henrikfromdenmark

I'm doing a hotel project of staying in over 500 of the world's best hotels and quite often I have ordered a wake up call. As hotel number 3 in the project already missed my wake up call I decided to found out: Can you really count on a wake up call or should you always set your own alarm? Answer is: No and yes. You can't count on a wake up call in a luxury hotel and you will always have to set your own alarm clock.

This morning I reached 200 hotels where I've ordered a wake up call. 9 have missed my wake up call with more than 15 minutes and 3 didn't even call.

Details is very important for me and a wake up is very important. Imagine missing an international flight. I never did. I often set my own alarm, but I'm sure some people don't and it can become a real nightmare.

I hope this small article and statistic is interesting and it's definately a must to set your own alarm clock even if you stay in the world's best hotel.. because:

The only time I missed breakfast was in Oberoi Amarvilas (consider one of the vest bests), no call at all. Ordered 8 AM, woke up at 11:30. (I got to see Taj Mahal for free as compensation)

I should bring a debate into this...

Do you trust a wake up call? or do you always set your own alarm as well?

And finally: Did this article/statistic change your opinion about wake up calls?

And absolutely finally: Always order a wake up call, because if they miss it they become the biggest sweethearts...

Kindest regards,
Henrik

GetSetJetSet

Amen. The most despicable behavior I have ever encountered at a hotel was at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo...

I confirmed several times that they would give me a wakeup call, as I needed to catch a flight the next morning. When I finally woke up (on my own volition) it was almost 2 hours after the scheduled wake-up call should have come. Not only did they FAIL to call me, but when my driver arrived and insisted several times that they call up to the room and inform me that he was there, the hotel REFUSED to ring my room. I threw my belongings into my suitcase, ran down stairs and thankfully checked my bill. They had attempted to tack on a 3,500 euro dinner at Louis XV (which I didn't visit on this stay), hoping i'm sure that in my haste to rush to NCE I wouldn't notice. Thanks to a top effort from my driver I barely made my flight, but I will never stay at that hotel again. Disgusting staff, disgusting people.

Maluku_Flyer

I'm a bit paranoid about wake-up calls when I have to catch a flight. So I always set my own alarm clock as well. But in all honesty, I can't remember the last time that a hotel wake-up call didn't work.

henrikfromdenmark

My statistic says they will do 95.5% of the time so there will be a lot of people here who might always have recieved a wake up call. The problem is many people count on it. - In general a lot of people think the luxury hotel industry is perfect or close to perfection. Mistake happens everyday. Lots of mistakes. In the very best hotels. It's "kind-of" my job to find these mistakes and another statistic could be the milk in the breakfast buffet. How many times is it actually comfortable cold. Or when can a room really be considered clean. Anyway, i'm looking forward to hear more comments from people regarding wake up calls. I think this is a very interesting topic, especially because the ones that have really missed my wake up calls have been some of the very bests hotels.

The other comment says Hotel de Paris in Monaco, which can be considered in that category as well.

Musken

If I have to wake up at a certain time, I will order a wake-up call, but only as a back up in case my own alarm does not work. I set two alarms at home as well in such circumstances. I would not trust anyone, also not a luxury hotel.

SoManyMiles-SoLittleTime

Four:

1. Wakeup call
   
2. Alarm clock (or clock radio)
   
3. Cell phone
   
4. Hang tag on the door with breakfast delivery time

I can't tell you how many times I've been awakened to banging on the door: "Room service."

irfan23

I always do 1-3. My #4 is to have my wife call me, which works well when the time difference means it's mid-day for her and crack of dawn for me. But your #4 is really smart and will be adopted forthwith.

Kagehitokiri

good statistics. how much more than 15 minutes?

seems to me wakeup calls could be a similar issue, although not as serious, because its about doing something, rather than not doing something.

refusing to ring the room? and that kind of fake charge? seems to have rapidly compounded into pretty serious issue.

GetSetJetSet

Exactly. I took one look at the bill, said "I didn't eat at Louis XV," and they took the bill back and printed me a new copy without a word as if they knew it was BS but were hoping I wouldn't check. I didn't have time to demand a manager/argue with them because I was so late due to their interference that it's a miracle I made my flight. As I said, I will not be back to that run down dump of a hotel with disgusting staff.

Kagehitokiri

theres always credit card dispute as well, but with that or at hotel, i wonder about ramifications of monaco government owning 70%.

metropole is independently owned.

vincentb89

Got the extra mile type of wake up call at De l'Europe in Amsterdam this summer : went back at 4am after a long night of partying with my best friend and asked for a wake up call at 9 am to be able to visit the Rijksjemuseum. Of course, the night being short and being a heavy sleeper, did not even hear a sound a 9 am when the phone rang. At 9.05 am the bellman was knocking at my door, checking if we were okay and asking if dark coffee would be of any use.
I was surprised but very happy and just for that kind of touch, i'll be back there early november !

Kagehitokiri

good stuff. (although there is a balance, re being at door.) i presume there are some good FS/aman stories.

vincentb89

service was really personal. The ratio guest / staff was impressive, mainly due to the fact that it was the soft opening ( 5 days after official reopening) and that the hotel seemed really empty

henrikfromdenmark

It depends. 20-120 minutes. And then the 3 that never called.

Kagehitokiri

equal distribution? 15 minutes doesnt seem too bad, but not sure what the line is. its almost more odd to be (considerably) late than not at all.

188 - <15 min?
9 - 15>120 min
3 - none