My wife & I stayed at this hotel from 1st to 6th May 2013. Our cousin equated this place to Motel 6 in the US; but we didn't mind. We only needed a clean comfortable bed and room to sleep at night. We intended to give this place a good review.
On the afternoon of the 5th May, I stopped by the office to request a reservation for a taxi to go to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport the next day. I gave the lady at the reception desk my flight information. She did call a taxi company and got a pick-up time of 7:45 AM. I was concerned since my flight would depart CDG at 9:15 AM. Even though I expressed my worry, she asked that I trusted the taxi driver. She suggested I checked out at the earliest time in the morning and then request a change of the pick-up time.
At 6:00 AM the next morning, as I made my way to the front desk, I saw the sous-directeur (assistant director) preparing the breakfast buffet. (He was the one who checked me in a few days earlier.) I knocked on the door several times. He came to the front glass door and pointed to his watch but did not open. I insisted. He finally opened the front glass door and immediately stated the reception was still closed and the hours of operation were posted (Open at 6:30 AM). I told him my situation: I had a flight at 9:15 AM, I wanted to check out early, and wished for a taxi as soon as possible.
The sous-directeur threw a tantrum. "C'est incroyable" (This is unbelievable), he said; "Ce n'est pas possible" (This is not possible). He continuously mumbled as he pounded the keyboard of his computer and threw the mouse about as he retrieved information. His voice was dripping with anger. Then he said he had to remove bread from the oven in the kitchen. I could hear loud noises of utensils and metal trays being thrown about as well as the oven door being roughly handled. He returned to the front desk, still mumbling, to finish the check-out and called a taxi. The way he dialed the telephone, he could knock the keys out.
As I waited for my taxi, he offered coffee. I refused. I did not think a cup of coffee would make up for being subjected to such bad behavior. I never, ever, experienced such nasty attitude in customer service.
Well, Mr. Sous-Directeur, I am truly sorry I caused you such trouble. I promise it will never happen again. I will take my business somewhere else. From this day forth, I will no longer patronize any facility of Campanile. Thank you.
P.S: As we drove away, my taxi driver asked the departure time of my flight. I gave him that information but nothing else. He said I called at the right time. Had I called for ride later than 7:15 AM, I would run into traffic problem and would miss my flight. read more