happened to us when we flew to michigan for a wedding recently. we ended up spending the first night at our friends' house (to save money, of course), so what we did with our two night minimum hotel, is we called and told them our flight into detroit was cancelled and that we had to fly to chicago and rent a car and drive to michigan just in order to make it to the wedding in time. i hate lying, but it worked. saved us $$$.

Girls, please don't let the groom know about this. If you do, he may call the wedding off.

Nice emmynick.

B&Bs usually operate on shoestring budgets.

Think about their business if everyone did the same thing.

Emmynick, what you did was no better than breaking into the hotel and stealing cash equal to one night's rate. How do you sleep at night?

I agree fully with the previous two posters. It is cheating. It is stealing.

I do believe in karma.

emmy,

how would have liked it if the hotel lied to you and told you that a guest that was supposed to depart..has kept the room...and now they had no plasce for you?

Wow, Low Life on Fodors...what a concept.

I have debated putting my 2-cents in on this post but can't hold back !!

All of this is another example of the "me" aspect of society today. Rules are obviously for other people.

I can only hope that someday these people will own a hotel and find that weekends are their busy time (or holidays/whatever) and be faced with "customers" who expect them to give up one days revenue because they only want to stay one night.

Most resort/attraction areas have minimum stays certain times of the year or on weekends - get a grip and accept that. If you can't simply go elsewhere, but don't expect the world to revolve around you.

It is possible that Emmylick's ploy worked because the hotel knew it would have no difficulty in re-booking the room (or, even, that they had over-booked the hotel in the first place).

The only time I've been able to get out of a "firm" booking was on a trip to California when the weather was so bad that the governor urged that nobody travel unless absolutely necessary.

The line forms here for those who have not told a "white lie" to throw stones at the already throughly battered emmylick.

"It is a cruel censorious world we live in..."--from The Country Wife by William Wycherley.

happytrails,
Have any of us told a white lie?
Possibly. Probably?

Do we post it on a public forum and NOT expect negative feedback?
Probably not.

Do we post it on a travel forum as a potential strategy for "getting past a two night minimum".
For most of us, absolutely not!

This may fall into the realm of situational ethics, but it definitely falls in the realm of common sense.

To recommend that someone else use that strategy is completely unethical - IMO of course.

emmynick's ploy wouldn't work for a hen party anyway since we are talking about several rooms. I'm sure the hotelier would see right through it.

And give me a break "i hate lying, but it worked. saved us $$$. " Doesn't sound like you hate lying one little bit. You sound very proud of yourself to have saved a few bucks.

Dear Emmylick,

What's left for you?
Lick your wounds.
Repeat after me, "Sticks and stones...."
Grow a very thick skin.
Don't tell the truth again.
Change your screen name.

HTTY

My shock comes from having worked in the hotel business for many years and for a two year stretch at a small inn.

My bonus was tied to what the hotel did and yes, one night could make or break my bonus.

Also, try having a slew of reservations cancel one night and see what it does for a business.

I believe in Karma too.

A white lie IMO is a friend that has purchased a new outfit or has gotten a new hair style which she obviously loves and then proceeds to ask you if you like it. Sometimes the truth (your thinking) can be cruel so a "white lie" is kinder.

But IMO reserving for two nights and then knowing you are going to tell a lie about why you are not staying in the hotel the first night is dishonest. But than I am one if I have to cancel a restaurant reservation I call as soon as I know so that the restaurant can take a reservation from someone else. My credability is good with the restaurant, they don't lose money due to an empty table and someone that wants a reservation can possible get it. A "win win" situation for everyone.

No, I am certainly not a "goody two shoes" but I do try to treat others as I want to be treated.

our situation wasn't exactly the same - it wasn't planned ahead like what the other poster is looking for. we didn't decide on it until earlier that day.

this is a hotel that we were on a wait list for for several months for a friends wedding, that we were supposedly #2 on a waitlist for several months, and that NEVER called us when rooms became available, and that quoted us 3 different prices for staying with them, all within a matter of minutes.

This post is NOT about ethics. It's just to clarify on the Best Western chain, which isnt really a chain. BW hotels are individually owned and the BW "brand" does signify certain standards, but in reality it is a cooperative that shares booking, advertising and other costs. Many Best Westerns can be very very nice. We stayed in one in Arizona last year, found recommended on this forum, that was delightful.

What?
"This thread is not about ethics".
Maybe, maybe not.
But, this thread is certainly not "about Best Western".

Oh, sorry, tuscan. I misread.

You were referring to your post.

SORRY!!!! MY BAD!!!

LOL Starrsville, I read tuscanlifeedit the same way. The heat is making all of our brains a bit dense I believe. Hi tuscan, hope life is going well for you!

Thanks, Lovey. I can't believe SF is hotter that this ole South!