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.

Enquiring

I'm sure they can find a side for one extra person of it means keeping a 1500 booking. Very bad from they didn't let you know however I've had the same thing with a posh resort hotel on the summer not making you aware the restaurants do swimming pool needed booked in advance. I think they feel it will put people off and it's too late once you are there. Glad you can cancel though if needed. Im sure the staff at the other hotel will be lovely too and the faces you know may no longer work there or not be on shift anyway.

*space not side

That’s rubbish! Change hotels or cancel. At least at home you can eat nice food. Book into the hotel from Boxing Day

If you’ve paid for full board then that should include all meals every day!

I see your update Op - but they aren't providing any breakfast either! So no breakfast, no lunch and just bar snacks from 8 pm. They are taking the piss - to not provide food for paying guests is completely unacceptable. I would not stay there on those terms, you need to be able to get 3 meals including Xmas lunch or go elsewhere. On Xmas day I wouldn't want to be stuck in my room with lunch either. I'd want a nice table where I could enjoy my lunch, order drinks when I wanted them, and generally soak up the atmosphere.

@Ilikegherkins

Did they realise you are booked at the hotel when you emailed them. They may have thought you were ensuing about just booking Christmas lunch?

Just a thought

💐

The answer is in Op's original post.

On Xmas day I wouldn't want to be stuck in my room with lunch either. I'd want a nice table where I could enjoy my lunch, order drinks when I wanted them, and generally soak up the atmosphere.

This, you deserve to have a liver service experience not be say alone at a hotel desk. Don't let them palm you off with this

Name and shame the hotel. Surely if you have booked full board you should legally expect that.

You could have a sun holiday in the Canaries for that price!!

Cancel, go to somewhere better for Christmas eve and Christmas day. Spend your £1500 at the Ritz, The Lowry in Manchester, the Bath spa, the Grosvenover in Chester etc. Ring around until somewhere is delighted to serve you. I would stay at home otherwise and buy a feast from Marks and a new handbag. X

Hang on if it’s full board is that not meant to include all your meals? YANBU at all. Cerys trance of the hotel to book you in r full board and not mention that they won’t be providing it on a key date

Full board actually means dinner, bed, and breakfast. However, I don't kniw of a hotel that would take a booking for Christmas and not check if you were wanting Christmas Lunch. Most do packages at Christmas I thought. How bizarre! Cancel if you can.

That'd dreadful, even if they can't squeeze in a table they should be able to provide room service given the circumstances and the fact you have paid full board!! I would send a letter of complaint to the Manager and see what can be done.

Please ask them to clarify how fullboard equates to no food! This is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Please ask for a full refund on the basis that they have failed to deliver and then book somewhere else!

Use the words 'in breach of contract' when you speak to them as full board means full board. Just check the small print of the booking first just in case they have some clause in there. Very shoddy and unthoughtful behaviour.

Room service?? Who wants room service on Xmas Day when the restaurant will be full of people having a good time and wearing stupid paper hats?? Who will lean across from their table to pull your cracker with you and you can probably exchange festive goodwill with.

There's no point going on about breach of contract surely, either they can fit Op in or they can't. I'd be a bit wary of having a table squeezed in somewhere if they are already full, so would be making it clear that I expected to eat in the restaurant with everyone else.
It's free cancellation so there's the answer I guess.

Anyway - they are intending to provide just one meal on Xmas Day - in the evening. That's terrible service. Op doesn't need to ask for a full refund, she has free cancellation up to 24 hours before her booking.

Just checked for you op. Hotel du vin has Christmas package. Suite Henley on Thames £1167, bargain. If you live north try the others in the group. I am booking myself, cheers 🍻

Just remember that there must be a reason there are no bookings available. Every staff member working is missing their own Christmas Day and probably doesn’t want to be there.. staff will be limited so covers will be too. If you didn’t state when booking you wanted meals then don’t be unkind to the person you speak to. Just cancel and go elsewhere.. making sure you book your meals in!

OP first of all I’m so sorry for your loss. Also an orphan and I very much empathise. I feel like these people who should have cared about you and your situation have let you down. I hope you can find somewhere else… Why not try somewhere completely different? New area? Xxx

@Beachbreak2411

Just remember that there must be a reason there are no bookings available. Every staff member working is missing their own Christmas Day and probably doesn’t want to be there.. staff will be limited so covers will be too. If you didn’t state when booking you wanted meals then don’t be unkind to the person you speak to. Just cancel and go elsewhere.. making sure you book your meals in!

the OP booked FULL BOARD

Poor you. The hotel.migyt be good but they're no catering for guests over Christmas:( if you really want to stay there, you could ask on fb to see if anyone would offer you a seat at their Christmas lunch or go help our at a homeless kitchen. Sorry I know maybe not what you ideally want :( I'd maybe stay elsewhere, can you stay near a friend? Hope you sort this out

Cancel saying it was mis sold -full board is FULL board I.e all the meals and not on your own in the room they sound awful if that what they expect you to do!! Take your hard earned money elsewhere

That's disgraceful, especially if there is nothing to state this in the booking terms and conditions. If you've paid full board, surely it's a given you want a meal that day regardless of Christmas!

I'd email manager, state the poor communication, the fact you've paid full board and if there is no dinner on Christmas day then you will be canceling the whole reservation for the week.

I imagine they will accommodate you if faced with a substantial loss of revenue.