AlwaysFlyStar

In China with my fiancé, I have, on more than one occasion, cancelled a hotel booking when my Chinese fiancé is not allowed in the hotel to check in without an escort by a doorman. I won't stay at a hotel that treats its own guests with such suspicion. (And it feels good walking in, getting the manager, and cancelling the reservation which shows my platinum status. [Each time has been at an otherwise lovely Sofitel])

Astrophsx

I'd just like to follow up with my experience at the Medellin Four Points hotel that made me look closer at these unwritten policies. I had to file a corporate complaint after the front desk agent referred to my friend as a prostitute (when talking to another front desk agent in Spanish). He specifically told me that it was his intention to charge for me each woman entering the room.

I was told by Starwood that I should be receiving an email in response to the complain, but it's been well over a week since my complaint.

Jaimito Cartero

I stayed at the IC in Medellin for a bit over 2 weeks in 2010. I recall no problems having a male friend coming to the room, but when he brought a lady friend with him, they wanted her ID.

jphripjah

Well, it seems that they stopped him and asked him questions because they suspected he was not a guest of the hotel, and they were absolutely correct. Would you prefer that the hotel just give the run of the place to any local male who wants to come in and wander the guest room hallways? Or do you think they should only exclude local males who are not wearing suits?

remymartin

So did you have two or more in the room?

worldiswide

This is totally on point. Good hotels will ask for ID of the girl to be left for the protection of all. It isn't a morality issue but safety and security.

There's more than some truth and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. A good and funny read is Hotel Babyon 24 hours in a luxury hotel ...each chapter is an hour in the day

bruceba

I like the added security of these programs. If I had a spouse or partner elsewhere or company accountant that would be on my case I would not like these measures.

taipeiflyer

Hahaha, I wish it was that good of a night!

NC_Girl

My bf and I just spent a week in San Jose CR and stayed at the holiday inn downtown. His daughter is there studying and the first night we went to dinner together. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel and she was going to walk up to the room with us. We had an 18th floor very nice corner suite with an amazing view.

When we were about to enter the elevators we were stopped and told there would be an $85 dollar fee for her to go up!!! We were like turns out we were directly across from the Del Rey hotel/casino which is known for being one of the biggest prostitute pick up places in Central America. We finally convinced them that she was his daughter and they let us go up on the condition that we stay no longer than 15 mins.

Anyway after finding out about the Del Rey I just had to go check it out for myself, dragged my BF there kicking and screaming (not) and spent 3 of the following nights gambling there!! Stunningly beautiful chicas walking around as eye candy for the gentlemen folk and for me they had really loose slot machines and best of all roulette with 2 dollar minimums, I actually made a couple hundred while there..

Oh, and they did require ID's for anyone who stayed there or went up in the elevators.

jphripjah

The Del Rey is wonderfully sleazy.

GUWonder

Racism and sexism is often in play in how these ID checking practices are conducted. They could ask for keys of all and that would be more appropriate than the displays of sexism and racism that is generally in play with these practices in Latin America of asking for ID even when in the company of someone with a key or even having their own key given at check-in during the day(s) prior to the evening.

PointWeasel

Its quite obvious to me that you don't get out much.

This particular Le Meridien in questions has a Starbucks, restaurant and hotel bar all within the common areas of the property. Key access is required to access any floor above the 3rd, however, everywhere is public access. No wandering of the hallways like a Motel 6.

Astrophsx

I received a response from the hotel:

"We want to offer an excuse to you, by the disadvantages that appeared to you in our hotel, regarding what happened again want to express that this procedure is necessary escort, for their safety and ours as we must abide hotel standard has been implemented, is security policy of our hotel, we appreciate your kind understanding"

I'm not sure if they used Google translator, but I cannot tell if they are once again referring to my guest as a escort?

I'm just curious... can a Starwood hotel just make up any type of unwritten policy? I reiterate that 7:30pm seems like a fairly early cutoff point in the evening to start charging for "extra guests".

Dr. HFH

On something like this? I'd be shocked if they couldn't. Security considerations vary widely from property to property, depending on a lot of factors, starting with location. A hotel in a higher crime area, possibly inner city, is likely to have more stringent policies in this regard than a resort in the countryside.

Vinodavid

Note to self....

check on "early bird special" for local houses of ill repute.

Did ELO sing "Afternoon Delight"?....no that's right, It was Starland Vocal Band.