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]

That's hardly some insider knowledge 'gotcha' moment. Of course hotel doors can be bolted. Many won't, because they are already locked. And it shouldn't be an issue anyway.

That’s why I always lock the door from the inside and put the chain on in hotels

It was a Travelodge before.

PJs next to the bed.

Years ago I read an interview with Andrea Dworkin, who talked about the time that she was assaulted in her hotel room by a staff member. I was travelling a lot for work at the time, so constantly staying in hotels, and this interview struck me about my vulnerability. I then always locked the door from the inside.

The hotel should never have done this, but also you should protect yourself.

When I stayed at a Radisson a male window cleaner give me a bit of a fright so I closed the curtains, fine. I went into the bathroom to take a shower and a couple checking in were let into my room by a staff member. Unsurprisingly their card hadn't worked on my door! I was frantically shouting through bathroom door that I was there but they weren't leaving. Eventually had to stick my head out to make them to leave.

Reception couldn't care less when I mentioned staff opening the door especially as there was a do not disturb sign. I've had drunk men trying to get into my room on two occasions, luckily security sorted it in both Hilton/Doubletree hotels. It can be an unsettling experience but potentially dangerous.

I always do the extra lock from the inside and use a rubber door stop too.

That really is a horrible experience OP. I thought hotels had improved in this respect since the Travelodge incidents.

At a Premier Inn last month I noted that the receptionist said “here’s your room number” when passing me a keycard rather than saying room number out loud when there was a random bloke behind me.

yes OP silly you for being scared of a woman with a suitcase! Now if it was those twins from The Shining... No threats here at 4 am in your own, paid for, locked hotel room. Toughen up!

These cunty sort of remarks deserve nothing more than a cursory glance.

There have been high profile incidents of women being sexually assaulted by men in Travel Lodges.
Whatever hotel this is ,I’d contact the CEO of the company. I’d want a refund and compensation.
They clearly havnt trained staff sufficiently- it sounds like it was the receptionists fault , but she works for the hotel.

Apart from the women waking you up and startling you, she was also put in a bad position.

This could have been much worse. I’m asked hotel chains havnt leant their lesson about room security.

I’d also tell theCEO that you’ll go to the media if an explanation and compensation isn’t awarded.

It could have been a woman on her own in your from. Someone with bad intentions could have got in.I wouldn’t let this go.

I have heard of it happening before.

My own experience of this was not a hotel but actually my home. A trades person sent by the landlord let himself in with a key while I was there back a long time ago in my first apartment.

I really don’t know, but surely most likely a dangerous man? I would kick up a lot more fuss nowadays but back then I didn’t want to draw my employer’s attention to the fact that I was much more vulnerable than my male colleagues.

You can still bolt a Premier Inn door from the inside so it’s locked to a key card user.

Not at all acceptable and definitely scary. Luckily you have your dh with you and it was a lone woman otherwise ut could have been a different story.
It was Travelodge in the news and if thats where uou are id be going nuclear (CEO etc) ive watched the interviews on what they've done to change it ever happening. Any other chain Id be demanding my money back - easy for Premier inn not sure about ither chains but would also be putting in a complaint.
Once we stayed at a Premier Inn and some drunk guest tried our door, thinking it was theirs. They woke us ip, DH moved them on but I didn't sleep for the rest of the night cos my body had 'gone on alert'. Every little noise had me watching the door.

Wow victim blamer. I’d hate to be a member of your family if something happened to me.

That must have been really scary OP. I would go nuclear on the hotel management for that.

I'm ex cabin crew and I always travel with a rubber door wedge and a portable door lock in my case for hotel rooms.
One of my colleagues years ago was raped in a hotel one night when a member of hotel staff let himself in.
A rubber door wedge will block the door opening and the the portable door lock fits most doors and is extra security. They're only about a fiver on amazon but worth every penny.

My DD laughs when I ask if she has packed hers when travelling but the peace of mind it gives you is immense.

This is so boring now. Just lock the door ffs! I have never NOT locked the door in the gazillion times I have stayed in a hotel.

It’s fairly irrelevant that they didn’t lock the door. It shouldn’t have happened.
what if one of them was out late and the other went to bed, they wouldn’t lock the door then but should reasonably expect a stranger to not walk in.
also irrelevant that it was a lone woman, it could easily have not been.

You what??

In the old days the hotel reception would have had a metal key for every room hanging on a hook, and so this couldn’t have happened.

So sneery and rude

OP, ignore all the know it alls who are trying to somehow blame you! They would be shitting themselves in the same position.

Yep, we have had this happen twice and in the small hours. We were stood outside for almost two hours while the fire service emptied all fhe rooms and dealt with the cause. Definitely wear PJs now.

Also, on the OPs issue, definitely request a refund and an explanation as to how it happened.

This happens far more often than it should. I always use the chain and door locks so at least the person can’t get in. It’s also why you should always use the safe.

If it happened once it could happen again, maybe next time it would be a nutter?