Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hotel lost my children in booking

133 replies

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:18

AIBU or should they apologise properly? Long I know but it has all the facts…
as a family we recently visited a moderately priced hotel chain near London for 3 nights… booked as 2 adults, 2 children. All booked, double checked the confirmation email, all good. I called weeks ahead to enquire about car park to be told it would be sorted on arrival. Well we didn’t arrive until just before midnight (5 hour drive for us) and car park was locked (fair enough) but a well weathered sign over the intercom saying car park full… panicking a bit I called the hotel, they said they’d check and hung up. A bit confused I called again where they hung up again… a couple of minutes of waiting a member of staff arrived complaining we hadn’t pre booked parking, I explained what I was told previously but he looked annoyed. He checked the car park and let us in (loads of space I might add) and said quite sternly I must pay for parking right away. QR code located to pay for car parking, it would let you progress so far… then error. Tried again, error. So headed to check in where I mentioned the car park as to where another employee pulled out his phone, bought up the app, waved it at me saying what was my problem? It works! I explained you had to progress further through the booking in to which he realised I was actually in fact correct and backed down. Eventually the original staff member then processed my car park manually through the computer. Next problem, booking in seemed to take ages… bear in mind it was now after midnight, a very tired hubby and children, all hanging around in the lobby. Finally got our key, top floor, headed up, no children’s bed or bedding. So back down 10 floors to the lobby and asked the staff why my children’s beds weren’t set up and no bedding, to which his reply was “you only booked a room for 2 adults madam”. Being on the ball I whipped out my phone and showed him my email clearly showing 2 adults and 2 children. He analysed it and then backed down and said he would get some bedding. So at 12.30 am I’m in our hotel room pulling out a sofa bed and making up beds for my kids who were at this point absolutely shattered. Had a weak apology from the staff member who was helping but still felt like he thought I was trying to diddle them. This problem then arose every morning at breakfast and we were being eyeballed for having two children with us when the booking was for only two adult breakfasts. I did question the booking again midway through our break because I was fed up of getting embarrassed in front of staff and other guests having to prove each time that this was not our error, and was told it was a technical glitch. The response from the hotel was extremely limited and offered us preferential accommodation and breakfast on our next visit (this was a once in a blue moon thing for us, definitely no more trips planned for a while)…. But that’s not what I want.. I just want an actual apology for being made to feel the way my family did whilst there. AIBU?

OP posts:
Pillarsofsalt · 11/03/2025 16:21

what hotel was this? (sharpening my pencil)

or if you don’t want to say… is it a well known budget chain by any chance?

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:24

Pillarsofsalt · 11/03/2025 16:21

what hotel was this? (sharpening my pencil)

or if you don’t want to say… is it a well known budget chain by any chance?

It’s not a budget one like premier inn or Travelodge… I little bit more upmarket but not anywhere near mega bucks

OP posts:
ChocolatePodge · 11/03/2025 16:30

That sounds an incredibly stressful experience for what was supposed to be a nice break, I'd certainly never stay there again even with "preferential accommodation" so an apology seems like the least they could do. But I would be putting my thoughts on every review page possible to pre warn other families travelling

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:35

It wasn’t the nicest experience 😔 every time you had eyes looking at you and other guests making faces in their little groups as if to say “she’s trying to pull a fast one” when actually I was totally in the right. Making beds up past midnight wasn’t much fun either 🙄

OP posts:
Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:38

ChocolatePodge · 11/03/2025 16:30

That sounds an incredibly stressful experience for what was supposed to be a nice break, I'd certainly never stay there again even with "preferential accommodation" so an apology seems like the least they could do. But I would be putting my thoughts on every review page possible to pre warn other families travelling

I have contemplated what I’d put on their review page but giving them the benefit of the doubt that my 2nd email to them (and requested it go further to head office) might prompt a more empathic view and a proper apology - they even blamed a language barrier as most of their employees don’t speak English as their first language??? Not sure why they put that in

OP posts:
AnSolas · 11/03/2025 16:45

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:38

I have contemplated what I’d put on their review page but giving them the benefit of the doubt that my 2nd email to them (and requested it go further to head office) might prompt a more empathic view and a proper apology - they even blamed a language barrier as most of their employees don’t speak English as their first language??? Not sure why they put that in

How odd, are they going with its your fault that they did nor select employees who could communicate in english?
Or hoping to prompt a "racist outburst" which they can use to ignore the problems they created?

EnglishGirlApproximately · 11/03/2025 16:47

This sounds very much like the Mercure at Heathrow! Very similar experience last time I stayed there.

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:47

AnSolas · 11/03/2025 16:45

How odd, are they going with its your fault that they did nor select employees who could communicate in english?
Or hoping to prompt a "racist outburst" which they can use to ignore the problems they created?

I’m not really sure what angle they were hoping to go at with the whole language barrier comment…. I had no problem speaking or communicating with any member of staff at any time, everyone’s English was very good imo. Just think it was a rather weird assumption for them to make 🤔

OP posts:
Waterlilysunset · 11/03/2025 16:51

Sounds like a pain but tbh you keep mentioning the time being around midnight. Sounds like you arrived quite late at night so that parts on you? If you’d arrived at 7pm and spent 30 mins fannying around that would be a pain but the reason you’re doing it at 12:30 is cause you arrived late at night?

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:55

Waterlilysunset · 11/03/2025 16:51

Sounds like a pain but tbh you keep mentioning the time being around midnight. Sounds like you arrived quite late at night so that parts on you? If you’d arrived at 7pm and spent 30 mins fannying around that would be a pain but the reason you’re doing it at 12:30 is cause you arrived late at night?

That’s a fair point - we travelled up after the kids finished school and the fact it was after midnight was totally on us… but I think I’d have still found it frustrating if it happened earlier in the day (we just wouldn’t have been so tired)

OP posts:
EmmaMaria · 11/03/2025 17:02

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:24

It’s not a budget one like premier inn or Travelodge… I little bit more upmarket but not anywhere near mega bucks

Slightly similar, but I am with you that hotels in general have utterly rubbish booking systems / customer service. I am disabled. I book a room for people with disabilities. I also phone to ensure that (a) they have seen that I have booked a room for people with disabilities and (b) to ensure they read the bit that says I have a service dog with me. 9/10 I arrive - no disabled room booked, someone is already in it (often somebody who doesn't have a disability - and I don't mean that it's a hidden one, I mean the hotel just treat them all as "rooms"), and I may or may not have an argument about "no dogs allowed" (about 50% of the time). How f*g hard is it to READ the forms that you, as a business, designed to help you get people in the right rooms and GET THEM IN THE RIGHT ROOMS????? I literally throw loads of aids that I should not even need in the car every time now because I expect to end up in a room that I will struggle with and not the one I booked. There is one hotel near Manchester airport that I now use 3/4 times a year because they are the only one that always get my booking right. Anywhere else and I am taking my life in my hands booking a hotel....

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 17:06

EmmaMaria · 11/03/2025 17:02

Slightly similar, but I am with you that hotels in general have utterly rubbish booking systems / customer service. I am disabled. I book a room for people with disabilities. I also phone to ensure that (a) they have seen that I have booked a room for people with disabilities and (b) to ensure they read the bit that says I have a service dog with me. 9/10 I arrive - no disabled room booked, someone is already in it (often somebody who doesn't have a disability - and I don't mean that it's a hidden one, I mean the hotel just treat them all as "rooms"), and I may or may not have an argument about "no dogs allowed" (about 50% of the time). How f*g hard is it to READ the forms that you, as a business, designed to help you get people in the right rooms and GET THEM IN THE RIGHT ROOMS????? I literally throw loads of aids that I should not even need in the car every time now because I expect to end up in a room that I will struggle with and not the one I booked. There is one hotel near Manchester airport that I now use 3/4 times a year because they are the only one that always get my booking right. Anywhere else and I am taking my life in my hands booking a hotel....

As you have quite rightly put it… what’s the point of filling in sections on a booking if no one is actually going to diddly squat about it… and in your case it’s even more important they get those things right. After I was told mid break “it was a glitch in the system” I was informed my kids had been added onto my booking using a comments box, that apparently no one will ever see. Awesome. 🙄

OP posts:
TwattyMcFuckFace · 11/03/2025 17:11

Did you make it clear when they said they'd sort out the parking on arrival that you've be arriving at midnight?

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 17:13

TwattyMcFuckFace · 11/03/2025 17:11

Did you make it clear when they said they'd sort out the parking on arrival that you've be arriving at midnight?

Yes, with all travelling with kids I always double check parking arrangements and I had explained the time circumstances on my initial call to them but they said pre booking wasn’t an option… parking is dealt with on arrival.

OP posts:
EmmaMaria · 11/03/2025 17:18

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 17:06

As you have quite rightly put it… what’s the point of filling in sections on a booking if no one is actually going to diddly squat about it… and in your case it’s even more important they get those things right. After I was told mid break “it was a glitch in the system” I was informed my kids had been added onto my booking using a comments box, that apparently no one will ever see. Awesome. 🙄

Oddly - I have had that same explanation - that they "don't see" the answers to certain things that they put on the form! Kind of defeats the purpose of putting them there doesn't it? And doesn't explain why following up the booking with a phone call makes no difference - they obviously don't connect the call and the booking.

Being fair, this isn't just a UK thing - it often happens abroad as well. However in most countries (but not all) they bend over backwards to try to put it right. I find that often UK hotels don't much care.

Justsayit123 · 11/03/2025 17:25

Hope you have spoken to the hotel
manager today.

unhingedfoghorn · 11/03/2025 17:25

YANBU. They sound very rude. When I read hotel reviews I always look for words like 'friendly' and 'helpful'. If you can't be that, you've no business working in hospitality IMO. It's the bare minimum. I can cope with mistakes, a mark on a curtain, things running out etc-these things happen-but being addressed as if I am a nuisance when I have chosen to spend my money with you? Nope.

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 17:26

EmmaMaria · 11/03/2025 17:18

Oddly - I have had that same explanation - that they "don't see" the answers to certain things that they put on the form! Kind of defeats the purpose of putting them there doesn't it? And doesn't explain why following up the booking with a phone call makes no difference - they obviously don't connect the call and the booking.

Being fair, this isn't just a UK thing - it often happens abroad as well. However in most countries (but not all) they bend over backwards to try to put it right. I find that often UK hotels don't much care.

Definitely no “bending over backwards” to help here…. As I said, I’d be happy with a genuine sorry but it’s always do hoolie when it followed with “but a system error” and “a language barrier” are just excuses. They don’t seem sorry in the slightest.

OP posts:
Fluffydino21 · 11/03/2025 17:27

If the hotel allows check in 24 hours (presumably) then I don't think you should feel bad about arriving late at night.. that's how it goes with hotels when customers are traveling / flying. They should expect that.

Your frustration is less about the time of day and more that you're all exhausted after traveling and expect them to be ready for you. If you'd set off at 6am and arrived at 6pm and this had all happened it would have been equally unacceptable and frustrating when you just want to get in your room and rest.

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 17:28

Justsayit123 · 11/03/2025 17:25

Hope you have spoken to the hotel
manager today.

Yes, email sent but reply didn’t really cut it for me so replied reiterating how embarrassing and frustrating our stay was and requested that it also got pushed up to head office.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/03/2025 17:28

We once booked 2 rooms at a hotel in Ireland for a wedding. Booked well in advance, but told them we’d be arriving at 10 pm ish (after work flight from London). To be on the safe side, I phoned them on the morning of our arrival, to remind them that we wouldn’t be arriving until at least 10 pm.

Arrived at 10 ish - they’d given our rooms away!

If anything, Irish friends waiting for us in the bar were even more livid than we were!

Never again will I ever book a Jury’s Inn!

jellyfishperiwinkle · 11/03/2025 17:29

I'd just leave them an honest review but wouldn't hold my breath for an apology.

crockofshite · 11/03/2025 17:30

Itsalwaysmeyaknow · 11/03/2025 16:38

I have contemplated what I’d put on their review page but giving them the benefit of the doubt that my 2nd email to them (and requested it go further to head office) might prompt a more empathic view and a proper apology - they even blamed a language barrier as most of their employees don’t speak English as their first language??? Not sure why they put that in

The bit about the language barrier is absolutely bloody hilarious !! I can't believe they used that as an excuse.

Please name and shame the hotel. I want to make sure I never go there.

LouiseAG · 11/03/2025 17:31

EnglishGirlApproximately · 11/03/2025 16:47

This sounds very much like the Mercure at Heathrow! Very similar experience last time I stayed there.

This happened to us at a the Mercure Sheffield too

GreenPinkYellowOrange · 11/03/2025 17:31

Copy and paste your OP and the email response onto TripAdvisor. Warn others.

Swipe left for the next trending thread