How to get past the two night minimum stay?
 

I'd like to stay in the Solvang/Santa Ynez area for my bachelorette party in October but EVERY hotel requires a two night minimum on the weekends. Is there any way to get past this? We only want to stay Saturday night. Should I call the hotel and explain my situation and hope they will make an exception?

Anyone have any luck doing this?

TIA for any advice.

Seems like you have three options-
1) stay two nights,
2) sell your second night to a friend, or
3) call and beg them to waive it. If you'll have several rooms, maybe they might let you.

Good luck!

Just cause I was curious I went to Expedia and picked the weekend of Oct 13-14 and there were 5 hotels that allowed 1 night stay.

Are you sure of your information?

fyi I searched in Solvang for check in on Friday (13th) & Saturday (14th)

I guess I should clarify, I really don't want to stay at a budget motel, like the Vagabond or Days Inn. Those types of places seem to be the only places that allow a one night stay.

I have had this problem before trying to stay in Solvang on the weekend. Many of the places say they are available on those Expedia type sites but then you try to book it, get almost all the way through the booking process and then they tell you there's a two night minimum.

Hmmm...if it's not a budget hotel, I don't think groveling will help:) I've had this problem before too- either go during the week (if it's your bachelorette party, you can reschedule), give in and pay for 2 nights (I mean, you'll only have 1 bachelorette party- hopefully) or stay at a budget place- you'll save money, and anyway, how much time will you actually spend in the room? Go out and party, girl!

Okay...I guess I misunderstood your "EVERY" hotel statement.

My advice is the same as lcuy then, either accept 2 nights or call and plead your case.

Two nights is two nights - if that doesn't work for you, you should start looking in less popular resort areas. They demand two night bookings because they can.

Even if you would take several rooms - that will only screw up the hotel for the full weekend since they wouldn't be able to book two-nighters for their friday night arrivals.

Have you considered booking Fri and Sat? Maybe some of the girls would actually like to stay 2 nights. And if you are booking a block of rooms for 2 nights, they might cut you a deal on the per night rate.

Assuming that your bachelorette party is a "once in a lifetime" event.....just reserve and pay for 2 nights and stay for one.

A 2 night min only means you have to pay for 2 nights...not stay for 2 nights.

Look at it this way....with a two night stay, you won't have to roll out of bed the morning after your party to make the check out time. Have a long brunch, take your time. That would be worth a lot!! I hate those early checkouts. My coffee doesn't kick in until much later.

We like staying at Residence Inns when travelling and for the 2 BR suites they have a 2 night minimum but there is no penalty if you book for two nights and then cancel the 2nd night after you have stayed for the first so you might try contacting the hotel directly and see what their policy is for early cancellations.

We are often able to avoid the two-night minimum by booking close to the last minute--something you may not want to risk considering the circumstances.

On second thought, I think you should keep on trying. I found Best Western Kronborg Inn available for one Saturday night--October 14. I didn't try other Saturdays in October.

I don't think the OP wants a Best Western of equivalent.

>>> I guess I should clarify, I really don't want to stay at a budget motel, like the Vagabond or Days Inn. Those types of places seem to be the only places that allow a one night stay.<<<

Excuse me, but you said EVERY hotel requires a two-night minimum.

Also, I don't know that the Best Western Kronberg is the equivalent of a Day's Inn, but perhaps it is. I know it has a great location and that SOME Best Western properties are quite acceptable.

Dick's suggestion seems to be the right one for you--just because you pay for two nights doesn't mean you have to stay for two nights.

Or, you could move your party to a town with the kind of availability you require.

Do have an excellent time wherever you go and whatever you do.

Goodbye

This far out, forget it.

That Friday night you don't book will be lost revenue for the hotel. Who wants to go away for the weekend and only stay Friday night?

Hotels enforce minimum night stays because they can.

I also suspect the hotel anticipates selling out for that weekend.

My suggestion would be to either change accommodations or suck it up and pay for two nights.

Well said, GoT

crabbie-My daughter and her boyfriend are up against the same thing in Solvang in Sept. They only want to go for Sat night and wanted to stay someplace with a little charm, not your BW's or Day's Inn.

It's just not possible in that area to meet those requirements. So they are either going to go for 2 nights even though they won't get there late on Friday or will just stay somewhere that doesn't require 2 nights. They did call a couple of places but since they are almost booked up already, they aren't going to waive the 2 night minimum. I would book pretty quickly also. Seems likes the weekends at the nicer places fill up very quickly.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I wound up bcooking a Sat. night at the Best Western King Frederik. Doesn't look too bad and you're right, we won't be in the hotel the whole time. I would have loved to have stayed two nights but unfortunately everyone's schedule only allows for one night.

I think the reason I was able to get a one night at the Marriott before in Santa Ynez was that I booked it last minute.

I encountered the exact same problem when trying to book a hotel near Lincoln Park (Chicago) for my sister-in-law's bachelorette party, taking place the Saturday night of Labor Day weekend!!!

What worked for me (and calling and begging did NOT) was to book through www.priceline.com. I never book through them, but voila! I got two rooms for one night!

good luck!