Gold - 4 hours Past Guaranteed Check-in Time
Aug 11, 2018, 1:24 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,616
If you travel with any amount of regularity, having a room not ready on time shouldn't be anything new to you. It will even happen to the best-run hotels when they're running close to max occupancy. If a hotel's running near maximum occupancy or I'm planning on arriving early/late, I'll ring them directly ~12-24 hours before arrival to advise them of my expected arrival time. Since I started doing this, I've never ran into a delay.
As far as how much this issue bothers me is directly proportional to how sleep-deprived I am. 4 hours of sleep in the past 24? I'm pretty open-minded. 4 hours of sleep out of the past 72? I'll be polite but firm that I'm looking for a horizontal surface, hopefully a bed, to crawl into. At that point I don't care what room it is; I'd probably be happy with the couch in the employee lounge. When dealing with hotel or airline staff, I've found politeness & kindness will go a long way, especially when IRROPs happen.
As far as how much this issue bothers me is directly proportional to how sleep-deprived I am. 4 hours of sleep in the past 24? I'm pretty open-minded. 4 hours of sleep out of the past 72? I'll be polite but firm that I'm looking for a horizontal surface, hopefully a bed, to crawl into. At that point I don't care what room it is; I'd probably be happy with the couch in the employee lounge. When dealing with hotel or airline staff, I've found politeness & kindness will go a long way, especially when IRROPs happen.
Aug 11, 2018, 5:42 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
IAs far as how much this issue bothers me is directly proportional to how sleep-deprived I am. 4 hours of sleep in the past 24? I'm pretty open-minded. 4 hours of sleep out of the past 72? I'll be polite but firm that I'm looking for a horizontal surface, hopefully a bed, to crawl into. At that point I don't care what room it is; I'd probably be happy with the couch in the employee lounge. When dealing with hotel or airline staff, I've found politeness & kindness will go a long way, especially when IRROPs happen.
So if you want a room immediately just fall asleep by the front desk and make scene!
Aug 11, 2018, 8:27 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Toronto, Ont., Canada
Programs: Aeroplan; Marriott Platinum; IHG Platinum; Best Western Diamond
Posts: 2,154
fell asleep. And apparently snored. And slipped off the stool onto the floor. With a thud which woke me up. People came running. The clerk said he could put me in a room immediately but it would not be on the CL level, which was fine by me.
So if you want a room immediately just fall asleep by the front desk and make scene!
So if you want a room immediately just fall asleep by the front desk and make scene!
Aug 12, 2018, 1:55 pm
#19
formerly skyccord
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: United Premier Platinum, Hertz President Circle, Marriott/SPG Premier Plat Elite, Avis Preferred
Posts: 269
Aug 12, 2018, 2:28 pm
#20
formerly skyccord
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: United Premier Platinum, Hertz President Circle, Marriott/SPG Premier Plat Elite, Avis Preferred
Posts: 269
The room not being ready at three is an inconvenience. The misinformation and four hour delay are bigger issues and you are rightfully upset. But...
Not that this is an excuse, but my first trip when I started traveling for work twenty years ago was to that hotel. Being a Marriott nothing I was given a room near the elevator. It remains the smallest room I ever had. The front door was tiny and size-wise the bathroom felt like it came from Barbie's Dream House, On later stays I was given rooms farther down the hallway which were roomy and had nice views of the river. My point is be glad they were not dealing with you by giving you one of those small rooms!
Enjoy your stay in NO.
Not that this is an excuse, but my first trip when I started traveling for work twenty years ago was to that hotel. Being a Marriott nothing I was given a room near the elevator. It remains the smallest room I ever had. The front door was tiny and size-wise the bathroom felt like it came from Barbie's Dream House, On later stays I was given rooms farther down the hallway which were roomy and had nice views of the river. My point is be glad they were not dealing with you by giving you one of those small rooms!
Enjoy your stay in NO.
So to answer everyone's questions.
1. I ended up getting a voucher for 2 free drinks worth $30.
2. Our room ended up being the corner room on the 10th floor. We were able to see the steam boat from it.
3. There is a guaranteed check-in time. It's on Marriott's website.
4. All in all it was a fine stay. I do think this property has one of the nicest and biggest lounges I've seen with a great break. Top notch breakfast. Omlette station and plenty of fine fixings.
5. The room itself left a lot to be desired. The bathroom felt like a motel bathroom. But then again it's a Marriott not a JW or something.
Aug 12, 2018, 3:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
The JW directly across the street is okay but not all that great. The Pere Marquette around the corner is cool/funky, but some of the rooms are very small. The CY on Iberville (on the same side of Canal as the Marriott on the other side of the Bourbon) is my favorite Marriott property in the area right now. The rooms have no view but are very quiet, have bedrooms with their own doors and are a quick walk to Bourbon St without having to travel on Canal, And one of my favorite restaurants is across the street.
Aug 12, 2018, 3:19 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Aug 12, 2018, 5:50 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,470
Aug 13, 2018, 7:28 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Aug 13, 2018, 1:58 pm
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,555
You are 100% correct. My issue was strictly with the poor communication. Things happen and that is completely understood.
So to answer everyone's questions.
1. I ended up getting a voucher for 2 free drinks worth $30.
2. Our room ended up being the corner room on the 10th floor. We were able to see the steam boat from it.
3. There is a guaranteed check-in time. It's on Marriott's website.
4. All in all it was a fine stay. I do think this property has one of the nicest and biggest lounges I've seen with a great break. Top notch breakfast. Omlette station and plenty of fine fixings.
5. The room itself left a lot to be desired. The bathroom felt like a motel bathroom. But then again it's a Marriott not a JW or something.
So to answer everyone's questions.
1. I ended up getting a voucher for 2 free drinks worth $30.
2. Our room ended up being the corner room on the 10th floor. We were able to see the steam boat from it.
3. There is a guaranteed check-in time. It's on Marriott's website.
4. All in all it was a fine stay. I do think this property has one of the nicest and biggest lounges I've seen with a great break. Top notch breakfast. Omlette station and plenty of fine fixings.
5. The room itself left a lot to be desired. The bathroom felt like a motel bathroom. But then again it's a Marriott not a JW or something.
Jun 12, 2019, 1:58 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: LAX CA
Programs: UA1P MM, Hilton Dia, Mar Lifetime Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,536
Just getting back into travel for work. The reservation says "Your reservation is not guaranteed if you arrive late. Please note that your room will only be guaranteed until 6:00 PM on the day of your expected arrival." I will arrive later into Pudong China and other locations. Will my room not be available? Marriott Gold for life