In fairness, I cannot comment on the inside of a bedroom in this hotel or what the breakfast is like, etc. because we never managed to stay inside the building. I booked a twin bedroom for my adult son and I from an internet cafe in Marrakesh where the printer was not working. Therefore, I just took down the name, address and telephone number of the hotel together with the booking reference.
We arrived into Beauvais airport quite late and were able to catch the last airport shuttle bus at 11.15 p.m. We were delivered into the middle of a dark industrial estate and on walking towards the hotel at approx. 11.40 p.m., we were met by a closed gate. We tried pressing the intercom but there was no reply. Luckily, or so we thought, a mini-bus approached to leave the grounds, the gate opened and we walked in. This is where the nightmare started. The gate closed behind us and we went to the reception building to check-in only to find that the place was completely closed up. I tried calling the telephone number that I had jotted down but there was no reply and there was no emergency or out-of-hours number written on the reception door. As my son succinctly put it 'Mum, we're screwed'! Yes, we were. There was no way out of the grounds and nothing else to do but bunker down in the freezing cold 'sleeping' (no chance) under a covered stairwell.
I completely agree with the review below stating that this was a potentially dangerous situation not just because of funds or language but also in case of a medical problem or fire.
The following morning we knocked on the reception door at around 6.15 a.m. to be told they didn't open until 6.30 p.m. However, it turned out that the lady we spoke to was 'reception'. We explained what had happened and she merely shrugged her shoulders and said it was not her fault if I hadn't read that they close reception at 11.00 p.m. She went on to say that it is written on all the websites. I have since checked and, yes, it is but in small print and if one is booking an airport hotel room surely they should stay open until after the last airport shuttle bus has finished its rounds. It certainly didn't occur to me to that a hotel like this would close so early.
We happen to be in the hotel business in Ireland and if I thought any receptionist of ours would be so rude, she would be shown the door pretty quickly. There was absolutely no sympathy shown, no offer of a hot drink and when I asked to use the ladies, the lights wouldn't work. I had to seek her out because she was preparing for breakfast and when she couldn't get them to come on she just shrugged again and disappeared. At that point, we left to wait for the first shuttle bus back to the airport.
So, to cut a long and horrible story short, if you are thinking of staying here, read the small print. When I asked if she was going to put the payment through, she said she would have to refer to her manager. If they do process payment (75.00 euro), I will dispute it to the last.
It's the first time that I have had to sleep rough and I hope to goodness I will never have to again.
- Campanile Hotel Beauvais
