Hotel has told us there will be no power from 11am-5am

[Geometry88]

OH and I have booked a night away at a 5 star spa hotel in a few days' time (£400 for bed and breakfast including spa access).

The hotel have emailed to say due to an emergency they need to re-boot their power systems so there will be no power throughout the hotel from 11pm to 5am. They say they have selected this time in the hope guests will be asleep.

They are being very casual about it but IMO we are paying a lot of money and I don't expect there to be a 6 hour power cut ! We are rarely asleep before midnight, will be wanting to charge our phones overnight, and I don't expect to be stumbling around in the dark if I wake up in the middle of the night needing the toilet.

According to the T&Cs it's too late to cancel but I think we should have the choice to given the circumstances? I'm thinking as a minimum we should be offered some form of compensation on point of principle? Or even being able to reschedule to the following evening (which might work ok for us) at the same cost?

This would 100% bother me. If I was staying I a hotel I alway stay up till after 12-1am watching TV/ reading a book. I wouldn't expect to have to go to bed early and loosing most of the night because I can't watch TV or have any lighting etc. I'd be asking to cancel or reschedule.

Is it really that big a deal. They have told you about it, so forewarned is forearmed. You can still plug your phones in, so they will charge once the electric is back on. No need to stumble around, as you have a torch on your phone, or can take one with you. They have to do it and that is the most suitable time

Surely they’re breaking the contract?
It’s jot you cancelling or not turning up - they are not providing part of your break that you’ve paid for because of the things they’ve said they’re providing.

Therefore, asking them to reschedule for you shouldn’t be a problem.

I'm pretty laidback and hate putting people to any trouble. However I wouldn't accept this at all. Or I would, but would expect a discount of some kind.

I haven't had a go at anyone, lol.

This is a discussion board - for discussing things. It would be pretty boring if nobody ever debated anything!

Glad you got it sorted @Geometry88 🙂

Loving all the posters who are saying "just use a torch or your phone to find the loo in the middle of the night". It's a £400 per night luxury hotel not a fucking camp site! 🙄😆Plus I might want to watch TV after 11pm, or read a book in the early hours, and for £400 per night I want the option to do so

Good that it's sorted out. YANBU.

If it was a Travelodge I'd be OK with it, but not a £400 a night 5 star hotel.

At that price and expected level of luxury, they should be prepared to book any guests who want it into a different hotel, at the original hotel's expense.

I'm glad you have sorted it OP, I was going to say I would look to move it as sometimes these maintenance works can have a habit of overrunning and it could spoil your time in the spa the day after if water isn't heated up to temperature etc.

I also wouldn't been keen on trying to sleep in a hotel room with no AC/heating, or that perhaps has an internal toilet getting smelly without the extract fans working and no windows to open. It's something I might put up with at a Travelodge but for £400 quid a night? nope.

The sky was pretty grey here today!!!!! 😉

I cannot believe how many people think it’s acceptable to be without electricity from 11 pm when you’re paying £400 a night. I couldn’t afford that but if I could, I certainly wouldn’t be scrambling to get ready for bed early with my torch next to me. I’d want to enjoy the facilities, have some drinks in the bar and perhaps a late night relaxing bath. If it was a romantic night, I might want to spend time with my partner (!) and not rush so we can be ready for the darkness at 11.01 pm. It’s not that late and even for the early to bed crew, plenty of people choose not to have an early bed time on a special occasion when they’ve spent a huuuuuge sum of money. OP, glad it’s sorted, hope you enjoy!🙂

Just to clarify, I don't actually leave it charging overnight, I meant I'd plug it in when I got back to the room and unplug it once charged (and expect this to generally be after 11pm).

Unfortunately my phone is 5 years old so the battery life is terrible.

I applaud this remark. It's getting ridiculous on here.

OP is not at home and could make do in an emergency. That would be reasonable. Instead OP is spending a very large amount of money on a special occasion for one night only. She is entitled to expect a special experience, not one that involves deprivation of power, light, heating, mini bar and internet for starters.

They should have closed, very cheeky.

@Harriyet I lived in wild country for a while. Back up generator since the electricity often went off. Plenty of candles but you need loads to read by and could cook on the wood burner (and did for 2 months). Took my laptop and mobile down to nearby town if the electric didn't come back on and the generator needed kickstarting. Worrying too as smoke alarms were wired in. As a night owl I needed a radio at night. Cold baths. What I wouldn't want is to pay £400 a night for the privilege of living that all over again when I wanted a tad of luxury.

I'm glad OP has got it sorted.

This is insane. How are they going to make sure anyone getting up in the night doesn't trip up for example? I'm pretty sure having no power would be described as negligent by insurers and invalidsyr their public liability cover

You can take a power an for phones.

Treat is as a rationale for lovely sleep. Really how many people are awake at a Spa in those hours?

I would expect to be in the bar at 11pm. 😁 This isn't on at all.

It is absolutely hilarious that you should have to justify charging your phone on this thread. Of course you have a right to be pissed if there is no power. Clearly, the hotel agree as they have willingly changed your booking. I hope you have a good time OP and enjoy the complimentary electricity.

@Kpo58 so they need to leave their phones if they're going out? Stumble home in the dark, no room service? No mini bar? No light?Will the room doors unlock, do the lifts work?
Absolutely no acceptable. This is a known disturbance. They should be offered choice of a refund, a discount, or reschedule. I would not accept this.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable. The hotel are extremely cheeky and trying it on. Not a chance in hell I would accept this. Refund. Refund. Refund

Why shouldn't you leave your phone plugged in overnight? I thought that's what everyone did?

I can't believe the amount of posters who think your night finishes at 11pm. This isn't Wednesday evening at home, this is a £400 luxury getaway. For that money I'd expect electricity! Now if it happened whilst you was there that's different.
Also, it's not emergency work. It's been deliberately scheduled. My guess is they knew about this way before they let you know. Why did they not tell you sooner?
Hope you paid on your Credit Card. You do not need to justify expecting electricity. Outrageous.

I would say that you have to get up several times in the night and you would like to know how they can guarantee your safety with no electricity I the can't you should demand a refund a book elsewhere

My husband uses a cpap over night because of sleep apnea so would be impossible for us to stay without power.

What if OP needs more power/light than that, e.g. to read or go online?

Why would she volunteer to pay £400 for all that faff when she can just change her booking to the next night?

So, having shelled out for the hotel, she has to shell out again for a battery pack which she may not use again? Why?