No Room at the Inn.

Back in January, when I was planning my recent trip to the Rail Passengers Association meeting in Washington, I made a reservation for two nights at Maison Depuy, a nice hotel in the New Orleans French Quarter. They emailed me a confirmation.

Last Thursday, Train 19, the Crescent, was quite late arriving in New Orleans and by the time I arrived by cab at Maison Dupuy it was around midnight. I gave my name to a young woman at the front desk said I had a reservation.

After checking her computer she said, “I’m afraid I don’t have any record of your reservation, but in any event, we’re sold out tonight.”

I had a printout of the email confirmation in my luggage, but rather than rummage for it there in the lobby, I showed her the number of the reservation from my itinerary and, to make doubly sure, I spelled my last name for her. She went back to her computer, but again shook her head. There was no record of my reservation.

I was tired and by now it was well past midnight, so I had her call a taxi which took me to the Hotel Provincial where I have stayed several times on previous trips to New Orleans. They had a room and that’s where I spent my two nights in New Orleans.

This morning, back home and unpacking, I found the confirmation email I had received from the Maison Dupuy when I had made the reservation at the end of January. Clearly, my room had been given to someone else—someone no doubt without a reservation.

This afternoon I received an email from Maison Dupuy saying how pleased they were I had chosen their hotel for my visit to New Orleans and expressing the hope that I had enjoyed my stay.

I really hadn’t intended to make an issue of the incident, but now I’m pissed. I’ve complained by email to the manager and told him I want to be reimbursed for the $15 I spent on the taxi to the Hotel Provincial.

I’ll let you know if I hear anything.