What began as a dreamy honeymoon for Manitoba couple Natalie Deroche-Earis and Adam Earis in Western Canada quickly transformed into a harrowing experience. After enjoying a peaceful evening playing cards at the Sandman Hotel in Kelowna, B.C., they settled down for the night around 10 p.m. Their sense of safety was abruptly shattered when Natalie woke up to an odd noise from the window, initially attributing it to her husband. However, the situation escalated as she heard Adam question someone’s presence, leading to a chilling realization that a stranger had entered their hotel room.
In a panic, Natalie shook Adam awake, insisting there was someone else with them. Adam quickly jumped out of bed, confronting the intruder, who was already partially inside the room. The intruder, startled by Adam’s shouts, hastily retreated through the window, slamming it shut behind him. The couple’s instinct was to protect each other; while Adam faced the stranger, Natalie moved toward the door, unwilling to leave her husband alone in case the intruder returned. This terrifying episode left them grappling with profound feelings of vulnerability and fear, sharply contrasting the joyous expectations of their honeymoon.
As soon as the ordeal ended, Adam and Natalie reported the incident to the hotel staff. However, they were met with disappointment, receiving minimal assistance and no offer of a refund. Adam had chosen the Sandman Hotel believing it to be a safe and trustworthy option, often considered a reliable mid-range choice for accommodations. This distressing encounter not only shattered their sense of security but also caused them to question the reliability of a brand they thought they could trust.
In the aftermath, the couple learned that the hotel’s parent company, Northland Properties, acknowledged the situation and expressed their commitment to resolving it. They stated that they were working alongside local authorities investigating the break-in and had communicated with Adam regarding updates on the case. Despite these reassurances, the couple felt the hotel’s response lacked sufficient support for the trauma they experienced during their stay, leaving them dissatisfied and anxious.
Kelowna RCMP confirmed their response to the reported break-in but noted the challenges in identifying the suspect. The lack of witnesses or any video surveillance footage hampered their investigation, compounding the couple’s feelings of helplessness. For Natalie, the experience was not just alarming but deeply violating; the notion of a stranger intruding upon their private space during a moment meant for rest and intimacy was profoundly unsettling.
This harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers travelers face, even in familiar and trusted hotel brands. While the couple began their trip filled with dreams of romance and adventure, they were abruptly confronted with a harsh reality of vulnerability in an environment they thought would ensure their safety. Their story underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for hotels to prioritize guest security, especially in terms of reassuring protocols and effective support when incidents do occur.
