Merry Christmas (Valet Lot Thieves) @ The Fairmont Hotel, Downtown San Jose
I held off on this one, hoping that there would be some positive resolution. Given the hotel’s unresponse, its my turn to tell the world what happened. Remember my road trip to see my sister during the holidays (Dec 22-23 to be exact)? Well we decided to spend it together over at The Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose for several reasons:
1) They are a 5 Star Hotel. This means luxury, pampering, and a great time with my sister.
2) The special stuff going on in downtown SJ for Christmas.
What you don’t expect is this: to have all of your Christmas presents stolen from your trunk.
You read that right. The Fairmont requires you to valet park your car. Self park is not an option. To boot, they charge you $24 a night. When they pulled my car up the next morning, all of my stuff from every nook and cranny had been pulled out and spewed all over the interior of the car (from the glove compartment, the middle console, the sides). My first fear was that my integrated ipod player was stolen, checked that and thank god it was there. I next checked the trunk for my spare (I know, some people laugh, but I often hear that spare tires are stolen at valet lots) and check, that was there. What was missing? Out of my trunk - digital camera + case + memory cards + batteries for my parents, my brand new ipod shuffle and earphones (I use special earphones for running, and I hadn’t even had a chance to USE the shuffle yet), DVD’s, garage door opener, and lord knows what else.
After writing a letter to the manager at The Fairmont directly, no response. The least they can do is return my $24 in parking charges. The AMPCO parking company? They want copies of receipts for insurance purposes. Who knows what’s next.
Given that there was no forced entry, the thieves either had access to my car keys OR my car was unlocked, either way was the responsibility of the AMPCO parking company (who claims to have 24 hour security in the lot) and the Hotel who gives me no other choice than to valet park my car.
So much for a Merry Christmas, this was more of a Bah-Humbug! This is just crap you don’t expect from a FIVE STAR HOTEL LIKE THE FAIRMONT.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:11 am
I wouldn’t stand for that bullshit.
January 10th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
i have to leave a comment to let you know that this blog entry breaks my heart. i grew up near downtown san jose so i know this well. but it’s aghast that fairmont allowed this to happen to their clients. and then to offer no recourse. thanks for writing it up. i will pass this information on.
January 10th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Didn’t you ask for the manager on the spot? No security cameras in the parking garage? I would of raised hell. Thats a bunch of bullshit. Bah to Northern Cali. Bah I say!
January 13th, 2007 at 2:59 am
I’m sorry to hear about what happened to your stuffs. From experience (Regardless of which country i’m driving in.) I never leave valuable stuffs in the car when staying overnight in a hotel. But being a 5 star hotel that’s kind’a hard to comprehend. I hope they sort it out and I hope you get your stuffs back. Take Care!
October 17th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
These are always sad stories. I had a pair of ski boots that somehow didn’t make it from the car with the bellman up to the room at the St. Regis in Aspen a few years ago. It simply amazed me how totally unresponsive the hotel management was to the problem.