To request my complimentary stay after all these years

[ElsieandMavis]

I had a really disappointing stay at a hotel about 10 years ago. When I complained to the manager, she was really apologetic and offered me a complimentary 3 night stay as a gesture of goodwill and to give them the opportunity to show me the usual quality of their product.

For various reasons, I never went back to her to arrange the complimentary stay.

AIBU to contact her now after 10 years to redeem my freebie? If so, how should I word the email request? I’ve checked that the same manager is still in charge at the hotel.

You've been caring for chocolate and supporting the continued employment of actors and reality stars. Sterling work that should be valued by random people behind a hotel reception desk 10 years ago.

and I thought I was just being a tub of lard when it was really important philanthropic endeavours

then its always worth asking

I’ve done similar-ish. A rearranged night in a fancy yurt type thing, with three course meal in the restaurant and use of traditional wood fired hot tub. Annoyingly, the rearranged night was exactly the night that Boris banned everything. So the place had to close its doors

Several years pass us by and I contacted them and they were more than happy to book us in last year. Not quite ten years I suppose but if there’s no expiry date then it’s worth a try!

Just blame covid. It works for all the utility and insurance companies when I try to call them and speak to a human but end up with a “due to these unprecedented times we are unable to take your call as quickly as possible - please use our website and talk to a Bot”

Especially Long Covid

I think you should explain this in your letter, and ask if these needs can be accommodated during your stay. Having endured the horrors of your first experience with them, I think you're entitled to demand an optimal environment if you risk returning.

I like your thinking. Suspected PTSD as a result of the first stay?

I don't think you should overlook that potentially rich seam to be mined.

I'd love to be there on Day 3 when you, me and the hotel owner get pissed together until 5am and decide on our next wizard wheeze.

Maybe 3 days isn’t enough to adequately compensate for my trauma?

Just honest…

Only you know the absolute depths of your despair and distress. It would be crass of her not to acknowledge your pain.

Yes, it is just you. No need to bow and scrape to them.

I have got to say -I think this is completely unreasonable. Why now? And do you know the state of the hospitality industry now . . . Ten years later.

I went to my bank ten years ago and they gave these vouchers that promised me something. I haven't used them yet - do you think they'll still honour them?
I can'r remember exactly what it says on them, something like 'promising to pay the bearer'.

Your bank will exchange them for you, because they're nice and kind and customer focused like that (and legally obliged to do so), but you won't be able to spend them elsewhere.

I mean, I think there is definitely some brazen CFery here, but I love it!

If I was the manager I'd definitely honour it just for having the balls to ask 🤷‍♂️. Especially as I hadn't date ranged the offer in the first place

No harm in asking though?

Just get on with it, op. I don’t know why women are always having to seek permission from others (even though I am exactly the same).

@ElsieandMavis have you actually asked yet? The suspense is too much!

🤣

Just email her now. Reply to the original and ask

The deed is done but I got an OOO reply as she is on annual leave.

I just hope you Vipers haven’t been leading me astray 😊

Just reply to the email she sent you.

she might not notice the date

From reading some of these replies, you'd think the manager was being asked to pay for the stay out of her own pocket. 😆