Woken by hotel staff

[HotelStrangers]

I've been at an important 2-day work meeting further from home than usual. Due to a long-term condition, which causes fatigue, I booked myself into a Travelodge overnight to avoid a bit of commenting (me paying, not work).
At check-in the lovely staff gave me a 'quiet room' when I explained the reason for the stay. By 9.30-10pm I was asleep, yay (despite it being like a sauna).
Then at 11.30pm I woke as a stranger was walking into my room! I jumped out of bed and shouted to get out. They did and I barricaded the door assuming I'd forgotten to put the snitch down (was sure I had).
Was just drifting off again when abput 11.55 there was banging on the door. Got up asked through the door if they were wanting me, yes. Had to open the door to a male staff member. I was stood there, bleary eyed, in just a 'Should not be seen in public' nightie, and had to confirm my identity. He said a brisk 'sorry for waking you' and when I said I was already awake as had had a stranger in my room 25 mins earlier he confirmed it was another member of staff as there had been a room mix-up. He seemed a bit annoyed.
No idea why they didn't call my phone and that they had to take my name with me there not dressed, face to face.

I'm now fully awake, hoping they're not coming back, regretting having booked this room, wishing I'd just done the driving, and dreading being exhausted in the meeting tomorrow.

I've just sent an email to the only email address I could find for Travelodge.

Am I unreasonable to complain?
(If I disappear will be due to trying to sleep)

I'd be very annoyed. You can get a lock or a door wedge for next time you book a room.

Will definitely be doing that from now on.
Unfortunately they were so keen to have me awake and talking they banged on the door the 2nd time. I probably should have refused to open it.

Yeah I'd be requesting a refund from this. I once checked in to a Travelodge as a lone female, a leery receptionist/caretaker gave me a bad feeling by watching me as I unpacked the car, the door didn't have a chain either. I checked out pretty much immediately and requested a refund through customer services. Fully refunded. Another hotel I stayed in gave me the key card to another room and I walked in to what I thought was my room, and was met with a very angry naked man and his terrified wife...fully refunded.

Going to try and get more sleep. Anticipating being exhausted when 'presenting' in front of head of section/department tomorrow not helping sleep come

Hope you get some sleep, it’s still probably better than commuting first thing. In the morning I would speak to a manager. It’s incredibly concerning what happened and those staff need to account for themselves. I once stayed in a hotel who phoned my room at 8pm for no real reason and woke my baby. The manager was very apologetic in the morning and refunded my room service bill as an apology.

OMG! Feeling for you and the naked man + wife.
Just remembered my last Travelodge stay for work, a while ago. Older, rather run down, building with keys for doors still. Went to my room, began to unpack, then realised I was in wrong room. Went to correct room opposite and key opened that door too. Turned out they'd given me the master key which could open any door in the building. Took it straight back and explained. Had to move rooms again as correct key couldn't be found.
Didn't complain as had a decent sleep at least

I hope you were able to get back to sleep.

I saw this recommended on a TV programme.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DoorJammer-DJ3-Portable-Security-Protection/dp/B07HM7X6TT/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pU7qFs7L0YBifRcRrfYHfsCAm6hyZyZBR1IA_PcwVH6PNv-UWQuJD_bNXY9ys4xF6n_vHXoesrVibJY_-g7rfcDM4QYWCQI4dHzhn7fE6S9cSj1TOpZFO39BeGqGjOdRX401oeIrWp7mh5nQn-bQWLfia4BVXapEnQy0jNGFgLVS05FXDXXdsDngqr_PDfq9cYoCc3iwWXYA9i5dbaocIXMtP2af8D63PN7hPCj_207mF1Mk0TZiouefltSEDIKbm-4xqOsdI4abjMEQg8PnYNhHS97vz-DHUieJw1m4NzI.jbRptoWou70tOuSshthguI4hzyH1foZd08K-pr6vMWY&dib_tag=se&keywords=door%2Bjammer&qid=1743730304&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

I've stayed in a lot of hotels and for me, "you get what you pay for" is pretty accurate.

Also, I would not open the door to a male staff member again. Tell them to call you at your room phone number.

Unfortunately there's no phone in the room

Well thy've made sure I don't sleep in as the bins were having stuff thrown in then slammed outside my window from 6.30am. Lovely loud metallic echoing bangs as an alarm call.

Travelodge in general are rubbish but if that's what's available, then sometimes there's not much choice. My gut feeling is the room reception gave you is probably used for staff, or was going to be used for staff. There's no other explanation as to why someone walked in or why you were woken by banging on the door. I would be complaining in the morning.

@BigHeadBertha actually lying here, woken early by the staff, was thinking about your phrase "you get what you pay for". It doesn't apply here. There are basic minimum standards.
Not having staff let themselves into your room in the middle of the night is one.
A second is knowing a woman is sleeping alone in a room (because you just barged in on her) not sending a man up to bang on her door and ask her to open it.
Whether you pay £1 or £1000 these things shouldn't happen.

This sort of thing can happen anywhere, years ago I was taken to a hotel room that already had a sleeping guest it, it was by no means a cheap hotel. Luckily it wasn't me who was rudely awoken from sleep but I know the man who wasnt paying Travel lodge prices

I'd definitely complain and expect a refund.

Yes it’s not uncommon , we stayed in a travel lodge in London and were woken in the small hours by staff arriving / changing shift whatever .

This is utterly scary and unacceptable! I am a tad dramatic and very anxious person, I would have called the police!! It is a very dangerous situation and being disturbed twice is crazy! I would definitely report this to Travelodge, the manager and the police. They need to investigate this thoroughly and obviously refund you.
Ps: never open your hotel room door in the middle of the night!

What coming into your bedroom in the night?

This is surprisingly common. It’s why I always use the safe and chain lock on hotel rooms, and have DND on the door unless I want housekeeping.
I would be asking for a refund though. Irrespective of the chain lock because ultimately the noise would’ve still woken you as would the banging. What’s the point in a hotel room if you’re twice woken in your night!?

I wouldn't be leaving without a full refund. They ruined your night'a sleep and made the whole purpose of paying for a room redundant.

Yes, surprisingly common, my DH walked into ‘his’ room to find another person lying on the bed. I would be hugely freaked out if someone walked in on me.

Well OP didn't pay for a random man to let himself in to her room!

Maybe that sort of thing goes on in an upmarket establishment no questions asked, but in a Travelodge? No thank you!

I agree with others. Insist on an apology and a full refund.

As to the ‘should not be seen in public’ nightie though, that’s on you. It’s common sense to sleep in something sensible in a hotel in case of a fire alarm and evacuation during the night. The priority would be getting out quickly, not looking for pj’s/clothes to put on, or standing around in the corner in a see through nightie muttering about the situation.

The police!? What on earth do you expect they’d have done?? 😂

OP you’d have been better reading a book or having a bath than spending an hour staring into your phone typing lengthy mumsnet posts and emails to travelodge

I'm very sorry you didn't get the night sleep you were hoping for.

Reminds me of the time my just pregnant/shattered/nauseous DD and I drove over 9 hours for her to take an important final, all day exam early the next day.

It was a Travelodge attached to a pub/restaurant. From the bedroom window I noticed we were very near to the back door of the pub and that the huge recycling glass bottle bins were only about 10 ft away from our window.

During dinner I got chatting to the bar man, (who was from our neck of the woods!) and mentioned the bins and said we were both exhausted and really needed a good night sleep, and that we had another very busy day tomorrow and I was worried about the glass being tipped in the bins at the end of the evening...(ex barmaid here who knew the evening clean up routine)
I was reassured that they operated a 'quiet policy'.

Ha bloody Ha!

1am! We both woke with a start at the almighty noise of someone emptying the bottles into the bins! Then chatting, shouting, door banging and general noise by the staff for ages.
I was pumped full of adrenaline from the shock of the noise and didn't get back to sleep for hours. Luckily DD managed to drift off again sooner.
The manager the next morning couldn't have been less interested if she'd tried.

The very long return journey was awful.

On complaining Travelodge gave me a voucher for 50% off another stay. We never used it.

My DD passed her exam!

Do complain and demand a refund. Make it clear that you weren’t just disturbed, you were scared.