Hotel Tips
by WebWriter (RSS feed) on Mar 18th, 2010 at 2:31PM
If the safe inside your hotel room is electronic, follow these procedures to keep your valuables even safer:
- Before and after entering your key code, wipe the touch keys with a damp cloth, then dry the keys.
- After the door is locked, firmly press all numbered keys once. This may set off a small alarm, but it will stop quickly.
Why would you do this? There have been reports that in some hotels the hotel staff was placing a powder or oil residue on the touch keys, which when lit, showed them which numbers on the safe were pressed. Wiping the keys clean and pressing them all throws potential thieves off the trail.
by Gail DeSimone (RSS feed) on Mar 11th, 2010 at 10:02AM
Hotel irons have more uses than just getting the wrinkles out. Pack a few feet of aluminum foil in your luggage, and you've got all the tools you need for cooking and reheating food.
Grilled cheese is simple to make! Just wrap it in foil and lay the iron on top of it.
Irons also work great for reheating food that you may have brought back from a restaurant. Anything that you can spread between aluminum foil can be reheated. I've reheated everything from pancakes to shrimp scampi for a late night snack. I've used this trick for years.
Tip: It works best when you turn off the steam option on the iron.
by Chris Vivero (RSS feed) on Mar 9th, 2010 at 9:48AM
The best way to divide and conquer a hotel is to over-tip the bellmen, then pepper them with questions.
In my experience, the bellmen are the eyes and ears of a hotel: they have access to the premium deals and insights that make a hotel run. Furthermore, the average bellman is a male aged 18 to 25; they can suggest the best places in town for partying or point you to their city's secret dives.
by Reg Mathis (RSS feed) on Feb 26th, 2010 at 8:13AM
As a firefighter, I know a little something about fires. And as a road warrior, I know a little something about hotels. Let me share with you a tip that only I would know.
Always request a room on the first or second floor. If there's a fire, you can safely jump from the second floor. Jumping from a higher floor dramatically increases the risk of serious injury.
by Dede Bonelli (RSS feed) on Feb 26th, 2010 at 7:22AM
Kids may have pent-up energy if they've spent a long time on a plane or in the car. If you remember to let them stop at a playground or a mall on the way to the hotel, or use the pool right away when you arrive at the hotel, you can help them tone it down when they're in the hallways or the room.
Others will appreciate if you teach your children not to make excessive noise because they may be resting.
by Katrina Derrico (RSS feed) on Feb 22nd, 2010 at 8:14AM
When booking accommodations, travelers should compare the price of a suite to the price of adjoining rooms. Suites are larger than standard rooms, often accommodate six or more people, and are frequently the same price -- if not less than -- two side-by-side rooms.
Larger families and small groups often find suites more spacious, more comfortable, and easier on the budget.
by Austin Stanley (RSS feed) on Feb 20th, 2010 at 8:17AM
The hardest part about hotel life, isn't the bed, or bathroom, it's food. What a lot of people don't know is that you can do some quick home-styled cooking with the appliances you have available. The most important of these is the coffee pot!
The coffee pot's heat comes from a warming plate, which is what the pot rests on. If you fill the pot with water and let it heat up, you can make anything from ramen to spaghetti.
Pro tip: just using the plate you can cook bacon, and even heat up some pop tarts in the morning for the kids.
by Kevin Nosalek (RSS feed) on Feb 19th, 2010 at 8:08AM
Hidden hotel charges can appear on a credit card statement weeks after your stay, even if you paid your balance at checkout. Generally, these phantom charges include amenities like Internet access and parking. Be sure to scan your credit card statement to be sure you were charged the correct amount -- and not charged twice.
Also, be wary If you've used a voucher for a meal at the hotel restaurant; the discount may suddenly disappear. The worst offense I've personally experienced was when the shopping spree of another guest was charged to my room.
If this happens to you, just contact the billing department at the hotel. They understand that this happens and are happy to work with you.
by Rob Blasko (RSS feed) on Feb 16th, 2010 at 12:51PM
Many hotels will customize your room based on your personal preferences -- even going as far as to make sure you have your favorite pillows and robes in your room upon arrival.
If you have a preference for room location (high or low floor), proximity to elevator, or pillow type (soft, firm, or down alternative), or would like robes or anything else specific in your room, give the hotel a heads-up when booking your room.
As long as they're not super busy, you'll find most properties to be very accommodating to your requests.
by Katherine Cade (RSS feed) on Feb 15th, 2010 at 12:59PM
If you're traveling with your family, make it a point to put a small power strip into your suitcase.
Many hotel rooms leave families facing a dire shortage of outlets. With the need to charge cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, and other gadgets, a power strip can prevent battles over whose turn it is to plug in their cherished device.
Moreover, when traveling alone, sometimes the outlet is too far from where you may want to work to be convenient, and a power strip can help solve this.
by Jon Mohrman (RSS feed) on Feb 14th, 2010 at 12:49PM
If your hotel room has a mini-bar, check to make sure that all the bottles are sealed as soon as you arrive.
Some guests drink the beverages and refill the bottles with water or tea to avoid the high charges. If this goes undetected by hotel staff until after your stay (they do check for it, but aren't necessarily always diligent about it), the items will be charged to your credit card.
If you find unsealed bottles, report it to the front desk right away.
by Bobby DeMuro (RSS feed) on Feb 13th, 2010 at 12:52PM
When visiting a foreign country, especially one with an unfamiliar language, grab a book of matches from the hotel where you're staying as soon as you arrive.
If you get lost in town during your stay, and you know just a little of the language, the book of matches will be a great way to show locals where you need to go, and have them direct you to the right place.
by Marael Johnson (RSS feed) on Feb 11th, 2010 at 11:52AM
If you're traveling with a pet, make sure you read all the fine print about pet fees and policies when booking a hotel room.
Many hotels require that pets must either be kenneled in the room or not be left alone at any time. Pets may also be banished from lobbies and other public areas. Some hotels place size restrictions on pets. Still others even have "breed restrictions" in place.
Finally, some hotels place pets and their owners in the same rooms or floors that are designated for smokers, so if you have allergy issues, call or email ahead before checking in with Fido or Fluffy.
by Wyatt J. Yates (RSS feed) on Feb 11th, 2010 at 8:54AM
To get the most out of what you pay a hotel, you may need to work your way into getting a better room. This particular trick really only works for couples. When checking into a hotel make sure to cling to together, be very physical, energetic, and happy. A clerk may ask "
Are you here for any special occasion?" You must then say something like --
- "Yes we are on our honeymoon!"
- "It's our wedding anniversary!"
- "It's my birthday!"
Any one of these must be said by the woman for it to be more touching and convincing, because the clerk knows that those are very special occasions for her.
Claiming a honeymoon or anniversary may score you a room upgrade. Claiming a birthday may just get something special sent up to the room.
by Jeremy Laukkonen (RSS feed) on Jan 21st, 2010 at 6:34PM
One thing many people don't know is that many mid- and high-level hotels often have what they term an "executive lounge," and gaining access to this exclusive area can immensely increase the enjoyment of your stay.
Executive lounges provide a quiet, spacious area in which to relax or work, and they often feature a stunning view of the city, which your room may lack. Many executive lounges will offer free snacks or appetizers, a bar, televisions, newspapers, and access to phones and fax machines.
Access is generally gained through special booking codes, and often adds very little to the total cost of your stay.
by Merle Levy (RSS feed) on Jan 21st, 2010 at 5:01PM
If you're booking a room for a person with a disability, be sure to ask about the following:
- Does your wheelchair accessible room have a roll-in shower? Many just have grab bars over a tub.
- Does your hotel supply a shower chair? If it does not, plan to bring one with you. We tend to have poorer balance away from home.
- Is there an accessible exposed outlet by the bed? Power wheelchairs should be charged at bedside, and CPAP machines should be plugged in by the night stand.
If your hotel has an ADA coordinator, use him. The service is free and will guarantee that your needs are met.
by Michael C. Hough (RSS feed) on Jan 20th, 2010 at 8:29PM
Put small items in a plastic bag and use a safety pin to attach it to the backside of the curtains -- as high as you can reach -- between the drapes and the sheer. Then: open your curtains, pulling the drapes into a bunch. It's not foolproof, but it should offer some comfort while you're out enjoying the beach.
When you just can't "take it with you," you have to get creative! Hotel thieves usually want to get in and out as quickly as possible. So the more difficult the search, the better your chances of keeping your valuables.
Obviously, this method won't work if you're trying to hide a laptop, if your hotel only has sheer curtains, or if your room has no windows.
by Vanessa C. Bonnin (RSS feed) on Jan 19th, 2010 at 11:30PM
One of the easiest ways to save money while staying in a hotel is to book a room with a refrigerator.
Food is one of the biggest expenses while traveling, and dining out can add up fast. If you have a small fridge in your room, you can easily have cereal or yogurt for breakfast, or sandwiches for lunch. If you dine out or order in, a refrigerator is a perfect way to store your leftovers.
And remember these words to live by: Cold pizza is always good for breakfast!
by Robin L. Ingle (RSS feed) on Jan 19th, 2010 at 6:30PM
If you arrive late, ask if the hotel has a room for the physically challenged that has not been booked for the night. Many hotels will hold this room until late in the day -- but if it isn't booked by someone who needs it, they will release it to a latecomer.
These rooms are larger than regular rooms, with added space around the beds and in the bathroom to accommodate wheelchairs.
The benefit to the traveler is less of a feeling of being stuffed in a sardine tin.
by Angie Marcum (RSS feed) on Jan 19th, 2010 at 8:37AM
In an effort to keep a hotel stay low key and peaceful, many parents may opt to downgrade from premium accommodations. However, this is one of the worst things a parent can do.
Children, like adults, can enjoy a dip in the hot tub, room service, and other amenities of staying in a four star hotel. Allowing the child to partake in these simple luxuries can help diffuse the restlessness that may often accompany a hotel stay.
In addition, it teaches children how to behave properly in "grown-up" situations, which is key for travel.
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