Wake-Up Call Question?
Sep 16, 2008 | 12:18 pm
#31
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I only use my BB for an alarm. I do the time zone gymnastics in my head. Usually I'm right. 
I do have a knack for waking up within 10 minutes of when I need to, no matter what. This morning I woke up, and before I could grab my phone to see what time it was, the alarm went off.
I do have a knack for waking up within 10 minutes of when I need to, no matter what. This morning I woke up, and before I could grab my phone to see what time it was, the alarm went off.
Sep 16, 2008 | 12:47 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2007
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I only use my BB for an alarm. I do the time zone gymnastics in my head. Usually I'm right.
I do have a knack for waking up within 10 minutes of when I need to, no matter what. This morning I woke up, and before I could grab my phone to see what time it was, the alarm went off.
I do have a knack for waking up within 10 minutes of when I need to, no matter what. This morning I woke up, and before I could grab my phone to see what time it was, the alarm went off.
Now I just use my cellphone since it automatically switches time zones (unless I'm out of NA, which is rare).
Sep 16, 2008 | 5:11 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
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I always have at least one backup (cell phone, hotel radio, my cheap wind-up clock that the TSA stabbed with a screwdriver "for my safety") if it's vital that I be up at a particular time. And if it's the hotel clock, I set the alarm for 10 minutes from the current time to make sure it works first. Of course, that wouldn't help if you selected Radio and the station went off the air, as happened to the previous poster.
A hotel neglecting a wake-up call can be infuriating but I probably wouldn't do anything (other than report it on TripAdvisor.com) because it's their word against yours. And the Holiday Inn CP has always come through for me, true to their guarantee.
A hotel neglecting a wake-up call can be infuriating but I probably wouldn't do anything (other than report it on TripAdvisor.com) because it's their word against yours. And the Holiday Inn CP has always come through for me, true to their guarantee.
Sep 17, 2008 | 12:37 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2004
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My last few cell phones have all automatically adjusted to the local time zone, and were easy to set the alarm.
If the front desk offers a wake up call when I check in I'll take it, but my cell phone alarm has never let me down and I set it so I know it's going to work.
If the front desk offers a wake up call when I check in I'll take it, but my cell phone alarm has never let me down and I set it so I know it's going to work.
Sep 17, 2008 | 4:30 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cairns
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Like GenevaFlyer, I often set my mobile phone alarm, turn the phone off and program it to come on with the alarm; if I'm away for any sort of extended period I usually have my little alarm clock with me.
And also like GenevaFlyer, if there's a clock radio etc in the room, I try to remember to check that the alarm isn't set
And also like GenevaFlyer, if there's a clock radio etc in the room, I try to remember to check that the alarm isn't set
Sep 17, 2008 | 4:51 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 25
I haven't used wakeup calls for years. I always set an alarm on my PDA. If it's particularly important or waking up after only a little sleep, I'll set an alarm on the cell phone as well for redundancy.
I've had too many screwed up wakeup calls from hotel staff to trust that approach.
I've had too many screwed up wakeup calls from hotel staff to trust that approach.
Sep 17, 2008 | 5:49 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: PHL
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Either way, I don't entirely trust them so I set my BB alarm as well. I change the timezone on my BB so that it shows the right time to, hopefully, avoid setting it for the wrong time. Of course it doesn't always work though. Last week after changing the time I plugged it into my laptop which changed the time back to east coast time. Instead of 6am, my alarm went off at 3am. 
Nov 6, 2008 | 5:18 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: North by God Royalton, Ohio
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I usually have a wake up call as a back up ten minutes after the clock radio's or my own wind-up... But some of these new-fangled clock radios that the hotels have started using are impossible to figure out.
About 35 years ago I was in Charleston WV and asked for a 6:00am wake up call. Wound up waking up myself at about 10:00am (late night working) When I called the front desk and asked what happened to my wake up call, they said it was still buzzing.
Turns out there was a quarter-sized speaker built into the wall that you could just hear if you put your ear next to it. The air conditioner probably made more noise.
About 35 years ago I was in Charleston WV and asked for a 6:00am wake up call. Wound up waking up myself at about 10:00am (late night working) When I called the front desk and asked what happened to my wake up call, they said it was still buzzing.
Turns out there was a quarter-sized speaker built into the wall that you could just hear if you put your ear next to it. The air conditioner probably made more noise.
Nov 6, 2008 | 7:14 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2005
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I too have learned to check the hotel alarm clock and disable if necessary. My redundant system for mornings when I have flights is a hotel wake-up call, backed up by the alarm on my Casio digital wristwatch (purchased in BCN in June 1999).
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Nov 6, 2008 | 10:02 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2004
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I use wake-up calls every day, normally, during a hotel stay, but I do NOT trust them. I use the alarm on my watch, or cell phone as a back-up.
Nov 8, 2008 | 8:46 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lexington KY/Coronado, CA
Posts: 953
Nov 8, 2008 | 12:18 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SEA
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I've never had a hotel fail me on a wakeup call yet, but that doesn't mean I trust em. I usually schedule the wakeup call, set the clock radio, and set my cell phone alarm, all about 10 minutes apart. At best I've got built in snoozing, and at worst I won't sleep in.
Nov 8, 2008 | 2:08 pm
#44
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Yup same here. Usually have a mini clock of my own with me that I carry whenever I travel.
Nov 8, 2008 | 5:27 pm
#45
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I've never had a hotel fail me on a wakeup call yet, but that doesn't mean I trust em. I usually schedule the wakeup call, set the clock radio, and set my cell phone alarm, all about 10 minutes apart. At best I've got built in snoozing, and at worst I won't sleep in.
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