When Seven’s a Crowd: Hotel Front Desk Tales of Room Limits, Rollaways, and Reservation Mayhem
You’ve just clocked in for your late-night shift at the hotel front desk. It’s 10:55pm, and you’re hoping for a quiet end to your day. Suddenly, a guest family—husband, wife, and a cascade of kids—descends upon the lobby, reservation in hand and expectations sky-high. What could possibly go wrong?
If you’ve ever worked hospitality, or even just traveled with a family larger than a minivan, you probably already sense where this story is heading. But trust us: even seasoned front desk staff sometimes wonder, “Is it even legal to fit this many people in one room?” Welcome to the wild world of third-party bookings, miscommunications, and the eternal quest for an extra rollaway bed.
Let’s set the scene: The Redditor known as u/OneAd7734 (the original poster, or OP) recounts the fateful night when a guest rolled in just before 11pm. The booking? Made via WebBeds, a third-party wholesaler, in the wife’s name but with the husband’s card—already a recipe for confusion. The desk agent (OP) asks for the usual: matching ID and credit card. The couple, already frazzled from travel, is less than thrilled. “Why do you need the card? I already paid!” the wife protests.
After a friendly but firm explanation about incidentals and damages—“I do not have access to your card, only the third party does…”—keys are finally handed over. The room: two queen beds. The party: seven people. Cue the showdown.
“But they said there would be a rollaway!” insists the wife. Sadly, on a holiday weekend, rollaways are as elusive as a quiet lobby. The night auditor is briefed. OP heads home, leaving the outcome in the hands of fate (and hospitality management).
When One Room Isn’t Enough
Here’s where the community jumped in with both eyebrows raised and eyebrows waggling. As u/Classic_Ad3987 dryly asked, “Seven people in one room? Is that even legal there?” The answer, as OP clarified, is a resounding no. There are fire codes, safety regulations, and just plain common sense—limits exist for a reason.
u/petshopB1986 chimed in with some behind-the-scenes reality: if there’s a fire or disaster, the fire department relies on guest reports. “Unless seven people are listed, they won’t know to look for that many… Guests need to understand it’s about safety.” Sometimes, hotels try to help by upgrading to a larger room—if one’s available—but even then, there’s a limit to what’s possible.
Other commenters brought the laughs. u/DieHardRennie recalled seeing up to six people in a room (“if there’s a fold-out couch!”), while u/KnottaBiggins confessed to once sleeping eleven to a room at a sci-fi convention. (“These days, I try to keep it to one per room—just myself.” Wise words.)
The Third-Party Booking Conundrum
Why does this happen so often? Enter online travel agencies and wholesaler sites like WebBeds. As u/TrixiePatricia pointed out, guests who book through these channels often misunderstand what they’re actually getting—and front desk staff are left to pick up the pieces. “More often than not they find something to complain about and don’t understand why their booking makes it harder to assist them.”
And as u/WordWizardx lamented, even the savviest travelers can get tripped up: “Searching for ‘City Hotelname Inn and Suites’ brings up fifty versions of ‘cityhotelnameinnandsuites.scummysite.com.’ Even the ‘official’ site might shuffle you to a third-party booking!” For those trying to book direct, it’s a digital minefield. The takeaway? Always double-check your reservation details and, if possible, call the hotel directly (using the local number, not a national hotline) to confirm.
Rollaways: Not a Magic Wand
If you’re counting, two queens plus a rollaway equals…still not enough for seven. As u/Sea-Tea8982 exclaimed, “How the hell does having a rollaway fix trying to get seven people into a room that sleeps four!” Even with the best intentions, there’s only so much space—and only so many beds.
u/SkwrlTail summed it up: “Seriously people, don’t be a tightwad when it comes to the rooms. Get an adjoining room… Everyone gets a decent amount of sleep.” And, if you’re traveling with a crowd, honesty is the best policy. Not just with the hotel, but with yourself—about what you really need for a comfortable stay.
A Teachable Moment (and an Expensive Lesson)
So, what happened to our intrepid family of seven? According to OP’s update, after a brief reality check, they booked a second room—this time directly through the hotel. The kicker: WebBeds had charged them nearly $50 more than the hotel’s own rate. Ouch! As u/OneAd7734 [OP] put it, “They realized the error of their ways and got a second room. Through us, because WebBeds charged them a close to $50 fee over the actual cost with us.”
Final Thoughts: Book Smart, Sleep Well
If there’s one thing this saga teaches, it’s that a little planning—and a little communication—can spare everyone a lot of headache. Don’t try to wedge seven people into a room for four. Ask the hotel directly about your options. And if you see a price that seems too good to be true on a third-party site, remember: hidden fees and missing amenities may be lurking in the fine print.
Got your own hotel horror story or booking blunder? We want to hear it! Drop your wildest front desk tales or traveler tips in the comments below—because when it comes to hospitality, we’re all in this (sometimes crowded) room together.
Original Reddit Post: Okay But The hotel didnt tell you that someone from WebBeds did and they did not call here to confirm