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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stay in a hotel without booking?

262 replies

ps1991 · 01/07/2019 20:19

My husband is away with work in Manchester from yesterday to Thursday, I had planned on travelling tomorrow to stay with him and then come home together on Thursday.

I’m really worried about staying in the hotel he’s at with our baby as the hotel is only booked for him. Will the hotel say anything? I have looked for other hotels locally and can’t find anything that we can afford, especially once we say we have a baby with us 🙄.

Am I right to be worried or will the hotel staff not care?

OP posts:
theworldistoosmall · 02/07/2019 16:09

It will be fine.
Hookers often use hotel rooms. They book a double and have more than one visitor, who will use hot water, towels etc.

And lol at the hotel needing to know the number of guests. Erm how does that work when I am not in the hotel because of whatever? An emergency can happen anytime, I don't know that many people who stay in the room all day. Well apart from hookers!

And as a single person, I always book a double and never get asked the other person name.

sacope · 02/07/2019 16:18

@Grumpymug

What is unbelievable is that you keep track of who is in and out at all times. That you ask them to hand in their keys when they go out? That's unbelievable.

Knowing who should be there is fine; but it makes zero impact in an fire because thankfully the fire service are trained to a higher level than hotel staff in dealing with emergencies.

isthatapugunicorn · 02/07/2019 16:19

Worked in many hotels, they do not care. The price is for the room, regardless of whether one or two people stay. If breakfast is included then there will be a check list at breakfast saying how many people are in the room - you will need to pay extra for brekkie if it is.
You aren't being devious or immoral, your husband has not been given a discount for being a sole occupant.

sacope · 02/07/2019 16:19

It will be fine.

Hookers often use hotel rooms

Hehe. I love how this is your example standard Grin

isthatapugunicorn · 02/07/2019 16:24

As for the 'benefit' argument, as long as the sole purpose is for work then your husband won't have to pay tax or anything else. It doesn't turn it into a 'jolly' over night having you there.
I can' t tell you of the number of clients who bring a partner along when at a conference in a nice city

OralBElectricToothbrush · 02/07/2019 16:25

It's a fucking chain hotel, Grumpy, not a prison camp with the warden taking roll call.

OralBElectricToothbrush · 02/07/2019 16:27

Gawd, just reminded me of why I never stay in B&Bs or small inns, might have a harridan for a keeper. No, thanks. AirB&B or chains all the way.

Grumpymug · 02/07/2019 16:47

@sacope

Only I don't say that do I? I say we do what we can so in the event of a fire, us and the fire service know who is accounted for and unaccounted for - not trapped or still in their rooms but simply not present at the fire point. I've said it's not accurate and I've said that they don't rely on it, people who are unaccounted for might not be there, we're all well aware of this, but there's also the chance they might be and it's extra information for the fire service to use to ensure risk to life is as low as possible - what's so unbelievable about that? I'm not telling them room whatever is trapped, I'm telling them they're unaccounted for, meaning they could be in the pub to the road, or could be trapped in their room, or could have fallen on a fire escape and broken their leg, whatever it turns out to be, they're still unaccounted for aren't they, and could be at risk, which the fire service are better off knowing than not.
If out of for instance, 30 rooms, 10 give their key to reception on the way out, 10 turn up at the fire point and 10 don't then I know that those 10 people are currently unaccounted for and tell them so, out of those 10 that are unaccounted for, they may all be out, or all in their rooms, the point is the fire service are then aware that 10 people are not accounted for and may be in their rooms - they need to be aware of that. It's far better than them arriving and me not having any idea whatsoever about anyone in any of those 30 rooms. Instead of 30 rooms unaccounted for I have 10, because I know 10 are out and 10 are at the evacuation point - that's the whole point of having the guest list in place in the event of a fire.
But yeah, I'll just ring them and let them crack on if there's a next time without making any effort to assist them, because you know, it's unbelievable.

Grumpymug · 02/07/2019 16:53

@OralBElectricToothbrush

Oh, can you point out where I say it's a prison please? I don't fucking think I do actually. And what I'm describing isn't akin to a prison really, it's simply providing information I have on who's there and who's not, which is pretty much standard in any fire situation. But as I've said, I'll just ignore the fact I could provide useful information, and possibly even just let them sniff the fire from the fire station, or a guest can ring them actually, I mean it's unbelievable that I should be expected to give them any kind of information right?

OralBElectricToothbrush · 02/07/2019 17:04

Jesus, all these run on sentences and paragraphs, ranting away. I'd run a mile from an establishment run by someone like this and I travel a lot, mostly for business. Fortunately, I use chains or AirB&Bs with no overlord present. Cannot be fucked with paying some dragon to play the frustrated school marm with me.

sacope · 02/07/2019 17:21

@Grumpymug

I just can't.

I hope the hotel you work in continues to thrive. Is it one or 2 bedroom Grin

Housemum · 02/07/2019 17:36

I stayed with DH for a work event last week - he asked his boss, saying that I was just using the room and obviously not expecting to see DH during day/evening work times. All they asked was that I pay separately for my meals. Clear conscience and all up front

theworldistoosmall · 02/07/2019 17:37

I did annoy hotel staff with a similar set up to Grumpy. I was constantly in and out.
Also annoyed me as there wasn't always someone on the desk so had to wait. People checking in/out, other enquiries etc and had to wait.
Tried leaving with the key, was called back and given a lecture. The first time I did it, someone actually came running after me ffs.

I have stayed in a hotel that had a fire, even if you have let staff know when you leave still didn't help with people trapped in lifts, on the stairs etc. Nor did it give numbers. Like I said I check in alone, that time I had two visitors with me.

Same with hospitals, staff can only account for patients and staff. They cannot account for everyone, and you would hope that fire services knew their job enough to do a thorough check.

TigerTooth · 02/07/2019 17:41

Just go, it’s fine.

IrishGal21 · 02/07/2019 17:47

The fire alarm bit is a worry...it does happen...to me it happened one NYE when I told the hotel I would nt be there that night but changed my mind. I fell deep asleep and had earplugs in...woken up scared stiff when i saw a light and the door open with a man standing there...i just screamed as i was still half asleep...haha it was the manager checking rooms as the fire alarm had gone off.....I didnt even go outside as I was so shaken up

katewhinesalot · 02/07/2019 17:59

i stayed over with a bf once on short notice. He left early to go to work and almost immediately housekeeping arrived to do the room. I was embarrassed at still being there.

amusedbush · 02/07/2019 18:01

DH joined me on a city break earlier this year. The rate I paid was per room so I wasn't doing them out of money.

It did occur to me what would happen if there was a fire, etc but then I realised that it's no different to meeting someone while out at a bar and taking them back to your room.

purplebunny2012 · 02/07/2019 18:22

I did this once, pre-children. I even had DH's breakfast as he didn't have time and it was included

patq1967 · 02/07/2019 18:28

i have done this , we even asked them to put a cot in the room which they did

1forAll74 · 02/07/2019 18:30

Well you have two choices, either to go for it,and not say anything, or let the hotel know what you are doing. Have a good time anyway, as Manchester and Liverpool are good to visit.

exWifebeginsat40 · 02/07/2019 18:35

the hotel knows when you are in your room, because the key card registers that information. they will also have a maximum capacity for insurance purposes.

aside from that, you crack on, OP. just make sure your DH has his story ready for when the hotel invoice arrives in his Accounts department, with additional occupant and a cot clearly noted.

just get him to check with his work. that’s all. not difficult, saves all this pointless what-if-ery.

ImpracticalCape · 02/07/2019 18:41

@exWifebeginsat40 they don't know you are in your room. Your key card opens the door to your room. You don't need it to leave.

The Op has already established the hotel charges a room rate not an occupant rate so your bill scenario isn't going to happen.

PetrichorRain · 02/07/2019 18:46

DH has stayed with me while I’m away for work a few times... as long as we book a double room, the hotel hasn’t minded. But I do always tell them once we get there. But work also doesn’t mind as long as it doesn’t make the room cost more.

PetrichorRain · 02/07/2019 18:47

The maximum capacity will be based on two people in every double room anyway. And almost certainly not count babies! .

exWifebeginsat40 · 02/07/2019 18:48

i know. i just said it knows when you go into your room, as it’s recorded on the magnetic strip. rooms where you need your key card inserted for the lights to work will obviously also then know when you leave.

those key cards record all sorts of things; most of them never used, but recorded nonetheless.

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