels.

Why wouldn't you expect a refund? Hot water and a bed are literally the basics of any hotel stay.

Yes things do go wrong but this isn't some unexpected problem. They knew it was a problem before the op arrived.

I would expect a full refund.

They should have contacted you in advance and offered a full refund so that you could book somewhere else. They could have done that on Tuesday, but even if it was early on the day of booking it would give the customer a chance to change arrangements.
If they had told me on arrival? I'd have expected to be allowed to get on the phone, find an alternative and then get a full refund.

WTF, what are you paying for if not a bathroom with hot water?

they at very least should have at least informed you when you arrived so you didn’t have a cold shower,
could have made plans to find a hair dresser, or a gym etc.

when I stay in hotels for work, I need to use the amenities.

it must feel awful going to a meeting and not being box fresh .

I’d be seriously annoyed and would expect if it were a chain that I could re book for another night at some point.

I’m not normally one for refunds but being able to wash is a basic essential so I would want a full refund for every night you’re without water and I don’t think you’d be unreasonable to want a refund of the full stay and to leave this morning because ‘should be fixed today’ isn’t good enough. It’s inexcusable that they’ve known about the issue since Tuesday but didn’t bother to call you and offer the chance to cancel before you travelled.

But since you say meeting is this for work so it’s not you paying? Is there a corporate travel booker you can take it up with so you can just get moved and avoid the hassle?

Hot water is expected
They knew there was none and allowed you to check in without sharing that
Full refund plus extra because they chose to inconvenience you rather than tell you before you journeyed to the hotel or at check in
They decided you’d experience an unwelcome surprise

I'd ask for a full refund, expecting to get at least 1/2.

Thanks for the replies. I'm out of the meeting now and about to go and speak to the hotel reception about it (didn't have time beforehand). Unfortunately as I'm self employed I've paid for it myself and there's no travel people to sort it out for me!

That's not on when they knew well before your stay - they should refund the whole as presumably you'd have stayed somewhere else if they'd told you in advance.

Different if the problem had arisen when you were already staying there.

If you turned up to book a room (ignore the time you arrived) and as you were about to confirm your booking and pay they said "We have no hot water" would you still book and pay?

I wouldn't. I'd go find somewhere else that did have hot water.

Ignore the time you arrived, you could potentially have checked in earlier and discovered the problem, but by then you are checked in.

I would expect a significant refund (1/3 - 1/2) as a minimum. A good hotel who wanted you back might do that without quibble.

How can you be so dismissive! The room is paid for & lacks the most basic amenity - how would you like to substitute a shower for a cold water sink wash (pre - meeting!) - disgraceful!!
I would most definitely ask for a discount as op wasn't advised about the failure tbh & if not successful, try again... (only this time - mention you will be reviewing the hotel on T.A...)
Just wondering - this place is reminiscent of a very famous hotel in Liverpool (here's a clue "Just cook will ye...!") Just saying...

Oh absolutely, they should have. I just think if they'd told me and I'd decided on balance I would stay anyway then I wouldn't be pushing for a full refund. If I had wanted to but been unable to get in elsewhere because of the late notice then I'd want more money back.

Hope the outcome was favourable.

I'm not one to complain.

My ds is an athlete and I stay in hotels all over. Last one someone was in our allocated room after a 4 hour trip to get there. But they found us another within 10 minutes and it was 2 doubles (or double and double sofa bed) instead of a twin. So I didn't complain.

But I certainly would if I turned up to no hot water which they knew about!

Mistakes happen. Things break. But they knew about this and too, your money for a service they couldn't provide regardless.