Surprise experience in Hobart, Tasmania! - scoring freebies!
On my recent trip to Tasmania I received a free upgrade in our hotel stay. Needless to say it was a bit of a surprise!
I had arrived at Hobart airport around 8am after getting up at about 5:30am to head to Melbourne to catch our flight so needless to say I was already weary at the beginning of the holiday (yay for red-eye flight specials)
After scrambling to catch the Skybus before its next departure and sitting on the 30 min or so drive to Hobart city the only real thing I wanted to do was to drop my bags at the hotel so I could get out and explore.
If you have ever had an early arriving flight, one of the most annoying things to deal with is what to do with baggage before the typical hotel check in.
Now I am a pretty trusting person, and my experience (touch wood) is always that most accommodations if you ask nicely enough will allow you to leave your bags and hold them securely until you are able to check in. Bear in mind, I usually travel quite light with just carry on and don't usually have items of much value if things were to go missing, always taking my camera, laptop etc in a small satchel wherever I go.
So, after jumping off the Skybus and Battling the bitter cold Antarctic wind I arrive at the hotel for the first two nights of my 4 night Tasmanian stay an batter my eyelids and put on my nicest voice requesting to leave my bag before check in, I mean who wants to carry around an extra 7kg if they don't have to!
Arriving at reception and batting my eyelids and politely requesting to leave my bag, the host services member Dan immediately (and without me asking) calls housekeeping to see if there were any rooms available for early check-in.
Great! I think, this will be ideal. I can have a shower to freshen up, put something a tad warmer on and either have a 30 min power nap (totally not an early riser) and start exploring the city.
After hanging up the phone, he says great news! there is a room available and more than welcome to check in early. After doing the usual of leaving details I eagerly head towards the wing where we are staying. 8:30am checkin is not bad considering it should be 2pm.
With a smile on my face i gleefully swipe the card to my room, It flashes green and I am in. Just as I am about to take my first steps inside i hear a trembling voice and suddenly see a half naked man before me.
Hello? I still in here, he says, probably thinking it is housekeeping. I am not. After the initial shock of seeing him in his pants and open shirt with his pilot hat on the desk, he quickly re-assures me he has not yet checked out but is on his way to doing so.
As i laugh awkwardly I quickly apologise and explain that the front desk has obviously made a mistake and walk backwards through the door to wish him a good day before standing outside a little stunned.
Checks the room card. Yep, right room. Checks the room card cardboard holder. Yep, still right room. Time to head to reception.
After stalling back to reception and explaining that I had just walked into the room with the previous occupant still in a state of undress a look of horror quickly spread across Dan the host services mans face.
Profusely apologising and explaining that housekeeping had made a mistake and that there were no other rooms available i left my bags to await a call till actual check in.
I was exploring Hobarts CBD when i got the call to come back and check into my room. After the earlier mis-hap i had been upgraded to a one bedroom suite, with added buffet breakfast and a bottle of champagne back in my room.
Considering I had purchased some freeze dried chocolate dipped strawberries nothing could have been more perfect.
The old Woolstore had more than made up for itself and things were looking up.