Experiences with hotel wake-up calls

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Many hotels offer a wake-up call service, but few do it well in my experience.

I often request a wake-up call if I have an early flight or something, as a backup to the alarm on my phone. My experience with this has included:

  • Receiving an automated call at the precise minute I asked for (this is great!)
  • Receiving a call, but 15-30 minutes later than I actually asked for
  • Receiving a call earlier than I asked for
  • Not receiving a call at all

What's your experience been with this?
 
I no longer use hotel wake up calls. Use my phone alarm and +1s as backup.

Best one a few years ago was at IC OR Tambo airport where after a phone call for an early wakeup call, a few minutes later, someone came and banged on the door to make sure we really had woken up!
 
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Interesting I can’t remember the last time I used to wake up call.

If I do have to be up at an ungodly hour I do said about three alarms
 
If I do have to be up at an ungodly hour I do said about three alarms

For very early departures, I set the alarm on my phone then wake early (If I do get to sleep at all) and then lie there semi-awake waiting to turn it off.
 
Many hotels offer a wake-up call service, but few do it well in my experience.

I often request a wake-up call if I have an early flight or something, as a backup to the alarm on my phone. My experience with this has included:

  • Receiving an automated call at the precise minute I asked for (this is great!)
  • Receiving a call, but 15-30 minutes later than I actually asked for
  • Receiving a call earlier than I asked for
  • Not receiving a call at all

What's your experience been with this?


Been many years since I ordered a wakeup call from a hotel (since I bought a mobile phone).

However on group tours the tour leader seems to order them (especially Gate1 travel) whether you want one or not and they seem to work. They are largely automated nowadays in Western countries. I am usually awake before the call (musical chimes) comes in.

I notice more and more less expensive hotels don't bother with having phones in rooms as most travellers have a mobile.
 
For very early departures, I set the alarm on my phone then wake early (If I do get to sleep at all) and then lie there semi-awake waiting to turn it off.
Interestingly, when I have to get up early, that’s not when I have trouble sleeping. It’s when I don’t have to do anything that I can’t sleep.
 
My experience has been
a) Unwanted early calls, often from housekeeping on checkout day "are you leaving today"
b) hotel alarm clock bristling with ineffective buttons none of which seem to prevent it from going off at 6am (and none of which can correct the wrong time displayed)

Always disable the clock and disconnect the phone on arriving in a hotel room.
 

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