Saw it. Very funny, and WAAAYYYY too close to being accurate, at least some of the time.

My favourite travel agent horror story is one about an aspect of travel and tourism I had never encountered before (nor since, come to think of it). This happened back in December 2001 on a trip to Fiji (I'll keep it short).

Has anyone ever heard of a 'waiting hotel'...?

Apparently it's a 'scheme' dreamed up by travel agents and (likely) hotels/motels for air passengers who arrive in the middle of the night at their penultimate destination. They have four to six hours to kill between flights, but it's already 2AM (in my case) and the next flight leaves promptly at 7AM. Not much point in getting a room, but still - you need a place to hang out. Welcome to the 'waiting hotel'.

The idea is that you can hang around the lobby, drink the free juice and coffee, use the restroom, read a book, whatever. The problem in my case was that the hotel that was assigned to me had signs posted saying, 'No Loitering'. In other words, 'waiting' was not allowed - nothing to see here Johnny, move along!

When I showed the night manager my 'hotel confirmation', I was told that if I wanted to stay I had to pay for a room. I pointed out that I had already pre-paid $20 for this 'waiting' privilege. Not enough for a room, I was told.

I explained the situation a little more succinctly and the truth came out... albeit in bits and pieces. Apparently travel agents had been doing this for some time with various hotels in the area (in and around Nadi Airport). However, these same agents had stopped checking with the hotels to see if they still allowed the practice. This one didn't.

They had stopped six months prior because one evening 106 passengers showed up, all with their 'confirmations', requesting permission to 'wait' in the lobby! This particular hotel had only forty rooms.

Subsequent investigation on my part discovered that this specific travel agent -- the first and last time I engaged their services! -- was well aware that the hotel I was sent to had indeed ceased honoring the practice. She told me she thought I would just 'fend for myself' for a few hours. What about the $20, I said... among other choice bits of language!

Perhaps there needs to be a top ELEVEN list!

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