Housekeekping:

Booked 2 rooms at the Windsor/Slough Marriott. Checked in about 4pm, rooms are ready but not upgraded. Went to rooms and the second was not clean, this was not a problem of the FD but housekeeping not doing their job. I base this on the fact that both room had welcome notes from the GM to me, stayed before at the hotel. Rang FD from the room and issue was resolved by moving rooms. Did speak to the FD supervisor so a note could be made about the housekeeping

This shows that FD normal have to take housekeeping are telling them about readiness of the rooms.

Rate change:

Book a room at Desert Ridge, decided to upgrade for Cloud Club access a couple of days before checkin. Assumed the rate would change by 40USD but when I came to checkin the rate had suddenly changed by 150USD. I queried this with the front desk and as I did not have the original confirmation would not agree to change the rate back plus 40. As I had no way to get the original email sent to me 6 months before. I argued on the grounds that the rate had changed in the last 48 hours and did they not have an audit system of amendments. No was the answer.

I called Platinum Line and got a very helpful lady to find that the rate changed the day before arrival and that she would fax over a copy of the screen to the hotel. The hotel changed the rate back and also forgot to charge the resort fee.

I complained in both cases but it would not stop me from staying at either hotel as stuff happens.

I think the OP was "lucky" enough to get a lazy member of staff who was not going to go out of their way to be helpful.

SM

(PS - Checkin last week at 5.30PM and the room was not ready, told to go the bar and order a drink and the FD would pick up the check. In the end got a key cut for the exec lounge and had a drink in there. Hotel Manchester Airport)