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Hotel tips #3

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PICKING YOUR ROOM

This will depend on your particular needs, but you might use the questions below to guide your research.

Do they have the ability to childproof rooms?

Do they have any rooms available designed to assist the physically handicapped or elderly?

Do they have smoking or nonsmoking rooms available?

What types of bed sizes and arraignments are available?

Do they have special bathrooms with Roman tubs or whirlpool baths?

Are adjoining rooms available so everyone can stay together?

Do they have rooms designed for business travelers that have larger desks and data ports?

Do they have any rooms with kitchenettes? Make sure you get some details because a "Kitchenette" can vary from a wet-bar with just a sink all the way to a small complete kitchen with the pans and the silverware. You’ll probably pay extra for them so you’ll want to ask to know exactly what you’re getting.

Can you book a room in a particular part of the Hotel?

Why is requesting a certain location for your room important

Exterior rooms might be right next to a loud highway off-ramp.

Interior courtyard rooms often are more expensive with a poolside room, which can provide a nice view, but pools can also be noisy.

Rooms near restaurants, stairs, elevators, ice machine, and lobby are convenient, but put you closer to the noise. Also, avoid the noisy rooms above or next to the Hotel’s bar.

First floor rooms are easier to break into. Some rooms may be on floors that are too high for fire rescue to reach.

Rooms with balconies can be dangerous if you are traveling with small children. You might consider a first floor room, but you’ll have to take extra care when securing the room.

Information to reserve your room

The name of the person who’ll be staying at the Hotel.

The number of guests staying in the room.

Credit card type, number and expiration date of the card to be billed.

The name of the location where you want to reserve a room.

Date and time you’ll be checking in and checking out.

The type of room you want to reserve, such as standard, business, suite, etc.

Any special requests, such as smoking/nonsmoking, spa appointments, childproofing or room location.

Any discounts or coupons that you are planning to apply to the stay.

If you have it, some Hotels like to have your flight information. That way they can keep track of delayed flights.

If you are reserving more than one room, have them give you a confirmation number for each room you reserve. Otherwise, your extra rooms may be listed in the special request section of the reservation, where they can be overlooked. Since you will have a separate confirmation number for each room, it will be clear that you’ll need more than one room.

TIPPING

Tipping is appropriate for luggage handlers. A customary tip will be from $1.00 to $1.50 per bag if your luggage is brought to your room, less if it’s just unloaded at the front door.

Check your room service bill, it may already include a tip. If it doesn’t, 15%-20% is appropriate.

It is nice to leave housekeeping a tip with a note, if you don’t get to see them. $1.00-2.00 a night is appropriate, especially if they perform any special services or you leave the room particularly messy.

CHECK OUT TIME

Watch your luggage.

Make sure you have removed all your items from the Hotel’s safe.

Turn in your room key.

Go over your bill thoroughly and verify that all the charges are correct and discounts are applied before you sign your bill.

Verify that the charges are being placed on the proper credit card.

Make sure your memberships in frequent flyer and loyalty clubs were given proper credit.

Get a receipt. If you paid in cash, make sure your receipt is marked "paid in cash".

Remember to tip the bellboys if they have brought down your luggage, the concierge if you took advantage of their services and the shuttle driver if you use the shuttle back to the airport.

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