hotel bar taken over by drunk guests - what to do?

usignuolo

The OH and I are on a romantic break in Portugal. We are staying in a 4*hotel recommended for being elegant and quiet (Cost 120 euros per night B+B). The hotel is very nice and the staff very helpful. It is not that large - around 90 bedrooms- and a tour party of around 40 middle aged couples (Portuguese or maybe Spanish) arrived by coach last night It is now full.

The hotel does not serve evening meals and the restaurants and bars close on sundays here, so after venturing out to find an evening meal, with some difficulty, we returned to our hotel hoping to have a night cap in the bar. We found the bar had been completely taken over by the coach party who were playing cards and getting raucously drunk. The din was tremendous screeching and shouting.

There was a group of American academics in reception also staying here and they had sent one of their party out on a search for somewhere else to drink He reported in that there was a bar open in another hotel nearby and they all headed off there. We were too tired to go in search of somewhere else and decided to retire. I did make a complaint to the reception desk, as the group were getting louder and drunker by the minute, but he first pretended to misunderstand then shrugged.

Has anyone else any experience of this. Shouldn't a hotel's facilities be available to all the guests. I repeat it is supposed to be a quiet upmarket place and is full at present. I estimate the coach party occupy maybe 20 out of the 90 rooms. I think they should have opened up one of their conference rooms for them. I am thinking of giving the hotel a poor review as a result.

spiro

If they only occupied 20 of the 90 rooms (22%) but took over the bar it would imply to me that the hotel only had a small bar designed to cater for a small number of guests having a drink. This is not uncommon and can often result in the bar being jam packed. Their is nothing the hotel can do about this and I suspect the conference rooms would not be equipped with a bar.

If you booked through a travel agent then I would complain to them. Also if Portugal is like Spain then they will have an official complaints book which you can enter the complaint in.

usignuolo

You are right that the bar is a bit too small to accommodate a large number of guests at the same time but there is a hotel restaurant which was not in use as it does not serve evening meals (It is quite large and only half of it was laid to breakfast). Could the hotel not have sent the guests there and a waiter to serve them, it is immediately beneath the bar and when they havefunctions there they must have a bar set up there.

The American guests and I had retired to the front lobby which is next to the bar to have our drinks but there was so much shrieking and shouting from the bar it was impossible to hear yourself speak.

I really don't think a superior (quotes) 4* hotel should allow one set of guests to spoil things for the rest like this.

shellsuit

You obviously have a different idea of a holiday to the other people you are complaining about.

Some people like everything nice and quiet and others like to let their hair down and have quite a few drinks.

I don't know what to suggest, but I don't think the fact it is 4* and costs 120euros a night means that everyone has to tiptoe around being quiet.

Of course I know some people are inconsiderate, but what can the hotel do?

I'm sure they would rather you 2 were upset, than 20 other guests.

delwynshd

In all honesty this just sounds like they were having a good time

I can understand you might of wanted just to chill out in quiet surroundings but others may not want to do that

Once a group of 40 people get together they are going to be loud, the hotel isnt going to stop the others having drinks in the bar area because you want it to be quiet

You cant give a hotel a poor review based on one night of guests getting drunk in a bar

Sorry just to add also, you want the hotel to open the restaurant and send the guests into that part of the hotel????????????

blue_haddock

who would they rather upset - 2 guests having a quick nightcap or 40 people getting blind drunk in the hotel bar?

It seems to me you are making something out of nothing. THey were on holiday, people have a drink on holiday and enjoy themselves.

Boozer

I would say as long as they are not being offensive to the other guests then there is not much the hotel can do.

Why not join them and maybe you will enjoy yourself aswell.

photome

They were playing cards drinking and having fun in an hotel bar, unless they were swearing and being abusive what is there to complain about?

richardw

120 Euros a night doesn't guarantee 'up market' though.

johnnyroper

no advice or comment to add as such,but it does make a change from being group of brits getting bladdered and loud as is normally the case!!!!

greenface

Me and my friends Jose and Jose b were celebrating as we do every year in the same hotel we always book about 20 rooms . We celebrate a good years profit and always have a good drink and a game of cards we end up singing and having a small dance. This year a American and British couple (think they were american and british although i was too ignorant to ask or find out) as i wasnt possibly in their country. Anyhouse theys were complaining and pulling faces because we were having a good time this went on until long after coronation street had finished by this time after bible studies and prayers we all went to bed ONLY TO BE WOKEN AROUND 9 OR 10 THE FOLLOWING DAY BY THE SAME COUPLE SLAMING THE DOORS OF THEIR ROOM AS THEY WENT OUT . Strong letter of complaint by us to the manager when he wakes up.