I had booked two rooms from Friday to Sunday. Upon check-in on Friday, the total amount for each room was reserved, plus an additional €100 per room for possible extra charges. It's unusual for it to be handled this way. Normally, hotels keep the card details on file and charge the correct amount upon check-out. This was inconvenient but I guess some do it that way and that is something to accept but should have been communicated at booking, or checking in. Not everyone has extra money to spare for reservations.
At 9:17 AM on Sunday, I was woken up by someone opening the door to my room. Naturally, I was startled and shouted out loud. I heard a "sorry" and the door was quickly closed. This has only happened to me once before in the past 30 years—hotel staff entering the room like that without reason. Could not go back to sleep with increasing heart rate.
At check-out, I was told that only one room had been charged/reserved, which was of course not true. With what one might call acted charm, the staff insisted I pay for the second room on the spot. I stood my ground, and after about 15 minutes, he found the second reservation (all on paper, by the way). I received receipts for the correct amounts, and a day later my account was charged but now, a week later, one room is still reserved on my card, tying up about €350 of my own money that I can’t access.
Sheraton has been my first choice for many years whenever available in the cities I visit. That time is over.
