Etap in France: late arrival & automatic check-in

James_H

I'm off to France tomorrow evening, staying overnight at the Coquelles Etap before heading further the next day. I won't be likely to arrive until about midnight their time.

Has anyone experience of the automatic check-in that's used after 22:00? According to the website, my booking seems guaranteed and I just turn up with credit card, put it in the machine, follow the instructions and get my key card. But I'm a bit puzzled on a few things:

• Are there any issues with UK chip & pin cards, which I have read are not always accepted at some places in France e.g. petrol pumps?
• I believe I need the keycard to get in the car park. But can I park anywhere temporarily to check-in?
• Is my reservation really guarnateed or should I phone up to inform of my late arrival?
• Is there anyone at all around to help if it goes pear-shaped?

Thanks in advance for any quick replies!

James

sca

James,

Make sure you use the credit card you booked with otherwise it will not work. There is a facility to choose the language (English) and follow the instruction. The machine will issue you with a code for the main door and the room and print a copy as well.

- I do not think you will need chip and pin.
- You may have to rely on someone else turning up if you can not get in. Not a problem normally.
- If you booked through the website, it is guarateed. You can double check on the website with booking Code.
- In case of problems, remember that the Manager normally lives onsite most of the time however do not disturb if you can help.

Regards,

sca

redux

I've turned there up both with and without reservations.

The gate is for 3 or 4 (other Accor brands) hotels there, and has an intercom button on the control box as well as the card reader. There is someone presumably in the reception of the more up-market ones who will let you in, sometimes before you even call them.

At some of their other hotels, there is a pedestrian size gate for before you've checked in

James_H

sca & redux, thanks for the replies. Unfortunately work commitments have meant I couldn't go :mad: but I know now for next time!

ChapelGirl

We booked into the Etap Hotel in Laon as a stop-over for a French trip this weekend. We booked over the internet, and seeing posts such as these we thought that we would have no problem if we arrived late. Unfortunately due to 5 miles of cones on the motorway to Dover we missed our ferry and were even later than anticipated!

The Etap Hotel in Laon does not have an automated check-in machine. The reception was unlocked but empty and there was no call button or anything for assistance. We had a booking number, but even if this would have been our room keypad number we did not know what room we had been booked into, so we were forced to spend a few hours trying to sleep in our van cab in the supermarket carpark next door. So near, and yet so far, and payment for a double room down the drain!

Next time we will be sure to phone the hotel itself to find out what the situation is with late check-in, but I guess we had been lulled into a false sense of security by these posts. You have been warned!