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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Leave this hotel room empty

147 replies

katemiddletonsothermum · 03/06/2016 08:37

OK, I've cocked up. I was convinced that a certain event was on a certain data, so I booked a hotel room. I booked it as an advance purchase so it's non cancellable and non transferable.

And now, of course, I discover that this particular event is the week after, so I'm going to have to book ANOTHER hotel room.

If I tell the hotel that I'm not coming on that first week, won't they just keep my money and then rent out the room again? AIBU not to just not turn up? After all, it's my room and I've paid for it. Why are hotel room bookings becoming like train tickets, ie 40 different prices for the same thing?

I could try and explain this to the hotel but I doubt they'd be sympathetic as the confirmation email clearly says that it's non refundable and non transferable

The event is in August so it's not like it's next week. So the hotel would have plenty of time to re-sell my room.

OP posts:
Dizzydodo · 03/06/2016 08:39

I think it would be polite to tell them you weren't coming even though you won't get a refund, especially if you're going to be staying in the same hotel a week later.

londonrach · 03/06/2016 08:39

If you fail to turn up they still resell the room but late. Phone up and talk to them. They might be able to move the week. You nothing to lose by phoning!

CodyKing · 03/06/2016 08:40

Why not use it anyway?

Or sell it yourself online

They usually have a no show clause of someone else turns up - especially some of the chains

TutanKaDashian · 03/06/2016 08:40

I am very sympathetic OP. I would at least try and do a date transfer, even if it says that you can't. Why not, what have you got to lose. And if it's a no, then definitely don't cancel the room. Why should they profit twice!

BigPurpleCake · 03/06/2016 08:40

? why would you not tell the hotel? I don't get what advantage it is to you to have a hotel room empty. You're wanting the hotel to lose out why...?

ReginaBlitz · 03/06/2016 08:41

Just ask them to swap the deposit for the week later..

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 03/06/2016 08:41

I agree. It would be polite. But...

OP posts:
BigPurpleCake · 03/06/2016 08:41

Seems to be some weird anti-hotel sentiment on this thread! Why should they not profit twice? Who cares?

EsmeraldaEllaBella · 03/06/2016 08:42

I would call and ask if they can switch it to next week, you never know

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 03/06/2016 08:42

I paid in full.

So the hotel won't be losing out as I paid the full room rate.

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 03/06/2016 08:43

I'd ring the hotel and see if you can change it. A lot of places are very helpful in situations like this- you want get your money back but you might be able to book it for when you need without a fee or for less than a whole new booking.

Wanting to leave it empty is just petty.

Smooshface · 03/06/2016 08:43

You may as well try, and if you can't then just keep it if you want to. I wonder if you can offer it someone else? Needs to be a website for that

Baconyum · 03/06/2016 08:43

Call them - if it's them you're planning on staying with the following week they'll probably try and help out. Plus if they have your card details and the t&c's of the contract means that no show = full payment you're shooting yourself in the foot.

Call, be polite and honest and you may be very pleasantly surprised (especially with trip advisor now in existence)

Bearbehind · 03/06/2016 08:43

^^ Won't not want

TheVillagePost · 03/06/2016 08:44

The hotel aren't losing out though are they? The room has been paid for! The OP is just stopping them taking advantage which seems fair enough.

runningincircles12 · 03/06/2016 08:44

You're wanting the hotel to lose out why...?

Erm, she is paying for the room, so how are they losing out? You mean they won't have a chance to make a double profit on it? If it really is non-transferrable, I would have no problems just not turning up if you can't be bothered to contact them. If they contact you asking if you are coming, you can always say no. Basically, it's up to you but I would not feel any sort of guilt for not calling them.

Original poster
katemiddletonsothermum · 03/06/2016 08:46

Ok, I'll call them. Just to re-iterate, I've already paid the full room rate so that shouldn't charge me any more.

OP posts:
NapQueen · 03/06/2016 08:46

I work on reception of a hotel. Advanced Purchase usually can't be moved however it's always worth asking. Have you checked they've definitely taken funds yet? If we've not got round to taking the money then we will cancel as there's nothing to refund and we have to justify every refund.

We do have people who just fail to arrive, whether they've prepaid or not, and it's no bother either way - we have the money for the room regardless.

BigPurpleCake · 03/06/2016 08:47

I meant 'losing out' on double payment. What's wrong with the hotel getting paid twice? It is a business. Very petty anti-business sentiment on this thread.

Do you also not bother to tell restaurants when you can't make the booking? Sure, there's no LAW about it but it's hardly laudable behaviour.

NavyAndWhite · 03/06/2016 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bearbehind · 03/06/2016 08:48

All these people saying 'the hotel won't lose out' are pretty self centred IMO.

I've often been helped out in these circumstances and changed a non-cancellable booking without a fee.

If everyone decided not to inform the hotel they won't actually be turning up, the hotels wouldn't have the ability to be helpful where they can.

What if someone really needed to stay the night the OP won't be there but can't as the hotel looks full?

Is a little give and take really too much to ask?

leelu66 · 03/06/2016 08:49

YABU. You paid a cheap rate because you chose a non-refundable rate.

You took a chance that you wouldn't need to cancel the boking and you lost. Suck it up like a grown-up and call the hotel.

Choosing not to let the hotel know you're not coming is petty.

MrsJayy · 03/06/2016 08:50

You are just a bit Blush you booked the wrong date just phone them they might do a shift for you to the next week

MorrisZapp · 03/06/2016 08:51

We paid two hundred dollars once for a shabby hotel room in San Francisco. I hated it so much we checked back out an hour later. Didn't get any money back and the receptionists were delightedly discussing how easy it would be to resell the room even as we stood there.

That was a bloody depressing day.

AugustaFinkNottle · 03/06/2016 08:53

How about if you call and ask them to move it, and imply heavily that if they won't they won't get the booking for the correct night?