Someone came into my hotel room at 8am

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this actually goes on, but several years ago I stayed at a Holiday Inn for Work purposes and it was shortly after a different Holiday Inn in the US had a death of some sort where the person was in the room for several days. I seem to remember the staff at OUR Holiday Inn doing a safety check in the afternoon where they poked their head in to make sure everything was OK. My colleague who had left the class we were there for early because she didn't feel well told me this happened to her, so I don't know firsthand if they knocked or whatever. And I'm not sure if hotels have policies that they check on rooms/guests that way. It doesn't seem that far fetched to me although 8AM is a bit early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this actually goes on, but several years ago I stayed at a Holiday Inn for Work purposes and it was shortly after a different Holiday Inn in the US had a death of some sort where the person was in the room for several days. I seem to remember the staff at OUR Holiday Inn doing a safety check in the afternoon where they poked their head in to make sure everything was OK. My colleague who had left the class we were there for early because she didn't feel well told me this happened to her, so I don't know firsthand if they knocked or whatever. And I'm not sure if hotels have policies that they check on rooms/guests that way. It doesn't seem that far fetched to me although 8AM is a bit early.

I've had plenty of maids knock on my door before check out time even. I'm guessing the PPs who are screeching "troll" don't travel very often

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'd buy one of those jam-type locks typical for 3rd world county hotels. There are different styles, but typically jam the door shut so no key / lock will let someone in.

WTF kind of hotels are you staying at?

A nice hotel, according to TripAdvisor! Staying on the 18th floor. I won't be staying here anymore though!

Yikes is right!

Yeah I've had this happen several times, both in the country and internationally. Once I was on a school trip in college and woke up to the hotel staff letting a strange man into my room at 3am because he claimed he had left a hat in there. Have also had hotel staff randomly enter my room at nice hotels in the US. So I always latch the door and travel with a special lock for when there's no latch.

[Anonymous]

I've had a hotel check me into a room that was already occupied. I arrived late in the evening, got my key and room number from the front desk, went upstairs and let myself into "my" room ... where I found someone else's stuff spread everywhere and heard someone in the bathroom.

I went back downstairs, and they apologized profusely, comped me into a much nicer room.

Now I am absolutely vigilant about locking my door with the slider. If there isn't one available, I jam a chair under the doorknob or do something - anything - to prevent someone unauthorized from opening the door.

Those key cards are only as secure as the people handing them out.

[Anonymous]

The fancier the hotel the more you have people going in and out all the time. I hate it. Get the f*** out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'd buy one of those jam-type locks typical for 3rd world county hotels. There are different styles, but typically jam the door shut so no key / lock will let someone in.

WTF kind of hotels are you staying at?

A nice hotel, according to TripAdvisor! Staying on the 18th floor. I won't be staying here anymore though!

Yikes is right!

Yeah I've had this happen several times, both in the country and internationally. Once I was on a school trip in college and woke up to the hotel staff letting a strange man into my room at 3am because he claimed he had left a hat in there. Have also had hotel staff randomly enter my room at nice hotels in the US. So I always latch the door and travel with a special lock for when there's no latch.

Well this has spooked me enough to want to get one. What are these special locks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP: This thread has gotten derailed. It has happened to me at a NH Hotel in a mid sized European city. I went down and tore the front desk a new one. They comped me breakfast.

And, no, there was not some additional way to secure the door from the inside.

European hotels generally do not have the same level of security of American hotels. I have also traveled extensively for work and for pleasure and haven't seen a nice, reputable hotel *in the US* that didn't have an additional security lock on the door that could not be unlocked from the outside. I would advise everyone who travels to use this as you never know who could gain access to your room key and get in at any time. Hotel theft is not uncommon at all. I read travel blogs often and have heard many crazy stories.

Europe is a huge place. This is such a stupid comment. Italy? Maybe. Sweden? netherlands?

I would take the security of the Waldorf in Scotland over the holiday inns in the US. Most US hotels are crap 3 stars.

[Anonymous]

I generally don't want anyone in my hotel room while I'm there (including for cleaning), so the Do Not Disturb sign goes out the moment I arrive, and all locks are used.

I do sometimes wonder if it's a good idea to use the chain/bar juuuust in case I get sick or otherwise need to call for help in the middle of the night.

I find it odd that legitimate hotel staff in any hotel of any class would not knock before entering and then, if they find a person in the room, do not immediately identify themselves and their purpose for being there.

I'm guessing best approach in such a situation (after the person leaves) is to call the front desk pronto with a description of the person and episode. The front desk should be able to confirm that the visitor was legit or should immediately begin searching for an intruder.

Ditto to PP who would like link to a good travel door blocker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP: This thread has gotten derailed. It has happened to me at a NH Hotel in a mid sized European city. I went down and tore the front desk a new one. They comped me breakfast.

And, no, there was not some additional way to secure the door from the inside.

European hotels generally do not have the same level of security of American hotels. I have also traveled extensively for work and for pleasure and haven't seen a nice, reputable hotel *in the US* that didn't have an additional security lock on the door that could not be unlocked from the outside. I would advise everyone who travels to use this as you never know who could gain access to your room key and get in at any time. Hotel theft is not uncommon at all. I read travel blogs often and have heard many crazy stories.

Europe is a huge place. This is such a stupid comment. Italy? Maybe. Sweden? netherlands?

I would take the security of the Waldorf in Scotland over the holiday inns in the US. Most US hotels are crap 3 stars.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't lock your door?

Yeah I did! That's what makes it worse- she just used her key and unbolted it!

I worked for Hilton for 10 years. The bolt has to be opened by engineering - a keycard won't do it. That's the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't lock your door?

Yeah I did! That's what makes it worse- she just used her key and unbolted it!

I worked for Hilton for 10 years. The bolt has to be opened by engineering - a keycard won't do it. That's the point.

So how did the maid undo the bolt then? Pretty frightening

[Anonymous]

Sleep naked and give them a surprise next time.