Orange County Commuter

I have a pre-paid stay in Paris coming up. However, due to some airline schedule changes I have a 50/50 shot of not making it to Paris until early the next morning. (My back up plan is a train, but it won't get to Paris until 10 am the morning after my check in day)

My plan is to call the Marriott and ask them to request the hotel hold the room for the remaining two nights if it looks like I won't make it on check in day. I can also call the hotel, but my French is non-existent so I figure calling Marriott too won't hurt

Anyone ever had to do this? Did you have issues checking in late?

ajeleonard

Call the hotel, they will speak English, and Marriott isn't going to do anything

Orange County Commuter

So you would think..

Been there done that, and no the person on the phone didn't speak much English. I was finally able to get transferred to someone who did, but...

RogerD408

Yet you did get someone that understood. My company required everyone to speak english, but that didn't mean they understood it well or desired to speak it. When getting one of those people their response to answering a call where the caller spoke english was to hand to call to someone else near them that could handle the call or at least translate for the original party.

But, yes, I would plan the call for prime business hours at the property and I'm sure you will get someone that can handle your request.

Orange County Commuter

So back to the real question

Even if I call the hotel what are the odds they won't just say "too bad" and cancel the entire reservation. (Which technically they can do as I am a now show, phone call or not)

Often1

Very common occurence and easily dealt with. Not even uncommon for someone who needs a room at 10:00 AM to book for the night before. But, making certain that the property has this specifically noted is critical.

I can't believe that you won't be able to find a fluent English-speaker at a Paris Marriott, especially during regular business hours.

I would not call this a change at all, simply advising the property that airline schedule changes may mean that you arrive early in the AM, perhaps as late as 10 and want the room held.

Kacee

Well no one here can predict that.

But I would expect some flexibility from the property, and would be surprised if I were unable to reach a satisfactory resolution.

I'm surprised as well. Quite contrary to my Marriott experiences in Paris, where the staff generally prefer to speak English with guests.

writerguyfl

The industry standard is that your room is held until the official check-out time the morning after your original arrival. Hotels in cities with a lot of arriving red-eye flights (like Paris) will see this scenario on a daily basis.

If the potential flight issues still have you arriving before check-out time, you should be fine.

If you have difficulty finding an English-speaker when calling, you can use the Contact form on the Marriott website. Enter "Please forward this question to the hotel" or similar at the start of the Comments box. The message will be sent to the hotel via Marriott's internal communications system. It may take a few days, but the hotel is required to contact you back.

https://www.marriott.com/marriott/contact.mi

nequine

Yes we've booked a room for the night before but not turned up until morning when flying to Australia/New Zealand as you get there (generally) first thing in the morning. I've had no issues with not getting into my room, so I can't see it being an issue.

Srisarin

Some travelers like to make up problems when none really exist.

Often1

I still don't understand why OP doesn't make a simple phone call. Not only is he concerned about something which is common and almost certainly a non-issue, but he is then concerned that he won't be able to reach an English-speaker at a US-based chain in a major European capital, and that if he does reach such a person, they won't help him.

It will likely take less than 5 minutes to set this issue to rest. It has taken a good deal more time to simply raise questions which are at best imponderable.

Orange County Commuter

I do plan to make a phone call IF I actually think I am not going to make the first night.

I have no plan to call "just in case"

And as for "non English speaking" after calling the Champs Elysees Marriott a few years ago and spending half an hour dealing with "No English" I am a little gun shy! No, this guy did not even really understand English and yes, I called back and got him again. He was the operator!

RogerD408

Yes, this should be standard practice since you are paying for the room. Unfortunately, lesser reputable properties (I'm not saying this one is) will rent out your room if they are close to capacity and they have someone standing there asking for a room. Getting rack rate for that room may generate more revenue than what they may have to pay to walk you should you show up later. AND the opportunity to still charge you as a no show is just that much more revenue!

My approach, regardless where I'm staying, if I can't get there before say 6pm, is to call to confirm my arrival and make a note of the time and name. So far that has never missed getting me a room. Your risk tolerance will determine what you should do.

phltraveler

I agree with this approach and I've had this happen at a variety of hotels, independent or chain. It's safer to notify the hotel and make sure your room is held then risk it and get a nominal amount of money to walk (and have to find somewhere else to stay).

CJKatl

Why not call the hotel or #800 now, explain the situation and see if they can split the reservation into the first night and the rest of the nights? If you cannot make the first night, you won't have any worries about the other nights. I've done back-to-back reservations like this many times without issue, nor with having to change rooms.

BTW, when I've had airline problems hotels have been very good about changing reservations. Once I had a visa issue in Munich and the airport Sheraton canceled me at four that day, waiving the charge. Another time, I accepted a $1,500 bump from PDX-NRT and my BKK hotel canceled my first night of a week long stay without issue. Over the years, Marriotts have done this for me maybe a dozen time, never said no and only once made me show proof of my reservation and the airline's cancelation.