Originally Posted by
fransknorge
The state of the hotel looks poor. However your first impressions were honestly self-inflicted:
- asking if you could provide a new CC for the deposit ? It is standard and just done at check-in, no need to send email for that in advance, to staff who probably do not understand while you would ask that.
- asking for the best sun exposure ? Sorry but that smells of entitlement. You booked the highest category so are not entitled to an upgrade. Asking for a specific room instead is a bit too much, specially by email upfront. Doing it politely with a smile at check-in has a much better chance of being well received.
So you went with a negative impressions because of that and were looking for things to complain about from the get to.
Fair enough. Maybe I'm high maintenance (after all I hinted at it) but...
1. Deposit is / was required *before* check in per booking conditions and of the card provided during the booking process on ALL - which I no longer wanted to use. The request was clear to the point where I got a PDF to send it over via email. Previously at both Fairmont and ICs I've been offered a link to securely provide cc or pay deposit.
2 - I doubt that asking at check in during peak season and on a sold out hotel I'd be much better off. That said we will agree to disagree. I don't find my request hard to process at all and at worst they could always say "sorry we cannot accommodate these requests in advance". Still I was apparently put in the worst room in the category. You might say being a ALL Diamond doesn't entitle me to anything but this is where we disagree - there's a reason why even in J or F good airlines will, for example, take meal requests from their own elites first. A small detail? Absolutely but, just like trying to provide one of your best rooms - in the same category - to a loyal member of your chain, these are equally nice touches that show appreciation.
Although my first impressions were not great, that didn't taint my overall experience - had i been given a room that wasn't dirty and falling apart I'd be writing a positive note. That was ultimately the main issue -- for which I, not the hotel, ended up paying a price.