I just completed a nice 4-night stay at the Rancho Santa Barbara Marriott. The first two days, there was a USA Today in front of my door in the morning. I had stocked my room with Vanilla Coke and blueberry muffins (breakfast of champions) and looked forward to waking up while browsing the newspaper.

On Day 3, no newspaper. Normally, I would have let it go, but I had actually planned to read it as part of my waking up routine. So I called the front desk and mentioned the lack of newspaper. The very polite gentleman on the other end of the phone said they had them at the front desk, and I was welcome to come down and get one. Undeterred, I said I'd prefer not to wander down there in my pajamas. At this point, he offered to send a bellman up with the newspaper.

I don't often stay at full-service Marriotts, so I'm really not sure what I should expect. At Residence Inns, I'm conditioned to have to pick up my newspaper at the front desk with breakfast. (More realistically, find one somebody left at a breakfast table after the hotel runs out.)

Anyway, I found the whole thing a little odd (more so than if they had consistently failed to deliver the paper), and was wondering whether it's unreasonable to ask for the paper outside the door.

I, too, have had them occasionally fail to leave a paper at my door - and as a Platinum, I should be getting a Wall Street Journal - which is even more hit or miss - along with the USA Today .

There could be many reasons the paper wasn't delivered - the employee that distributes the papers didn't show up, the hotel had more guests than papers or mabye another guest snatched yours. Who knows. You were correct to complain to the front desk.

I remember a long time ago the key jacket said they would take off $0.5 if you don't want the paper in the morning.

IMHO its another guest taking it on his/her way out so they don't have to stop by the front desk...I've seen this happen many times.

I'm in the Spokane Courtyard today, and just a few minutes ago noticed the line on the key folder that says, "I have requested weekday delivery of USA Today and reservation of the Wall Street Journal. If refused, a creit of $0.50 andor $0.38 respectively, will be applied to my account." I have never noticed this at a hotel before. I'm tempted to call and get the credit. I can't believe they are actually charging me full price for something they list as a "guest room amenities."

At the LHR Marriott they ask what type of newspaper you want when you check-in & it's not until you check out that you find out you've been charged for them (and it's more than 50cents & worse w/ the exchange rate). If you want to charge me (on something that's supposed to be part of the amenities), then tell me up front - don't surprise me at the end. I've never seen the credit if you refuse statement. Most of the time I get USA Today M-F w/o charge & it's hit/miss on the weekends w/ the local papers- depends on the property. The Grosvenor Square Marriott is good about papers 7x/week w/ no charge.

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Sharon

annerj,

I thought of that (another guest taking my paper). But I looked down the hallway, and there wasn't another paper in sight. There didn't seem to be a lot of people there on business, so I suspect at 7 am, it would have been unusual for everybody to have grabbed their paper already.

Ahh...no other papers on the floor...then you're right. I would have asked them to bring it up also!

Yes, if there are papers in the hallway, then someone took yours, and if none, then nope. I'd do the same (and have) - bring it up.

ps - one time in vegas at a hilton i saw someone taking someone elses paper & said excuse me, is that yours/your room (since i'd just seen him exit a room farther down the hall i knew it wasn't). he dropped it, mumbled something & scurried away (so i then took the paper - kidding).

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Sharon