Somebody has just walked into our hotel room at 4am

[Batmam]

Me and DP were fast asleep in a (large, chain) hotel and a woman with a suitcase has just let herself in with a key - don’t know who was more shocked her or us! We didn’t have any clothes on but were under the sheets thank god. I was sleeping so deeply it took me a second to realise what was going on. Never had this happen before in my life, and after everything that happened with Premier Inn I thought hotels would be even more diligent about security.

Phoned reception and she was more concerned with getting our details than actually apologising. It wasn’t a mistake with the key, the woman was told that this was her room. I’ve never worked in a hotel, but how could this happen? We checked in in person last night and signed for the room. Already paid when booking unfortunately. Surely the system should have known this room was occupied?

We’ve bolted the door now and it obviously won’t happen again tonight, but I doubt I’ll be able to go back to sleep now...

• [Correction at OP's request - the security incident mentioned was at a Travelodge hotel, not a Premier Inn]

Omg that's scary

Why didn't you secure the door when you went to bed?
Do you leave your front door unlocked at home?

That said, the hotel need to look into why it has happened.

Have you stayed in Premier Inns before? The door was already locked, you can’t just walk in. Someone can only get in by using a key eg keycard.

I travel a lot for work. I always take one of those rubber door wedge things with me. I have stayed in chain hotels though where there is no way of locking the door from the inside to prevent entry with a key. It’s not common but it can happen.

Wasn't it Travelodge that was mainly in the news for this? I think you need to talk to reception about why this happened and ask for a refund.

Why is it Scary?
A woman with a suitcase wouldnt be a threat.

I have stayed in a Premier but usually I try to go for Holiday Inn.
All doors have had a way to lock from the inside, be it a turn lock, a chain, or a rigid chain type arrangement.
And yes, a key card allowed entry but they weren't locked from the inside. If they had been, I wouldn't have got in the room.

Only place that wasn't lockable from the inside was a Travelodge. On that occasion I barricaded the door with chairs. That wasn't a restful night!

You should definitely demand a refund. They failed in their fundamental service because having made this mistake you now can't sleep.

I was the unfortunate "other guest" in a cockup like this once. I arrived at the hotel after midnight and the normal reception staff were clearly not on duty, there was just a security guard who very obviously didn't know what he was doing and kept me waiting around for half an hour while he bumbled and eventually gave me a keycard and a room number, and then I went to the room and it was occupied by a lone woman asleep in bed. After another half hour of bumbling he accompanied me to a different room and went in first himself to check it was empty. It was a horrible experience for all concerned.

It happened to us once but the other way round, we were given the key card and found the room already occupied. We went back to reception and got it sorted but you’d think it wouldn’t be possible to issue key cards to an occupied room.

Well of course it’s scary to have someone walk into your hotel room in the middle of the night!

Oh come on, if you are fast asleep and anyone enters your hotel room it would set off your anxiety and fight / flight response it’s human nature.

I’ve had this happen and I’ve met people it happened to as well. Hotels accidentally give out occupied rooms. I always use the bolt on the door every minute I am in the room now. It’s terrifying to have a random man just walk right into a space you feel is your own.

I've worked in hotels, it's easily done. V easy to activate a keycard. Staff don't always know who's in which room. All they have is a list on a screen. Things get missed at staff change over.System slow to update. Not paid enough to care etc etc That's why it's safer to stay in smaller-owned B & Bs. If you've ever worked in a hotel you certainly wouldn't stay in one! And yes, always use the internal lock or bring a door wedge.

Premier Inn need to refund your costs and explain how this occurred and compensation and a written apology. If not write or email their Chief Executive.

This is appalling service especially with media attention with Travelodge at Maidenhead.

A number of years ago we were on holiday with friends and they had an adjoining room with double doors and at 0300hrs a couple of drunk males smashed through these doors into their room as they both lay naked in bed. The males were ejected from the hotel but the receptionist at check out did not seem to understand how serious this incident was!

This happened to my husband in a hotel when he was naked on the toilet having a poo! The other man was very drunk and belligerent and kept insisting it was his room. Poor husband said it was horrible being barged in on at your most vulnerable 😆

This. But I have noticed when I stay in hotels they quite often have a second lock on the doorknob and I lock this as well. Just in case someone's swipecard can open my door.

Peak mn. Of course a woman with a suitcase could be a threat. It’s mostly men but not only men who commit violent crime.

Have you ever stayed in any hotel?

Yes 🤣
Often. Thanks for asking.

I worked reception in a large city centre hotel 30 years ago and I don’t ever remember it happening. Probably helped by the fact that it was keys not key cards .

I stayed in a Holiday Inn once and the night guard let himself in to my room with an electronic key. I was a much younger woman, sleep naked and felt very vulnerable.

I’m in a Travelodge right now. Always use a rubber door stop now.

Waking up to any stranger in your room is likely to be scary for most women. It'll take a few moments for your brain to compute what is happening and banish the fear.
It's also scary that this can happen at all. Suppose the 'intruder' was an opportunist who turned the situation to his advantage and stole your money or, worse, attacked you?

Side note, but how can so many people sleep naked in a hotel room. I would worry too much about the fire alarm going off! I always take my best pyjamas just in case!

😱 Was it accidental or was he a creep?

I have a friend who works for one of the main hotel chains.
Doors can be bolted from the inside. Customers who are mistakenly given an already occupied room cannot enter with a key card if the door is bolted