To be disappointed that I may not have lunch on Christmas Day?

[Mogs43]

I have booked to stay a week at a nice hotel over Christmas (my father died so I will be alone). I booked full board , which I never normally do, and it was very expensive (over £1,500) but its a treat after a lousy few months (spent last Christmas alone and pretty depressed/suicidal, so swore to do things differently this year).

Anyway I emailed the hotel to ask if I could see the menu for Lunch on Christmas Day (thought it would be nice to see). Last night they responded saying it was fully booked but they might be. able to add me to the cancellation list. They also said there would be no breakfast or other food available on Christmas Day but bar snacks would be available after 8pm!

I queried why the Reservations Team hadn't mentioned this when I had booked ( we had had a long conversation about my plans - I have stayed in the hotel before and the staff were all very friendly). She said I should have been told - she also confirmed that. there is no fridge in the room so I couldn't buy myself any supplies.

I have had a look for restaurants that might be serving lunch on Christmas Day but those that are open are fully booked. The one exception is another hotel but it is for guests staying at the hotel. I am wondering about whether to change hotels - I do normally like the one that I have booked with (it may be a difficult time so having friendly faces around would be nice and the other hotel is unknown/hasn't got as good reviews ) but I would like a lunch on Christmas Day. AIBU to be disappointed/WWYD? Thank you.

This sounds odd. I presume you e tried talking to the hotel manager. If not then I’d try. You are only one person so it seems crazy they can’t fit you in.

That is truly dreadful - why on earth can't they set up a lovely table and bring it to your room if they have booked out the dinning room?

That's not full board!

Surely they've mis-sold it. You've booked full board! I'd be expecting breakfast, lunch and an evening meal. Particularly on Christmas Day!

It's their responsibility to sort this.

@Skyeheather

When you booked did you read the terms and conditions/small print? It should say somewhere that Christmas Day is excluded from standard full board and that this is an extra that needs to be booked and paid for separately.

If you can find somewhere else book it then cancel this reservation. Make sure that the new booking includes everything you want including Christmas Day.

It shouldn't be in the 'small print'. This is the kind of thing that ends up being an unfair contract term. If it was the case that 'full board' doesn't include Xmas day it should have been spelled out clearly to the OP on booking otherwise it's not 'full board'. Plain and simple.

@Skyeheather

When you booked did you read the terms and conditions/small print? It should say somewhere that Christmas Day is excluded from standard full board and that this is an extra that needs to be booked and paid for separately.

If you can find somewhere else book it then cancel this reservation. Make sure that the new booking includes everything you want including Christmas Day.

Something as important as not getting the full allocation of meals being booked should not be hidden in small print and T&C. It should be written in normal sized print and highlighted at the point of booking. Not hidden away.

I'd contact them again and see what can be done because this is not full board whatever they want to call it.

I would change Hotels I think. Crumbs ,£1500 and no lunch on Christmas day? Blow that! A fresh change of scene may be welcome anyway .Sorry for your loss of your Dad .You need a nice break .Try the other Hotel as they may be more accomodating . I have had similar with Restaurants as soon as they know you are a "Regular" You suddenly seem to slip down the list. Hope you have a good Christmas Sending hugs xx

You absolutely MUST speak to a manager asap and get this resolved

Appalling, but I would push for them to fix this.

Full board should be exactly that, including lunch and breakfast.

I once booked a pretty cheap hotel deal over christmas, close to my dads, and went and picked him up - after breakfast. He was there for lunch and afternoon tea, I took him home and got back in time for a light supper.

You've not come back to explain cancellation/lost deposits etc - but if they've sold it as full board and not explained that there's no food, I'd be cancelling and looking for somewhere better.

Oh OP sort this today. They have not been clear. The managers horror story your experience should see you booked for lunch.

I work in a hotel and this would not do - ring and ask to speak immediately to the hotel manager. You’re spending a lot of money! Ask them how they are going to resolve this as it’s THEIR fault for not making this clear on booking

Name and shame this shit hi l who don’t know the meaning of what Full Board is.

You've paid for Breakfast Lunch and DInner ...full board ...they can't expect not to feed you Christmas day !!!
Talk to manager and cancel if it's not sorted

Hotels often make exceptions to full board on special days like Christmas etc, so unfortunately this is completely normal. However, they should have informed you OP, they may well have done so too in your confirmation. Doesn’t make it any less shit for you though. I’d contact them again - maybe mail the general manager, it’s a table for one your after, not 6, and explain your travelling alone and will need to cancel your stay as you will have no choice - but that you really don’t want too and see what they say ?

If they did try to keep the deposit, I'd certainly start throwing bits of consumer protection legislation at them (whatever it is in your jurisdiction). And I daresay a newspaper might be interested in such atrocious hospitality (though, based on experiences this summer where covid was used as an excuse not to clean rooms or even bring soap or towels during a week-long stay- this in an expensive waterfront hotel- I am not convinced hotels are not exactly doing their utmost for guests anymore, despite all the stories about the the industry being on its knees).

If they aren’t feeding you then they’ve miss sold your stay. Isn’t that what full board implies? Breakfast, lunch and dinner?

I would cancel and rebook elsewhere if possible.

As everyone else has said - you’ve booked and paid for full board so expect full board on every day of your stay!

Wow that's ridiculous.

I'm sure they need to provide for you

I would try to find breakfast and xmas dinner somewhere else, even if not that close by, and tell the hotel i expect them to cover the costs of that plus a taxi there and back

That’s not full board is it? They’re taking the piss. I think you should consider your options.

Are you sure they haven't already booked you in automatically as part of your board ?

If not , I'd go mad and ask them what they are doing to rectify it

You should email them and say you accepted my booking for full board. Please confirm what meals you will be providing on Christmas day as part of my full board booking.