Top Ten Tips - Staying At A Hotel
By Tip Diva | Apr 25, 2008
Categories: Activities, Behavior, Drinking, Drinks, Food, Money, Tips, Travel
Staying at a hotel is supposed to be relaxing, but sometimes you are barraged with so many choices that it makes your head spin. Here is how to make a hotel stay easier and more enjoyable:
- Know Your Requirements - Before you book a hotel, make sure you know what you require, including how many beds, your smoking preference, whether you want to be near an elevator and more. Communicate these to the reservation desk or booking agent.
- Inquire About Amenities Before Booking - Different hotels have different sets of charges and availability for amenities like refrigerators, parking and Internet. Inquire with the hotel ahead of time so you know you’re getting what you want and what you can afford.
- Leave All Valuables At The Front Desk - Most hotels are not liable if valuable items are not stored in a safe at the front desk. So if your room does not have a safe, bring such items downstairs. And know the hotel’s liability policy for items kept at the front desk.
- Be Careful In Non-Smoking Rooms - Many hotels now charge a hefty fine for puffing up in non-smoking rooms - and many chains, like Marriott, are going smoke-free entirely. Even if you didn’t smoke in the room, you may get charged if your clothes smell heavily of smoke and the smell transfers to the room.
- Tackle Problems Immediately - If your toilet is running, the tub is moldy, the air conditioner is not working or something else is askew, let management know immediately. They will usually remedy the problem immediately by moving you to another room. If another room is not available and the problem cannot be fixed right away, ask for a discount.
- Use The “Do Not Disturb” Hanger - If you don’t want maids coming in to clean your room or don’t want to be woken up early by someone knocking on your door, make sure to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign out on the front door.
- Beware The Welcoming Water Bottle - Sometimes you walk into your hotel room, parched, and see an inviting bottle of spring water. Don’t open it just yet - because the water is usually not free. Some hotels charge $10 for that bottle of Evian! Bring your own bottled water, use the vending machine or drink tap water if you want to save money.
- Don’t Open The Mini-Bar Unless You Plan To Use It - Even shaking the door can set off some of the new-fangled mini-bars and charge you for items that were moved around.
- Thoroughly Check Room Before You Leave - Go around the room, checking drawers, counters, beds, closets and outlets and make sure you left nothing behind. Many lost items are hard to recover later.
- Thoroughly Check The Bill - Remember to check your bill for any wrong charges, such as the mini-bar drink you never consumed or the Internet you never accessed. And if you booked the room at the discounted rate, make sure you were charged that rate.
Other Tips To Check Out:
