Just recently I heard of someone who had experienced a bad situation with a hotel reservation that they had made on-line and were complaining about it. Someone with some inside hotel information told that person that guests who book through the on-line agencies often receive the standard rooms, or ones closest to the ice-machine rooms or elevators. If they book through the hotel’s website, more importantly, if they are members of that hotels reward program, then they typically get the more desirably located rooms. So, the tip here is to consider joining a loyalty program of a hotel chain that you like, and begin staying there to build up points. Not only will you be recognized favorably when making the reservation but you just might get a free hotel stay down the road. Simply tell your travel agent your preferred hotel and give them your reward number; it’s as simple as that, and more to the point, you most likely will not be disappointed with the accommodations that are selected for you.
One other thing that I always do when making reservations at a hotel or on a tour operators website, is in the comment section I always suggest that the person looking at the reservation consider this guest for an upgrade when they check in. Most folks, when they are making a reservation, want the best valued room, or in other words, the least expensive. But often the agent checking them in will recognize that request and award them a free upgrade. It’s also a good idea to politely and with a smile, request an upgrade when checking in to the hotel. I’ve heard from some hotel reward customers that it speaks volumes when making that request.
Another problem with making hotel reservations is having the exact available bedding that has been requested. The hotels cannot control who changes their minds and decide to stay another night or two in that room that you were going to have, and it was the room that had a king-size bed in it. Upon checking in they discovered that the room was not available, so they were given a room with two double beds. In other words, not many hotels in the world will guarantee a specific room or room arrangement. So, the tip here is to keep your expectations low and hope for the best.
A lot of on-line hotel offers have great price incentives, some that you just can barely pass up. The concern is that to get the great price, you have to lock in the rate with a non-refundable payment. All kinds of things can go wrong before your reservation date, weather, physical illness in the family, delayed meeting, and you can’t get that money back. Be real cautious on those non-refundable offers. This travel agent seldom, if ever, books a non-refundable reservation.
Allow the experienced and professional travel agents at The Travel Factory be your guide when you want to plan a trip. We are trained to do that and this agency has over 100 years of combined travel arranging experience among our four agents. Please give us a call at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040. Or drop in for an eye-to-eye visit with a real person and not a phone robot; we would love to serve you.