EVERY time I check into a Marriott after reserving online (which requires me to list the number of stayers), and choose the option for 2 beds, guaranteed, I am assigned a King Bed (even though I list 2 Adults and 2 Children)? It happened again at the Cleveland Renaissance on Public Square this past weekend, and in Philly before that, and in Pittsburgh.

I need a feather-free room (allergies) with 2 beds -- and since I know the hotel could block a room that meets my needs in advance, but chooses not to, why do they bother asking me for what I need? In Philly they gave me a reception room with a Murphy bed and a pull out couch ... in Cleveland they made the Housekeeping Supervisor come to the room at 11PM and make it feather free ...

What magic words do I need to put into my profile to make this as straightforward and easy as possible?

Am I alone on this?

I don't see how you wouldn't receive the same room type as what is reserved. In the comments section, put a nicely worded and short request for down alternative, 2 beds, N/S please. It may be worth talking to a manager as well beforehand to expedite the process. It isn't the most convenient thing, but front desk agents don't seem to read comments. But, managers do and typically block those rooms.

Check out the rates for a 3rd or 4th person, that might give them a clue that two beds are needed. Otherwise, a comment on the rez followed by a call to the property may be the only way to get what you want. So many companies try to second-guess what the customer really wants and fails to listen to what they say. Generic forms don't always fit the needs.

I will book a double if the rate is lower and put comments saying a King is ok. Most times I get a king, but can't complain (well, don't complain) if I end up with a double room.

Thanks both, for your comments -- when I book for our family, I clearly mark 2 Adults, 2 Children ... the nicely worded comment and pre-call are a good touch, I will do that when I have a chance.

How do you clearly mark 2 adult and 2 children? There is no way to do that in Marriott's booking engine.

My profile for Hyatt shows king. On the few occasions I intentionally book two beds, somehow it always overwrites and changes the reservation to a king. Even changing my online profile to two beds before booking the room does not stop the overwrite. Hyatt does not understand why.

Meaning, you may have a similar inexplicable predicament with Marriott. If I book two beds the initial reservation comes back correct. Sometime within a few days it overwrites for a king. When I see online that has happened I call in and they can fix it on a stay by stay basis.

Or verify your profile is for two beds instead of a king.

I think the magic words should be spoken after you check in and get the wrong room type. And the magic words are, "room type guarantee." If you're gonna get the wrong room, you may as well collect the $100.

Why would you wait until you check-in? At that point, the hotel may not have the right room type available. Call after you make the reservation and ask for the Front Office or Front Desk Manager. They will do whatever is necessary to ensure that your request is communicated properly so that when you check-in, you don't have to hassle with the scrambling behind the scenes.

Because with those magic words it is know that certain room type suddenly appears in a "sold out hotel".

True, but 2 issues:

1. Personally, I would prefer that Marriott's system actually worked such that I wouldn't need to take my time to call in and make sure that I get the room type I asked for when I made the reservation.
2. You won't get the $100 if they remember your room type.

Nice catch: I enter 4 people in the "Number of Guests" field -- the "2 adults and 2 children" part is included in the discussion going on in my head!

It's not that I wouldn't appreciate the $100, I would ... but most of the time I just want to get into my room, get settled, and get on with the purpose of my visit.

We got what we wanted every time as Gold/Plat. They have to honour it because they want to avoid the $100 compensation.

Have you checked your bed preference as default? It's because we set ours as Kings but then when we are out with kids we have to manually change to 2 doubles.

Sometimes you get a better chance for upgrade if you can live with 1 bed. That happened to us at Leipzig Marriott - we checked in with requests for 2 doubles and then Mr. Nacho asked for upgrade possibilities. They said they don't have 2 beds upgrade, so he asked what if I can live with one. He got a studio as an upgrade.

Most hotels would see that and assume that you wanted two beds...so it is strange that they would even put you in a single bed room. But, evidently your rewards profile must trump the information in the reservation. Do many people regularly have four people to one bed? I think the easiest thing to do is to call beforehand. I don't know many families that would go through the inconvenience of being assigned a room that didn't fit them for a measly $100 credit. I think the parents probably paid their dues just traveling with the kids in the first place.

I have a friend who is a bit obsessive, and whenever he has something even moderately important to say, he rehearses it over and over in his head in advance. The problem with this is, that sometimes he never tells anyone, because he has rehearsed it so many times that he insists that he already said it, and thereby an argument ensues. I knew that it was not just me having this problem with him when a mutual third friend mentioned the same problem to me. So, be careful about those in the head discussions you are having, it might lead to an argument, either with yourself, or with others (true story, but still ).

The room preferences in your profile are very important, for a variety of reasons. First, you will get the wrong room over and over and over if you do not have the room preferences set up correctly in your profile. Second, you will not be eligible for the room type guarantee if you get the wrong room. Third, you will get the wrong room over and over and over if you do not have the room preferences set up correctly in your profile. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Yes, this is for sure, have you ever traveled with young (or even not so young) children? This is what parent of the year awards are given out for! I agree though, it is doubtful that a parent would intentionally mess up the room type in his profile or reservation just to collect $100 while traveling with his cranky wife and his overtired children. For that, $1,000 would not be enough!