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AIBU?

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Original poster

Woken by hotel staff

207 replies

HotelStrangers · 04/04/2025 01:16

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)

OP posts:
JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 04/04/2025 10:32

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:13

The police surely would not be concerned about a staff member accidentally walking into an occupied room and immediately leaving when told to.

Show quote history

It the question is is it accidental. The staff have been warned about this and it has happened again - if this is the same person then it could be for nefarious reasons, some men enjoy scaring women. Plausible deniability only works if no one joins up the dots.

Maitri108 · 04/04/2025 10:42

ClairDeLaLune · 04/04/2025 10:18

Banging was mentioned in the original post. So unless you wrote your comment before that and really are psychic then your sarcasm doesn’t really wash.

I'm not sure what your problem is but I don't work for MN, I addressed what I believed to be the most pressing issue which was people trying to get into her room.

If you think the actual knocking on the door is the most important thing here, then please feel free to offer useful advice.

I was referring to the noise the OP experienced the next morning which I could not have anticipated.

Fluffypotatoe123987 · 04/04/2025 10:44

Basically they gave the room away the the night staff sleep in on rotation (against the rules)

Eyesopenwideawake · 04/04/2025 10:48

I had this very recently - a member of staff letting himself in the room mid afternoon (while I was resting) on two separate days. I complained at the time and got nothing more than an apology so I wrote a lengthy review on Booking. As a result I got a full refund.

Katiesaidthat · 04/04/2025 10:50

Take the refund and buy a doorstop. I would also leave an opinion on socials.

GofE · 04/04/2025 10:54

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 09:34

Oh come on. It was a staff member with a key not a rapist, and he left immediately.

Show quote history

Right, but being woken up by a man coming into your room, you wouldn't immediately know he was staff. My response was to the above saying calling the police would be laughable... all i am saying is, if genuinely feeling threatened then not so far fetched to make that call.

Obviously if they left straight away no major issue, other than feeling compromised that anyone might let themself back in at any point during the night.

I stay in hotels alone from time to time, i'd be abit freaked if this happened to me and i'm a 'pretty hardy' Londoner.

It seems to have been dealt with now as a mistake and i wouldn't carry this on, but, at the time, the split second of waking up in bed with someone in the room would be scary.

Movinghouseatlast · 04/04/2025 10:54

This has happened to me, luckily I'd bolted the door inside. I've also been given a key and walked in on a naked man. They make mistakes at the front desk, but I wonder how often it happens in very high end hotels where staff are better trained?

I used to stay in hotels a couple of nights a week for work. Wax earplugs are the answer to every hotel noise problem. I have to say my heart used to sink when I got booked into a Travellodge by a client. Every single one I have stayed in has been grim, but Epsom took the biscuit. When I complained that the room smelt of wee I was told yes, they all do on that side. It's the homeless people'.

ILostMyself · 04/04/2025 10:54

Travel lodge are terrible. I would never stay in one again and always pick a premier inn now if there is one nearby.

FiveShelties · 04/04/2025 10:56

HotelStrangers · 04/04/2025 09:08

re Taking this further: I will have consequential losses.
re Police: I had not considered reporting to police but driving to venue was thinking about how this is repeat behaviour despite reprimand. There is a chance this behaviour may escalate (typical path). Will consider reporting so the person can be flagged

What consequential loss are you planning to claim for?

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 10:58

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 04/04/2025 10:32

It the question is is it accidental. The staff have been warned about this and it has happened again - if this is the same person then it could be for nefarious reasons, some men enjoy scaring women. Plausible deniability only works if no one joins up the dots.

Show quote history

thats a concern to raise with the company and possibly the police eventually but not a reason to dial 999 saying you are in immediate danger.

GofE · 04/04/2025 11:01

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 09:54

Felt threatened? But she wasn't threatened? Nobody committed any crime, and nobody was at risk of danger. It was annoying and upsetting but not a criminal offence. What on earth do you think police should have done? Stood outside her room all night for security? Arrested the staff member for making a mistake?

Show quote history

I don't know about you, but i would have felt 'in danger' had a strange man walked into my bedroom in the middle of the night while i was asleep.

My point is that it could have been anyone, obviously as we all know it was a staff member mistake ... but in that moment; i'd not be thinking ah well, probably a key mix up.

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:07

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 04/04/2025 10:32

It the question is is it accidental. The staff have been warned about this and it has happened again - if this is the same person then it could be for nefarious reasons, some men enjoy scaring women. Plausible deniability only works if no one joins up the dots.

Show quote history

There is absolutely no chance police would attend a hotel where a staff member had accidentally entered the wrong room on the off chance the staff member was planning on using their job as a cover to attack guests 🙄

jellyfishperiwinkle · 04/04/2025 11:10

You should definitely get a refund. Key mix ups should not be able to actually happen in this day and age.

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:11

GofE · 04/04/2025 11:01

I don't know about you, but i would have felt 'in danger' had a strange man walked into my bedroom in the middle of the night while i was asleep.

My point is that it could have been anyone, obviously as we all know it was a staff member mistake ... but in that moment; i'd not be thinking ah well, probably a key mix up.

Show quote history

And the first thing you'd do before checking if it was staff would be to call the police? Really??

jellyfishperiwinkle · 04/04/2025 11:15

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:11

And the first thing you'd do before checking if it was staff would be to call the police? Really??

Show quote history

They are lucky she didn't smash them with the table lamp, which might be the first thing I'd do when half asleep and confronted by a strange man in a hotel room.

kellygoeswest · 04/04/2025 11:26

I can see you've now been offered a full refund which I think is fair. I don't see how you'd be entitled to any monetary compensation.

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 11:27

GofE · 04/04/2025 10:54

Right, but being woken up by a man coming into your room, you wouldn't immediately know he was staff. My response was to the above saying calling the police would be laughable... all i am saying is, if genuinely feeling threatened then not so far fetched to make that call.

Obviously if they left straight away no major issue, other than feeling compromised that anyone might let themself back in at any point during the night.

I stay in hotels alone from time to time, i'd be abit freaked if this happened to me and i'm a 'pretty hardy' Londoner.

It seems to have been dealt with now as a mistake and i wouldn't carry this on, but, at the time, the split second of waking up in bed with someone in the room would be scary.

Show quote history

Yes very scary no doubt about that. But by the time OP was able to get to her phone, she had already secured her door and realised she was not being attacked, so no need for police as an emergency. On the other hand it might have made the hotel take it more seriously if the police had banged on their door!

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 04/04/2025 11:27

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:07

There is absolutely no chance police would attend a hotel where a staff member had accidentally entered the wrong room on the off chance the staff member was planning on using their job as a cover to attack guests 🙄

Show quote history

My comment was in response to the OP saying she was thinking of raising it to the police in case there was a pattern. No need for an eye roll and I didn’t mention calling them in the middle of the night.

Crocmush · 04/04/2025 11:29

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:11

And the first thing you'd do before checking if it was staff would be to call the police? Really??

Show quote history

It being staff wouldn't mean you weren't at risk from them

LittleBigHead · 04/04/2025 11:29

I would be wanting a FULL refund and evidence & proof that the utter disregard for your safety is being rectified by hotel management processes.

You were treated outrageously.

GofE · 04/04/2025 11:32

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:11

And the first thing you'd do before checking if it was staff would be to call the police? Really??

Show quote history

No, as i said multiple times, i was only stating that it wouldn't been seen by the police as 'laughable' to have called them in an instance like this.

But yes, as we now know, he wasn't rapist; this time.

So, if it makes you feel better today, you can win this weird little internet debate.

Jiggedyjig · 04/04/2025 11:49

BigHeadBertha · 04/04/2025 03:03

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.

Edited

What a ridiculous comment. 'You get what you pay for"? So if you stay in a Travel Lodge you should expect members of staff to be entering your room? Not everybody can afford the Ritz.

AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 04/04/2025 11:50

BigHeadBertha · 04/04/2025 03:03

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.

Edited

I am not sure this is accurate. I once had my key card turned off, and therefore had no access to my room at midnight, in a very expensive hotel in New Orleans, on a work trip. My company was covering the cost of 150 people staying and they somehow decided that I had not paid my bill. Totally their mistake. They gave me 20% off when I checked out and then charged the 20% back through on my credit card as soon as I left. Shocking.

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:52

jellyfishperiwinkle · 04/04/2025 11:15

They are lucky she didn't smash them with the table lamp, which might be the first thing I'd do when half asleep and confronted by a strange man in a hotel room.

Show quote history

That would be more logical than calling the police

FortyElephants · 04/04/2025 11:54

Crocmush · 04/04/2025 11:29

It being staff wouldn't mean you weren't at risk from them

Show quote history

It means you're far less likely to be at risk than if it was a random, because they have a legitimate reason to be entering rooms and mistakes can happen. I promise you, if you called the police and said 'a member of hotel staff came into my room while I was sleeping and left immediately when he saw me' they would not be attending.

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