I’m not quite sure what actually prompted me to post this now, but somehow a reminder of recent scenario while staying at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport hotel a few weeks ago popped in my head. I’m sure you remember my not-so-great experience at the windowless Travel Lodge in downtown Philadelphia; however, I still had some long back-to-back days in Philly and some Wyndham Rewards points to burn…
So I gave in and redeemed 16,000 WR points for a night at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport, which was only 5.6 miles away from set, and surprisingly wasn’t bad at all. Yes, it was basic and somewhat dated, but I was comfortable and had a great night’s sleep, so that’s all that matters. There’s something mesmerizing about airport hotels – I love hearing the soothing sounds of the planes taking off and landing. Maybe it’s the airplane geek in me…
Anyway, the point of the story is: I ended up unintentionally meeting a US Airways pilot at the hotel. No, we didn’t meet in the elevator or at the lobby bar… Instead, we had an awkward exchange as I saw him wearing his uniform shirt on top… and just his undergarments on bottom in what I thought was my room. After some awkward eye contact, a glance at his uniform (how I was able to identify him as a “US Airways” pilot in under 2 seconds still baffles me), and a quick “OMG, I’m so sorry,” I closed the door and hurried back to the lobby.
There must have been a mix up at check in; somehow the front desk clerk had mistakenly handed me keys to a room that was obviously already occupied, but in the end it was more funny than embarrassing. I’m just thankful that I didn’t get any unexpected visits in my new room at any point during the night.
Has this ever happened to you? Were you ever walked in on or walked in on someone during your stay?
And now on to the infamous hotel-photo review:
The Ramada Philadelphia Airport is a large property, conveniently located near the airport (duh), and offers free parking.
Inside the lobby
Rooms were a little dated and dim, but very spacious and featured a full sliding-door balcony. Yay, natural light!
Adjacent to my bed was a sitting area featuring a loveseat, chairs, TV, etc.
Bathroom vanity was basic, but I had no complaints.
Clean bathroom stocked with many towels.
Please feel free to share your similar stories below!
we were staying at the Menger hotel in San Antonio and had a couple walk in on US. They had asked to be switched to another room and had forgotten a childs handheld game and busted in…didnt even say excuse me, instead said ” They already put someone else in here?” walked over and picked up the game from under the tv and walked out.
Did this once at a Holiday Inn in Chicago. Walked in and there were a several Indian people (dot not feather) sitting on the bed all watching TV. They all looked very shocked at us barging in.
There is much more to the story I will tell you some day! – René
It happened on both ends of one stay at the double tree jersey city. First I was given a key to an occupied room. They people were not there but their belongings were. Then 2 days later we were getting ready in the morning and the door opened. There were 2 shocked women standing in the door with their luggage. We weren’t happy either.
Its happened a few times to me, both ways. Pretty awkward to say the least. As a result, now when I first get to my room I ALWAYS knock, just to be sure. And I alwasy put on the extra latch so it makes it a little harder to easily enter. When/if the door opens I loudly say “occupied”.
Yep, gros Barman game reserve in Namibia,when I went back to get a new room…guess what…the next one was also occupied! Third time lucky.
Yikes! I recall an incident at a Days Inn in Orlando Florida area some years ago, was sitting in the room with my family, we were all just chatting away when we hear the sound of the door open and a family of 3 walks right in at once…everyone was equally startled! I tend to double lock the doors now all the time when I’m in the room.
It happened to me over Thanksgiving weekend at the Mark Hopkins IC in SFO. I checked in on Thursday morning and went up to “my” room. Imagine the surpirse on my face when I found someone asleep in the bed! She screamed (I think I screamed) and I went back to the front desk. As I was leaving I asked her to call the front desk and tell them what had happened so they could re-key her door and know that it really was a mistake. I think she had some doubt even though I quickly left and had my luggage in tow. At the front desk they had a new key ready for me and a nice upgrade. I asked them to give the upgrade to the lady in “my” room and I think we both got a nicer view/room out of what I am sure is a common error on busy weekends at any otel.
LOL, nope. But this brings to mind Kathy’s story about the Naked Man – http://www.willrunformiles.com/2012/04/i-saw-naked-man.html
reading these posts makes me remember another time 2 years ago at the Westin Kaanapali Villas where we are owners. We had noticed a visibly tipsy young mom around the pool bar with 2 kids, say 8 and 6 yrs old or so. We retired to our villa and were watching tv while dinner cooked and in walked this lady- WITH A KEY……she turned and ran and it turned out she had forgotten which floor she was on and when HER key didnt unlock OUR door, she simply asked the front desk to rekey it fit my door..give me a break, they didnt even bother to check or or they would have found out that she was trying to get into the wrong villa……..and could have corrected the problem.
The 70’s called. They want their carpet back.
i walked into a couple having sex one time…. needless to say, I was well compensated from the hotel
It happened to us at one of the Disney resorts. We arrived really late at night, tired, with kids in walking half asleep, we open the door, turn the lights on and there is a family, kids and all waking up so startled that I thought the woman might have a heart attack.
Out of shock we stood there with the door open, to then react, apologize, close the door and storm down to the lobby. By the time we got there, it was obvious they had called them. I hope they got compensated somehow, because we didn’t.
Yep… An unnamed extended stay hotel in Reston. The first time I opened the door to the room I’d just gotten the keys for and someone’s cat zipped into the hallway.
Second time, months later, I walked in as a very naked woman walked out of the bathroom. The desk clerk was getting an earful as I walked back and got a new set of keys.
I *always* throw the security latch on my room!