The Suite Life Standoff: How a Platinum Elite Family Tested Hotel Patience in Thailand
Picture this: It’s a balmy night on the lush lawns of a 14-story resort in Rayong, Thailand. The palms sway gently, waves lap at the shore, and inside the glowing lobby, a night shift manager braces for battle—not against the elements, but against a force more formidable: elite hotel status entitlement.
Our hero is u/New_Peace3712, night duty manager at a “shmariot” (rhymes with a famous hotel chain, you know the one) in 2014. The challenge? Convince a Platinum Elite Italian family that, yes, the hotel is truly, honestly, cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die sold out. Oh—and that the ocean view upgrade (already two tiers up!) is the best they’ll get. Cue the wine, the drama, and a balcony standoff for the ages.
When “Subject to Availability” Becomes a Full-Contact Sport
If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you know the phrase “subject to availability” is both a shield and a curse. For loyal frequent travelers, elite status comes with perks—like suite upgrades, if the stars align. But as one top-voted commenter u/No_Plane8576 wryly notes, “Definitely sound like the type of people who NEVER read the fine print on Anything. The terms subject to availability spring to mind 🤦🏽.”
The Italian family in question rolled in, expecting a suite as their platinum birthright. But alas, the resort was packed, and the best the hotel could offer was a premium ocean view room—already a generous bump up. Did gratitude follow? Not quite. Instead, a wine-fueled, two-hour marathon of disbelief and negotiation ensued, culminating in a surreal scene: the manager, standing on the moonlit lawn with the guests, both peering up at balconies, counting lights, and trying to divine which rooms—if any—might secretly be vacant.
It’s the kind of customer service moment that makes you question reality—and, perhaps, your career choices.
The Power of Persistence (and the Limits of Patience)
This story isn’t just about a stubborn family; it’s about the strange dance between entitled guests and the hospitality professionals who serve them. As u/dont-be-a-dildo astutely points out, “nah, they just know that if they argue and complain enough someone without a spine will give in and give them something for free.”
It’s not always about lack of information—sometimes, it’s just a high-stakes game of push-until-you-get-a-prize. Indeed, after two hours of arguing and lawn-based suite-spotting, the family settled not for a room upgrade, but for a 4,000-point compensation deposit. Was it worth it? For the guests, perhaps. For the night manager, likely a migraine and a story for the ages.
But not all guests are created equal. As u/FluffyApartment596 (a self-identified guest) admits, “Nah .. I never read the fine print either. Somehow I’m always amazed and super-appreciative when I end up in a suite when I booked a double. 😂” The difference? Expectation versus entitlement. Some guests are delighted by upgrades; others demand them as a right.
The Comedy (and Tragedy) of Hotel Status
There’s a certain absurdist humor in the whole ordeal. As u/birdmanrules declares, “I'm glad not to work at a shiny status hotel.” And who could blame them? High-status properties attract guests with equally high expectations—and sometimes, very little patience for the realities of full occupancy.
Then there’s the wordplay. The original poster called their property a “shmariot,” which led u/random_name_245 to muse: “Shmariot to me sounds like a hotel for sex of all kinds and shapes and absolutely nothing else and I can’t explain why.” To which u/SkwrlTail added, “And the occasional clown convention. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, mind you.” Because when you’re standing on a lawn at midnight, arguing about suites, it sometimes does feel like a circus.
Lessons from the Front Desk: Fine Print, Finer People Skills
What can we learn from this Rayong resort standoff? First, “subject to availability” is hotel code for “we’ll do our best, but please don’t make us do a balcony roll call at 2am.” Second, as commenters noted, a little gratitude goes a long way. The happiest guests are those who see upgrades as a bonus, not an entitlement.
Finally, for anyone tempted to argue their way into perks: remember, the night manager is probably just as tired (and just as human) as you are. And if you push too hard, you might just get a free points deposit—along with a starring role in someone’s next legendary hospitality tale.
Have you ever witnessed or survived a hotel upgrade standoff? Do you think elite guest perks have gone too far—or do hotels owe their loyalists the moon and stars (and suites)? Share your thoughts (or your wildest hotel stories) in the comments below!
Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that the front desk is where the best stories begin.
Original Reddit Post: We were literally showing the rooms from the banquet lawns to make them believe that we were sold out!!!!