My husband and I decided at the last minute this weekend to go downtown Indianapolis to dine, wine, and sleep. The Circle City is always fun and we needed some couple time. However, it didn’t go quite as expected and yes it involves a freebie.
When we arrive at our hotel, the clerk asks if we would like a free night’s stay. Of course we both kind of look at each other and think to ourselves, what is the catch? I’m thinking some kind of credit card or something like that.
He proceeds to tell us that the Westin was oversold and we could still stay there but we had the option of going to another hotel in the same area for a free night. Okay, so of course, me being cheap, I’m like sure. My husband wants to just stay there because it will be a pain to go somewhere else at this point, we had dinner reservations in 35 minutes, etc. I **should** have listened to him.
The clerk says we can stay at the Columbia Club, which is a historic hotel on the circle. It is comparable to the Westin’s accommodations. “Historic.” Okay, sounds interesting, plus it is free and we really are just using it as a place to crash our heads after dinner, and uh, maybe a bit of wine!
We head over there, check in without a hitch, giggled about the wonderful view of the parking garage from our room, and make our dinner reservations with three minutes to spare. Plus, we ended up saving on over night parking by around $15 by parking in a public garage instead of Westin’s garage.
I will say, I was less than impressed with our room at the Columbia Club. Everything was “historic” ie, very outdated and worn looking. Not impressive and shiny like the Westin at all. Maybe, I just don’t appreciate vintage, I think.
We get back from dinner early a bit later, but not too late because we are getting older and don’t want to stay out too late. Once, we get back, we notice loud voices from the next room. It sounds like kids. No big deal because it is still pretty early. By the way, dinner was fabulous. We had a great server and delicious food from Harry & Izzy’s. I highly recommend trying them out! At least it was a bright spot in our evening.
Midnight rolls around and I’m ready to go to bed because I can’t keep my eyes open to play anymore Angry Birds or read the book on my Kindle app any longer. I’ve had a busy week along with a nasty cold so I was ready to rest at this point. That’s not happening because there is still a party going on in the next room.
I really didn’t want to get anyone in trouble because obviously they were underage if they weren’t enjoying the assortment of late night activities that the Circle City offers. So I **try** to go to sleep. I know I slept while these kid probably snuck out to go to the Steak ‘n Shake. Yes, the walls were that thin, I could hear everything they were talking about if I tried. Though, I did agree that Monday (Valentine’s Day) was just another Monday and not really a special day as one of the guys shared about a fight he had with his presumed girlfriend (ex?).
I think I may have fluttered in and out but the loud noise, the door opening and shutting just didn’t bode well with me at all. Around 3:44 a.m., I decided I had enough and called the front desk. Then 15 minutes later, my husband called them because they had woken him up as well. They sent security up, it quieted for a little while but not for long before the farting and laughter started again. (At this point, we should have just checked out and drove the hour home.)
At one point, I almost asked them through the door to get me some ice while they went to the ice machine as I was drinking tap water.
I felt like I was in a fog by 5:30 a.m. when these people (kids?) were still awake and being loud. Apparently, their friend who they had been looking for previously came back to the room with Jimmie Johns. At least that is what it sounded like. I mean, come’on people, it’s way past bed time at this point. I called the front desk for now the total of three times. They came up and had a talk with them. It finally got quiet (sort of).
I’m really guessing this was a room of unsupervised kids, who snuck out to go to Steak ‘n Steak, and ruined my whole night and now have my sleep pattern completely disrupted.
I also shared my concerns again with the front desk at the Columbia Club in the morning as we were checking out. They said there wasn’t anything they could for me since I didn’t pay for my room. Uh, the Westin paid for my room, I was planning on staying somewhere I could actually sleep. It is very frustrating. They said security didn’t think the people were being loud. Of course, they could probably hear me calling and complaining to the front desk so they knew they should simmer down for a few minutes. They couldn’t do anything if they were just up and making noise. Try being the one who has to get up the next day to attend two basketball games in a loud gym on basically no sleep.
I was given the card of the manager of the Columbia Club, who might, says the clerk give me a free meal or something if we want to come eat there. Probably not. I really doubt I would even want a free stay at this hotel for a my free stay. In fact, I’m now displeased with the Columbia Club AND the Westin, for selling me short on this “Free Night.”
Okay, the moral of this story. A FREEBIE is not always a freebie. I originally planned this great night, which I was going to splurge a bit for a nice room. Instead, I got trapped into this situation by being CHEAP and trying to be a nice person. Eric at the Westin looked so frazzled that we were considering not taking the freebie, after all who wouldn’t want a freebie?
Am I crazy for thinking I should be able to sleep at a hotel?
Cynthia
A bad hotel experience happened about 20 years ago for me near Chicago, IL. I made special reservations at a very upscale hotel. When we got to our location, we walked into the hotel room, i took off my shoes & my socks/nylons got wet. Then i proceeded to throw back the comforter/sheets & found dirty sheets. It was gross! We ended up moving out of that room for a temporary time until they “fixed the room”, i guess…we had a drink in the bar. I sent a letter to the president of the hotel, I received an apology letter with a very nice complementary stay. It was worth typing up the letter & we did return, and ended up having a great time. Best wishes with the Westin! Personally, I’d avoid Indi downtown, not really safe anymore.
Delia
We’ve traveled all over the states and have had issues but we demand a new room until we are satisfied. Period. I’m surprised you didn’t demand a new room regardless what time it was. Even after the first time you called or the second time or the third. Was not asking for a room worth the sleep you lost and aggravation you gained?
Briana Carter
If I was going to be switched to another room at that point I would have drove the 45 minutes HOME. :)
Debi
A similar incident happened to me recently when we went to my daughter’s town to help her look for a house to buy. This hotel, only had 8 rooms in the entire 3 story place rented out the night we stayed, but they put the “up all night, laughing, banging around, yelling” kids in a room beside ours. At first I thought it was morning and I was hearing showers and people leaving their rooms (doors banging) like you sometimes can in hotels. I looked at the clock and it 3 am. I didn’t even go to sleep until midnight. Anyway I called the front desk and said you need to get up here…either there are a bunch of kids tearing up your place or someone is killing somebody over there. She says…what room number are you? (I’m thinkin’, you don’t know?) I tell her and she says “oh, I know what it is” and she said kids. They apparently called them because they quieted down some. Anyway next morning I asked for compensation (you’ll never get it unless you ask) They didn’t have the authority but said they’d ask the manager. I was told we might get a discount on our “next” visit. I wasn’t pleased with that, but decided to take it because we didn’t find a house and I’m sure we’ll be back. I also told them, if those kids are still here tonight, you need to move them, or we’re going to move OUT of the hotel. They said they were not going to be there. Honestly I felt why should “I” be the one to move? If I moved..it would be to another hotel. We did get a card from the manager for 20% off our next visit…not great, but better than nothing. Good luck to you and tell them what compensation you will accept. I think they owe you a room for another time.
CJ
I am always dismayed at how noisy and inconsiderate some people are at hotels/motels, even at places that are supposed to be nice. You would think people would try to be quiet, being that it’s supposed to be a place to rest and sleep, but that’s not the case. I usually go out of my way to be quiet, keep the tv low, come and go quietly, not running the shower very late or very early, etc. There are too many impolite people in the world, no matter what kind of establishment you stay at.
Fairygirl
You poor thing! I was exhausted just reading your account of the night. I have to say that I probably would have done the same thing, but NO, it was not too much to expect that you would be able to get a good night’s sleep. We live and learn, and if I ever find myself in a similar situation, I will definitely decline and go for the little splurge. At least you had a fabulous dinner, and don’t forget the $15 you saved parking in the public garage :) PLUS you had a really entertaining story to tell everyone! Thanks for sharing, dale
Anna
Friday night was the first night my husband and I were down on the circle looking around. We were both wondering what the Columbia Club was. It totally looked old school but still kinda swanky. I’m glad to know the real scoop now and will never be tempted to stay or dine there.
I agree about those that suggested you contact Westin. They should know because they are referring people there.
As for the building codes, there may be codes but it doesn’t mean every wall is up to code. I lived in a condo and could literally hear the cat purring in the adjacent condo. Finally, after a year, I complained that there was something wrong. There was just no way I should be hearing the screen saver of my neighbor. Turns out the wall was built without insulation and with the 2x4s next to each other so all the noise would transfer. Moral of the story – not all walls are up to code, even “historic” ones.
So sorry about your crappy stay.
Sherrie Lopez
You are not in the wrong. It doesn’t matter who paid for the room or if it was free. You are entitled to be able to sleep and relax when you go to a hotel. If you wanted to listen to all the noise you had to, then you would have gone to some roadside motel. That’s where the kids next door should have been. I’ve stayed at Motel 6 and a couple of other cheaper places and not had noise problems like that. If nothing else, the “historic” hotel could have moved the kids next door or offered you another room. You know the staff there has to be aware of how thin the walls are. I would send a letter of complaint to both hotels and the managers. I might even go over the managers head. It was very disrespectful that the staff or security couldn’t get the kids to settle down and to tell you that the noise didn’t seem so bad. The same is also true about them thinking you were just trying to get a free meal comped or something like that. I would also write a review of their hotels and outline the problems that occurred. I’m pretty sure you aren’t the first person to complain. The whole point of the evening was that you had plans for a nice evening for your husband and you. That was taken away from you through no fault of your own. If anything, I would expect the Westin to comp you another night for your trouble. Some people might think I’m a bitch to complain but I believe there are times that nice just doesn’t work and you have to stand up for yourself.
louise
Sorry about your getaway
The hotel should have cared enough to solve the problem. If something would have happened with the kids next door, they would have to worry about $$$ and lawsuits (press).
Downtown cant be blamed for the incident. This problem happens everywhere.
I hope you contact the Westin. good luck
wilisons
Sounds to me like you really need to complain to the Westin and ask for a free night THERE!
Amber
Man I am so sorry about this! I think I would cry. I would suggest you go to the Westin about this because they are the ones that referred you there. Hopefully they will at least give you a discount. :) I have said free food taste better, but maybe the same thing doesn’t apply to hotels stays.
trisanna
i am so sorry to hear about this! Like the other posters, i would definately contact the local Westin manager, maybe the rooms manager and complain, as this looks bad on Westin’s part. They recommending you to a hotel that is sub-standard and doesn’t treat their guests well. And it doesn’t matter that you didn’t pay for your room, the staff at the Columbus Circle hotel should have treated you better. I think you should send the manager of the hotel link to this article in your blog. Now you have hundreds of people who would never stay there!
Lisa C
I think you should contact the Westin and complain to them. It is their fault they were “overbooked” and their fault that they recommended that you stay at the Columbia Club. I think that the Westin still owes you a nice, peaceful and relaxing stay along with a few other amenities thrown in! That’s just my opinion! Sorry it was such a bad experience for you and your husband!
Cherie from the Queen of Free
BOO Columbia Club. I’d personally stay away from the Embassy Suites downtown, too. We stayed there with the Groupon and it was outdated and a little sketchy. :/ YES, call the Westin and complain. And tell them you’re going to call everyday and complain until they do something to make up for it. ;)
Briana Carter
outdated and sketchy! (giggle)
Rachel @ The Lazy Christian
Oh, boo! What a rotten experience. And who cares if you didn’t pay for the room? You’re a guest just the same. What a shameful way to treat people. I hope your sleep has gotten back on track!
Karen
So sorry about your terrible stay. No sleep sucks, especially after having a cold! Just because you didn’t pay anything does not mean you deserve to be treated any differently. Talk to the manager! I would even call back the Westin as they were the ones who booked you there so that they know for the future what future stays could be like. I had a similar experience where I “won” a package to stay at French Lick while they were in the throws of renovations. We drove 5 hours each way for our wedding anniversary and clearly the place should have been closed due to the renovations. I wanted to stay there because I had won a free room…my hubby was disgusted and we drove 5 hours each way. He called the radio station where I won my prize from and they offered to give us a different prize but he said no. Free doesn’t mean you deserve anything less. Wonder how the Westin and the hotel you stayed out would feel if they would know you were blogging to a few thousand readers!
jennifer
No way! Not crazy at all. Each guest should be treated the same. You could bring a lot of business if you had a nice night, anyone could. This reminds me when I bought a 50% off Groupon for a facial. The lady told me she didn’t do certain things for the Groupon deals that she did for regular priced deals. So… I paid less to het less? Not quite a deal and I was trying her out for a permanent place to get my facials. She lost out on major future income.
Thank you for sharing this one. We should all get nice experiences whether we got a deal or not.
Shawnna
Yes, you should be able to sleep!!
Personally, I would have asked for another room.
Hubs and I planned our night away from children during the Girl Scouts Convention. Do’h!! Needless to say we were in a room next to a bunch of kids. :/ I called down the front desk and explained that we had planned a night away from our children and that I could hear the conversations from the girls next door. I asked if there was anyway we could change rooms. I didn’t ask for an upgrade or anything like that, I just asked politely to be moved. We were moved and got an upgrade : ) This was at the Crowne Plaza. Another historic hotel downtown. It is not out dated or worn by any means!
jane fague
oh !!! i love Harry &Izzys !!!! great food …. AND YES !!! yOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO sleep at a hotel ….. WOW!! you should let the Westin know NOT to send anyone to the columbia …i’m sure they would not want everyone upset with them that they send there !!!! OH !!! and Bri i am leaving for a 3 day trip with Patti this morn….. we are staying at the Eversave deal to the Birdsong Prairie B & B …so i will give you a review on our girls getaway there. leave my work til friday ….. I will b ready to work !!!
jeff
I would have found a way to find a radio, turn it to a talk radio station, crank it up, place it next to the wall adjoining the room that kept you up all night, and check out. Let them listen to it all day while THEY wanted to sleep !!!.. Just sayin, thats just me though. :-)
Briana Carter
I don’t think they ever went to sleep! :) Or they slept after we left the hotel in the morning! LOL!
Zeloguy
Firstly let me say that anyone that goes on any type of outing/vacation should expect to have a good time.
I have some thoughts about the fiasco though…
Lets start with our constants before we get into the variables:
1. The Westin is a 4-star hotel. In a quick look at tripadvisor.com front page there are no 1-star and only 1 2-star user reviews.
2. The Columbia Club is an old club turned into a hotel. 2-one star reviews and 2-two star reviews on the front page.
3. There is nothing such as ‘thin walls’. We live in America and with that comes codes. The building code for one building is no different than the building code for another. Here is Indiana’s building code as it pertains to walls — http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/construction/code/Building-Code-Boston/Section-23-Thickness-of-Walls-Basement-Wall.html
Now with that all said and done…
My questions are…
Could the same thing have happened at the Westin that happened at the Columbia Club?
— I have stayed at (literal) 5-star hotels and had the same bad experiences — both in the US (Lake Tahoe comes to mind), Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe (namely France), and Africa (Morocco).
Tahoe we were “upgraded” to a suite from a double room. The suite only had one bedroom and I was with my brother and his wife… guess who slept on the couch. And what happened to the room we reserved? Taken… given to someone else. (Again we are talking FIVE-STAR resorts here)
Mexico – how about mold on the sheets at La Playa Mejeres. (yeap *****).
Europe – so dirty that we had to find another hotel (from a **** hotel to *½). And the other was a suite I paid for in advance (won’t do that again! that was over a BUS STATION, literally)
Morocco – let’s not even go there. Off the floor is ****.
We’ve all had bad experiences. And whilst I think it is GREAT that you are a bargain hunter (aren’t we all these days? Even those that stay in swanky hotels still check their iPhone for the best rate before booking), it was not because of you being cheap that got you into the situation you described.
In fact is my view that Westin is DOUBLY at fault, and the Columbia Club at the most partially at fault. Was it not the Westin that “overbooked” which led you to where you ended up? Did the Westin do anything about the problems you were having when they were occuring? Did they do anything afterwards?
And in the meantime, the Columbia Club gets some couple walking into their hotel that’s not on their reservation list and which from a $110/night hotel are probably (I am speculating here) getting half that; if not less.
I called the Columbia Club and was told that there is no policy on curfews. When I asked about flatulence they hung up on me. I didn’t feel the need to call back and explain myself.
Almost 4 hours went by before anything was even said… you just ‘put up with it’? I know if it were me (and again it has been over and over again), I would simply ask for another room. By 4am I can completely understand you wouldn’t even WANT another room.
My point is this… it’s not a ‘freebie gone bad’. It’s a
‘I had a bad experience at this hotel’
‘I got shafted by Westin’ (no offense to anyone w/the name Westin)
To me a ‘freebie gone bad’ is a house burns down because someone bought some generic non-regulated illegal razor from China.
A ‘freebie gone bad’ is getting a ‘free’ magazine and ending up with so much junk mail in your mailbox you have to drive to the post office to pick it up.
You had a bad night’s sleep (how and why are moot) not a disaster.
Briana Carter
Well, personally, I thought it was a little ridiculous to ask for a new room at 11pm.
I can call this a freebie gone bad if I want – sorry that you don’t agree!
I wasn’t even offered another room.
I have not contacted the Westin yet. This just happened on Saturday night.
jennifer
Zeloguy,
That’s Boston’s codes. Also, codes change over the years. Since that building is so old, their walls were permitted to be a lot thinner. Unless renovations have taken place in the area of the walls, they are not forced to change them. There is definitely such thing as thin walls.
Zeloguy
@Briana — your blog so yes you can call it what you will… just wanted to shed another angle to the story.
@jennifer — apologies for the wrong link. I was originally looking at Indiana then closed the Tab and typed into my browser. Point is well taken that indeed it IS an old building but again in America there ARE codes. I really don’t want to put any more effort into this post as I think all parties have made their points but I would guess that if I looked there is a license that is needed to be a ‘hotel’ and as such current codes need to be met.
As I said I’ve had it happen to me many times… from what Briana posted I squarely put most of the blame on Westin (and Indianapolis [from Baltimore; we don’t forget! hehe]). Sorry for the bad exerience and two thumbs down to both establishments.
Angela R
Oh my goodness, I would have been sooo upset! A night away from the kids is a rarity for my husband and I, so if I would’ve gotten somewhere with the hope of sleep only to be disrupted? I probably would’ve been in tears.
I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope you’ll somehow get the chance to “redo” a special night away.
ann b
sorry for the bad night-it should not matter whether or not you paid for the room (this visit might have made you a customer in the future).Me , I would be on the phone talking to someone higher up even of it had to be (pardon the expression) the person who sat at the right side you you know WHO– THE BIG GUY to get my message across and then do the same with the Westin
Tammy
I’m sorry that happened to you! Not fun at all. I think you should let the Westin know what a horrible place they gave you for free! They should offer you a free night at their own hotel to make it up!!
Chris O
I have always wondered what the Columbia Club was like….now, unfortunately I know! So sorry to hear of your stay….I have had too many awful, sleepless nights just like yours, and they are no fun. I was downtown Indy on Saturday and it was filled with kids from the state high school wrestling tournament and the girls sectional basketball games. I would suggest letting the Westin know of your experience, they have always been very accomodating to me, it wouldn’t surprise me if they comp’d you a free night stay at their property in the future.
Briana Carter
I wondered if it was wrestling tournament was downtown…my husband thought they weren’t…we saw some parents with a schools name (to be remain nameless) on their bags. I felt like they were giving me dirty looks as they overheard my comments….but I was probably being paranoid! LOL! :)
Yes, Columbia Club is not all it is cracked up to be, in my opinion.
Jasmine
Wow, that’s really unfortunate. :( My boyfriend is so terrified of messing up other people’s sleep/vacations at hotels that we haven’t stayed in a hotel room longer than 6 hours with our 2 year old daughter. (OH, did I mention that was when we drove from CT to TX to move and it was a 30 hour drive and we FINALLY stopped for 6 hours of sleep?!)
Briana Carter
Honestly, I could understand LITTLE kids or babies much easier and probably could actually sleep through that! :) This was just quiet – then really loud, banging, etc…I would guess they were high school boys but I can’t say for sure as I never actually saw them! :)
Sara
That is a GREAT pic of the Circle! Honestly, I’d never noticed the Columbia Club, but I’ve stayed at the Westin before and it’s super nice. Walls that thin are no fun, so I’ll make a mental note to never stay there. I’ve heard great things about Harry and Izzy’s and dining there is on my to-do list. Thanks for the heads up about the hotel and you are right, sometimes a freebie is not always free!
Duffy Teague
I would defintely talk to the manager of the Columbia Club AND the Westin if I were you. If the Westin gets word of this, they may not recommend the Columbia Club – it gives the Westin a bad name too! Trust me – I deal with hotels all of the time – this time it’s not what you can get out of it for free! Good luck!!!!
Mitchell Wischmann
I had an experience exactly like this in Boston. The kids next door even had the guts to knock on our door and run back to their room! We could hear exactly what they were saying through the wall too!
Briana Carter
Aggravating!!!! Where are these parents? Sleeping soundly in some other part of the botel probably!
Cindy D
I have never slept(have stayed in but not slept) in a hotel because of noises and doors slamming on other rooms etc. Every time we plan a trip I shudder at the thought of hotel staying. Sorry you had a bad Indy visit. As I live in Indianapolis I can honestly say I do not see the draw to visit downtown. DOH! Not a good thing to say but I hate downtown Indy. It’s dirty, hateful people and anymore dangerous.
Briana Carter
I like the mall and the food! :) It’s always fun before Colts games too. But I agree, I did feel more unsafe walking the streets downtown than I ever have in the past – because of all the recent shootings downtown. We did notice a HUGE police presence near Circle Center.
Sara
I find it funny you think it’s dirty. Every visitor I’ve had since I’ve lived in Indy (5) comment on how clean downtown is compared to other cities. I personally love downtown! I think it just depends on your age and interests.
4th Frog
I am so sorry to hear this. I would have done what you did. The Columbia Club has long been a hallmark of swank and luxury in Indianapolis. As for you deserving lesser service b/c of what you paid (or didn’t) for your room? WRONG. Too bad the Columbia Club messed with the wrong bargainista.
Briana Carter
Not swanky – at least the floor we stayed on! :) They probably stuck us on a lesser floor since we weren’t “paying.” Though, the Westin was supposedly paying for it so someone was paying for it!