Today was my first real encounter with discrimination against ‘large’ families.
My husband called to make reservations at a hotel.
We wanted to use our ‘points’ to get connecting rooms so we could have a little privacy.
Well, first of all the hotel “The Comfort Inn, on Mistletoe Lane in Redding CA” has no adjoining rooms.
Okay, no problem. We’ll take a regular room with 2 beds.
Sorry, you have too many people for one room.
I beg your pardon?
Now, if you have read my blog at all lately, you know that we have been travelling extensively, as a family for the last 3 months. We have stayed in multiple hotels, once with all five kids and the dog, and had NO problems.
We even stayed at that very same Comfort Inn on Mistletoe Lane less than 30 days ago with no problem.
But today, 2 adults and 4 children- ages 13, 10, 3, & 1- were too many people for one room. It was a violation of the fire code.
Um, okay.
So after 4 phone calls and going around & around & AROUND with this, they finally seemed about to get past the ‘fire code’ issue.
Their next objection?
The hotel would normally charge us extra to use a crib but they don’t have any cribs. (They are sounding really family friendly aren’t they?)
So, we’ll have to bring our own crib.
We don’t have a crib. Our baby sleeps with us.
You don’t have crib?
No.
How about a playpen?
Nope.
Do you have anything like a crib?
How about a cardboard box?
Apparently one cannot travel with a baby and stay in a hotel without a crib. Whether you actually use one or not.
The moral of this story is: we were refused lodging at The Comfort Inn on Mistletoe Lane in Redding CA because we have too many kids for their liking.
Needless to say, I am not writing this from The Comfort Inn. I am writing this from our suite at the The Quality Inn on Hilltop Drive in Redding CA.
They have no problems with our 4 kids or our dog & we are quite pleased with our room.
If I can figure out how, I am going to send this blog post to the Comfort Inn folks along with an e-mail expressing our displeasure at their family-unfriendly policies.
I believe we were discriminated against for having more than the ‘politically correct’ 1.8 children per couple.
What do you think?
Blessings.
Edited to add: I tried to close comments to this entry to prevent any more name calling. As a result ALL of the comments disappeared. That was not my intention but I do not know how to get them back. LKS
Doesn't sound good. I can't believe they had a problem with you sleeping with your baby.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved your post. I just could not help but laugh. The way that you described everything was priceless. It seems like that is how it is with "customer service" these days. I can totally relate to the kids thing. I only have three but like you put it we are over the 1.8 norm. Sorry that you had to go through that situation but I am glad that you guys were able to find a hotel that was accomodating to your family's needs.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes and God Bless,
Candy
Is this post slanderous? No. I would question, why a person can't express their opinion? If this post was slanderous, numerous review sites would be encouraging others to slander as well, (yelp.com, tripadvisor.com, etc.) Do you work for Comfort Inn takeadeepbreath?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is so much discrimination as it is bureaucracy at it's finest. Is it not conceivable that the "codes" that are in place are there to protect the hotel from lawsuit in the event of a fire? Or that they work out to the hotel's favor by allowing them to charge more money for larger families? I also wonder why other hotels are not abiding by the "codes"?
Many families choose to let their babies sleep with them, (co-sleeping). That is a family's choice and right, (until Washington decides to change that "code" too). It is non of the hotel's business nor is up for their approval.
Spreading the word, (which is what this post does) is helpful for other families in making a decision about where to bring their "large" families to stay or not stay when traveling in the area.
These are legitimate laws being enforced by the motel and with good reason. The one that DID allow your family to stay is breaking the law and putting everyone else in the building at risk if a fire occurs. If you don't believe these are actual laws look up the fire codes or contact the Redding Fire Chief himself. Here is his info John Kaylor
ReplyDelete(530) 225-4573.
I have 3 children and have been required to purchase a certain number of rooms with certain number of beds to insure the safety of all in the case of an emergency. I'd rather pay the extra $80 to $100 to keep them safe than to pack them in the room only to be trampled or injured if they are trying to escape through the one and only door they have access to.
Why shouldn't you follow the same set of standards as everyone else? Why is it that you cry discrimination simply because you can't have it YOUR way? Do you not realize the motel that accepted you did so because they pitied you?
Gee whiz!!! I am so sorry you had so many problems with this company. Sad isn't it......because they just made a BAD NAME for themselves....not only for your family.....but anyone you talk to or who reads your blog. Shameful.
ReplyDeleteSo it's a sin to have a big family and not have your baby sleep in a crib now huh??? Awful!
Things certainly have changed over the years. When I was little, my two olders brothers, myself and my parents would travel all the time and they never asked how many children were in your party and such....they just asked if two beds were enough room. I slept in my makeshift bed, which was two chairs put together. I was little and fit it it just perfectly as a toddler. Sometimes if they didn't have nice chairs, I slept on the floor on some blankets. I guess this company would have thought that was awful!! I really wanted you to say, we are going to make her sleep in the dresser drawer and see what they had to say about that. LMSO
If need be, cut, copy and paste, or print it out and mail it to them. I guarantee you, it won't be ignored. Probably will get some free coupons for stays. LMSO
God's Blessings,
Amy Jo
Sounds like it to me, too!
ReplyDeleteShame on them!
A Family is a gift from God, and ANY hotel that is not willing to work out whatever is needed to accomidate them, does not deserve their business.
Cudos to the one that DID!
Blessings to y'all!
In Him,
Bev
Takeadeepbreath,
ReplyDeleteSweetie YOU need to take a deep a breath. We were trying to stay in a 400 sqf suite w/ double king beds NOT a regular room. The room we are currently in still only has 2 beds. In the event of a fire do you honestly believe it is safer for my children to be in a room alone with no connecting door? Or for my husband & I to be split up so that we don't have one another to count on for help? This was not about our family 'being cheap'. We were willing to pay whatever we needed to pay. This was about The Comfort Inn being unable/unwilling to accomodate a family w/ more than 2 children.
If you find my blog slanderous I suggest you don't read it anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
Read the previous comment,
The hotel had NO rooms to accomodate us. That is the point of the post. Again, do you really think putting our children in a room alone is safe? Or splittling up the parents so that they are struggling alone in case of emergency?
We travel extensively as family. We have never had this problem before.
We LIVE in an 1000 sqf house. I think 400 sqf is plenty of room for us to sleep for 1 night.
Everything about this situation is discriminatory to large families.
Again, the point of the post was that The Comfort Inn WOULD NOT accomodate us in any
way.
And thanks for the thought but I hardly think we are here because pity. I think it is because this hotel can accomodate families.
The hotel explained the fire code to me. It is NOT based on the number of beds; it is based on “air space” in the room. According to the hotel they would let us have the suite with two king beds but a crib was required. They first said that they would provide one. But then they discovered that they did not have one; even though they are supposed to have one to offer. If I had brought one we could have stayed there; or if I had lied about having one; we could have stayed there. The point is that they were not able to provide accommodations for us. Oh, and we sent a copy of this post to the hotel to give them a chance to respond.
ReplyDelete