I’d considered myself to be fairly well traveled, but that doesn’t mean I don’t make the occasional travel gaffes. Sometimes I can laugh about it in the moment. Other times, it’s only funny days after the fact.
Earlier this year, I had to make a “last minute” international trip. With little time on my hands, I focused on the essentials: Booking a flight and making a hotel reservation.
All was fine until I tried to check in at the hotel.
Travel Gaffe
When I tried to check in, the hotel clerk couldn’t find my reservation. It can’t be, I thought. I pulled up the reservation email on my phone. A confirmed reservation. Checked. Dates, Checked. The dates are right, but wait – did I book a room for same dates next year?!?!
I tried to book the same room type on the spot, but the clerk quoted me a rate that was nearly doubled what I wanted to pay for a standard room. I stepped away and browsed through my hotel options. Interestingly, I was able to find a much better room type online for just a little more than the quoted rate.
When I got in line again, the clerk wasn’t able to find the same deal. He openly admitted that sometimes the online rate is better and actually suggested that I book it online. Inventory had changed, so I quickly snapped up an executive room which comes with complimentary breakfast and hors d’oeuvres at the lounge.
In Summary
I wasn’t too worried about not having a place to stay since I knew that the hotel wasn’t sold out (yet). I just didn’t want to pay through the roof for my mistake.
It wasn’t really that funny at the time, but at least I can laugh about it shortly after. Trying to check in a year early to my hotel was probably my worst travel gaffe this year.
So far, anyway.
What travel gaffes have you made this year?
Booked a 7-day Travel Package to the Marriott Wailea on Maui, and flights through AA at 40K each r/t for me and my wife. Right before leaving got a better price in cash so decided to take my miles back (to use for NA-Asia biz class later) and bought a new flight with the Chase portal. All was great until 2 days before checkout when I realized the great new flight was a day later than the previous one…and we had no place to stay! Had to book an airport hotel and blow 30K Marriott points I’d much rather use… Read more »
Ah, that’s a good one. It’s so easy to forget the gaps when making schedule changes. It’s too bad you have to blow 30k Marriott points on an airport hotel (but better that than out of pocket). Hopefully, you had a very good 7-day stay at the Marriott Wailea (I really like that property/resort). Thanks for sharing!