I have traveled a lot and never encountered this. After a long day of 14 hours of work, I get back to the hotel and the parking lot is full due to an event at the hotel. It is 10 p.m. and the lot is overflowing with cars parked in places that are not places. This hotel charges a mandatory parking fee and valet is available for an up charge. However, they have allowed the event guests to take up all of the spaces. Whatever the event is at the hotel is beginning to break up and I drive around the lot with several other guests trying to grab an open spot when it becomes available.

I would think that having a room and paying for parking would entitle me to the space for which I paid. Maybe not. I understand having events, but should not the hotel make sure paying guests were accommodated before event guests?

In the end, after cruising the lot for 30 minutes, I got a spot, but I was tired and unhappy.

So, what should I have done and is this normal? This was a full service Hilton. I expect better.