Motion Sensors

Last week I was in Florida where I stayed at The Doubletree Hotel in West Palm Beach for two nights. From start to finish, it was a disaster!

A little background is needed here. Two weeks prior I had stayed there and was frustrated that I couldn't get the room cool enough to sleep. I called the desk the second day and told them my thermostat did not work as the room was much warmer than the hall. The sent the maintenance man up to my room and he messed with the thermostat and the air condition clicked on. He explained the thermostat was regulated by a motion sensor, but he had 'bypassed' the feature. I was amazed and told him I though that was pretty crazy, as one would need to get up and walk around every couple of hours all night to stay comfortable. He laughed and agreed and said the hotel was being remodeled and that he though his 'helper' had adjusted all the rooms, but apparently had missed this one.

Now back to last week. Yes, the hotel is undergoing an extensive remodel. Based on what the maintenance man had told me, if figured the thermostat issue had been addressed and didn't even mention it when I checked in.

So I'm checking in. The guy checking me in kept messing with the computer hunting for a room. I asked for an upgrade and he said he was looking. Note that I had a co-worker with me who worked with a different desk person, was second in line and was checked in and on her way to her room, while my guy was still messing with the computer. He finally gave me a key and I see I am on the second floor. That is unusual because I am typically on the upper floors due to my Diamond status, but I figure some floors are closed for the remodel. I arrive at my room to discover he has put me in a handicapped room. Now I am glad hotels have handicapped rooms, but I don't need one and don't want one. Some handicapped rooms are okay and just have additional grab bars, etc. True handicapped rooms have no counter space in the bathrooms, and strange furniture and are not overly comfortable. This was one of those. I started to deal with it, and probably would have if it had just been for one night, but I was there for two and decided wanted a different room. I called down to the desk and complained. I got the same fellow, who apologized and said he would bring me a key for a different room. I stepped into the hall and waited, wondering why it took him so long to find THIS room for me. The next room was fine, except that the lights over the vanity in the bathroom did not work. I dropped my stuff and went to the dining room to meet my co-worker for dinner.

The room seemed comfortable when I went to bed, but then I awoke hot and sweaty around midnight. When I stood up to go to the bathroom, I heard the air conditioner click on. Ah ha! Motion Sensors on the air conditioner! I was furious. The rest of the night I would get the room cool, go to sleep, then awaken in about an hour, hot and sweaty, sit up and wave my arms and the air conditioner would click back on.

Come morning, I went to the front desk, asked to have my vanity lights fixed and that the motion sensor on the air conditioner be by passed so I would be able to sleep. The desk attendant apologized and said he would have everything taken care of my the time I came back after work. When I got back, the lights worked and as I puttered around in the room through the evening the room stayed cool and did not react to my activity. Then I go to sleep......and awaken around 1AM hot and sweaty and as I sit up, the air conditioner clicks on. Can you imagine how mad I am? And this continues through the rest of the night.

I finally give up around 6 and get up. Next issue. My hair is half dry when my hair dryer blows up. I called down for another one and am told someone will bring on right up. I wait, and wait, and wait, and 20 minute later all back down and ask if the had to go to Wal-Mart. "You don't have it?" He asks. "I gave it to the housekeeping supervisor when you called." A few minutes later they bring the hair dryer. I plug it in......and it doesn't work. I call back down and loose it. I communicate my intense dissatisfaction about the motion sensors on the air conditioner and explain that I am scheduled to be back at the hotel in two weeks and will be diligently working to find a different hotel. He is quite sympathetic and offers me 10,000 extra points, which I accept, and asks if he can have the manager call me. Not sure what that will accomplish, but, sure, he can call.

The manager calls me later that evening, while am waiting to board the plane home. He agrees with me about the motion sensors and explains that many hotels are using this technology as it is a 'green initiative'. I say, "I can't believe I am the only person who complains." He answers that I am not. Many people complain and ask to have it bypassed and he doesn't understand why my room reverted to the motion sensors once it was bypassed. He certainly hopes I will give them another try.

I will be at the Embassy Suites in Boca Raton in two weeks. Fortunately I was able to arrange other lodging and will probably not be staying at the Doubletree in the near future.