To think the hotel were out of order with valentines stay/room?

[Hotelhorror]

I had a night away booked with my boyfriend on Saturday (the first time we had stayed overnight with each other).

It was a modern hotel with a glass window to the bathroom which was supposed to turn opaque when a button was selected. It was apparent this wasn’t working.

We went downstairs to reception to ask for it to be fixed, receptionist said they’d send someone to take a look. Maintenance man came up and said it was a common issue but he didn’t have the part needed (and wouldn’t have it until midweek) so he accompanied us back to reception again saying they’d give us another room.

The receptionist said there was no alternative rooms available as the hotel was full due to valentines and when this happens, couples have ‘seen it all before so just laugh about it’ and enjoy their stay.

I said this wasn’t acceptable and asked for the manager - who did appear from the back office but basically doubled down and said there was nothing they could do. She did offer us a voucher for a drink each in the bar (really!!) as a ‘goodwill gesture’.

As we had traveled some distance we decided to stay, and used the communal loos in the reception area whenever there was a need (luckily there was no need to in the night).

I found them thoroughly dismissive and am awaiting a response to my formal complaint to head office.

AIBU to find these customer service standards appalling?

Image attached of what I mean (this isn’t mine but from another review of same hotel of people unhappy with the set up)

I've just looked at that one and it's really not obvious from the photos or description that there is so little privacy. And it shouldn't need to be something we have to check carefully FFS, there are already enough variables you weigh up when picking a hotel without having to forensically examine each picture for evidence of a proper bathroom wall. Very frustrating.

Ugh - you have my sympathy OP - these types of hotels are a nightmare! I've rejected many a hotel from holiday searches for this reason. Not just ones that you "hope" will turn frosted, but those with any sort of glass separation to the main bedroom. Many people are comfortable with their other half hearing their partner's business, but I am not one of them!

@Anna1mac not just Millennials! I'm a boomer and I would leave the hotel and go to a nearby service station rather than use that bathroom!

We stay in a Holiday Inn Express occasionally. The bathroom door doubles as the door to the toilet making it a cubicle. Nifty design.

They went for a night in a hotel not a test of resilience in the wilderness to be survived ffs. Doesn't matter if other couples have nursed each other with dysentery they should have been able to expect some privacy having paid for a room. Really shouldn't be a resourcefulness/make do scenario.

That said, cello tape has tickled me so thanks for that! 🎻

Never heard of this type of bathroom and I would hate it.

I'm offended on your behalf OP....this is happening more and more. I had a frightful weekend away with a friend, sharing a twin room, with no bathroom door at all and a small piece of frosted glass separating the loo. YADNBU! You may be interested in the below:-

bringbackdoors.com/

Please follow the thread- my response was the poster who asked a genuine question - how anyone would manage to cope with this situation without falling apart! I didn’t say you should have, and I think the hotel were in the wrong. I just answered the question - I wouldn’t like it, but I would cope without tears etc. for the reasons I outlined above. Lots of things in life I shouldn’t have to put up with but generally I try to advocate calmly and reasonably or I chose to let things go and focus on other areas of my life. Not saying they are the only approaches but options!

WTF is that?!

No. Can't even believe this exists. It looks like a badly converted bedsit.

I'd be so pissed off at the room and service that I'd be looking at whether it meets building requirements.

Whilst It’s unfortunate that it was broken I’m not sure what else they could have done about it. If they don’t have an another room available they can’t just create one for you. If you were really that bothered you should have asked for a refund and gone somewhere else. It’s not ideal but I don’t know how else you expected them to fix it on a Sat night.

I think this thread is full of ideas on how to fix it. The hotel could have carried out any one of them. But if, as the handyman said, it's a common fault, then they should at least keep the spare parts for the opacity filter in stock.

even in a long relationships, there's a difference between: 'I've seen it all before' and 'I'm sure keen to see it again on a romantic weekend away'!

😂🎯

Yeah, the receptionist’s attitude was not great! Also agree about the rooms with a bath in the middle, horrendous. I’m a private person as far as these things go, that’s just how I am. I can’t think of any relationship where I’d have used the bath in the room, apart from possibly one many,many years ago. But that’s out of almost 40years of relationships of all kinds - serious, fun, long, short etc.

I have had an email response today.

In short - they back the hotel for their handling and said all advertised facilities were available (the bathroom screen is not referenced on the booking details).

They said the first colleague I spoke with attempted to inject some light hearted humour and had not anticipated I wouldn’t appreciate this. They then said the colleague ‘noted your acquaintance did appear to see the funny side’.

They also quoted my check out time and said I made full use of the room.

Probably the easiest way to make you feel like you’re a “complainer”. You had no choice did you?

Maybe I’m petty but I would go all in now on complaining and just not leave them alone lol. Dispute all their “points”.

Or just leave a bad review - not about the screen, but about their attitude - and let it go.

cant believe so many peopel are saying you are being unreasonable. we stayed in a hotel in Rome that had this set up and ed been married 15 years and I was bloody mortified.

Obviously we had seen each other naked! but we are pretty private aobut thigns like this and we dont shower together generally.

we did stay but I wasn't happy.

I’m not going to bother arguing the toss with them any further. They’ve made me feel like a prude for daring to feel uncomfortable with it.

In that case OP, having done the right thing by raising a complaint, go for the jugular with a negative review. You haven't anything to lose.

I guess you could go back to them and point out that, as everywhere was fully booked for Valentines, you had no choice but to stay in that room. It was that or go home, presumably? So what did they expect you to do, sleep in the car?

Who'd have thunk we'd ever get to a stage where expecting privacy in a toilet/bathroom would render you precious and demanding. I very much doubt Muslims, Jewish people and others who value modesty and dignity in these matters, would put up with this shit, and quite bloody right, and nor should any other sane person who is understandably horrified by it, have to tolerate it, either. I'd be pushing for a better resolution than the cop out the OP got. But then, like a PP said, we wouldn't have stayed there, we would have checked into the nearest Motorway Services. At least with Travelodge or Days Inn etc. you get a proper bathroom with solid, opaque door and wall.

Unfortunately that’s easier said than done! And that’s largely irrelevant anyway! They didn’t get a functioning room and it wasn’t what they booed or what they wanted. TMI, but if it were me, due to gut issues etc, I’d have had to be back n forth to the loos down in reception several times, and due to issues it may not even be quick enough. And even without that, telling people to avoid having a shit for one day is, frankly, ridiculous and very strange and shows you have no idea that people are actually not all like you, who seems to be able to command your bowels to do whatever you want them too. But the same also goes for having a wee, wanting privacy when you shower etc.

I wouldn't let it drop.

I would advice them that the standard expectation of any hotel stay is a private bathroom, unless it is clearly advertised as otherwise.

You were not provided with such privacy due to a fault which they were unable to repair. You were not give an alternative room, because none were available.

Point out the the full use of the room was not your preference but solelt due to the fact thst no otheres were available and you couldn't secure an slternative elsewhere either as no refund was offered to cover the cost of same.

I would asl if this complaint has been taken to the highest possible level with lin the organisation and ask if this is their final response and position before you take the matter further.

This is absolutely unacceptable OP and I wouldn't drop it. In fact their horrible attitude towards this would make me want to take this as high up as I could. Loads of great advice here. You're not being ridiculous at all, that stupid toilet trend needs to die.

As there were no other rooms available, your choice was to put up with it or leave.

You stayed, and so you're on a hiding to nothing saying the room wasn't fit for purpose, I think. "Lacked expected levels of facilities," sure, but it wasn't unusable because you evidently used it.

Chalk it up to frustrating experiences and review them accurately.

It's unbelievable just how low some people's expectations are, it really is. 🤷‍♀️