Feature Article: 12 Tips to Achieving Hotel Bliss - How to Make the Most of an Unfamiliar Hotel - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Feature Article: 12 Tips to Achieving Hotel Bliss - How to Make the Most of an Unfamiliar Hotel
12 Tips to Hotel Bliss - How to Make the Most of an Unfamiliar Hotel by Justine Fellowes
If you are heading to an unfamiliar hotel for business or pleasure there are some easy ways to make your stay more affordable and enjoyable. A little research, pre-planning, and the willingness to speak up can make a huge difference in assuring a comfortable, rewarding stay. 1. Location, location, location! Make sure to take the time researching the local attractions, transportation, and amenities. Use tools such as Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint the distance you will need to travel to the sites you want to see. If you are traveling by airplane or train make sure to check the cost of travel from the hotel.
2. Check added costs. Did you save $30 per night only to find out that the hotel charges a mandatory $35 per night for valet parking? Hotels such as Embassy Suites offer more space, free breakfast, and afternoon snacks and drinks. Will you use these amenities and is it worth a minimal added cost?
3. When comparing costs always check for specials. Hotels often offer buy three, get one free packages, romantic weekend getaways, and mid-week programs that may save you considerable money. Cities such as Washington D.C. often offer specials on the weekends or in August when congress is not in session. Orlando hotels tend to offer great deals during months while school is in session, such as October or the end of January. Also make sure to check for discounts such as AAA, government, or seniors rates. 4. Check for rewards programs. Omni Hotels offer a rewards program that kicks in on your first stay. A quick online sign up brings lots of rewards including free water your first night, drinks delivered each morning to your room, and two free pressed items per day! Not too shabby.
5. If you are traveling with the kids, look for kid-friendly hotels. Pools are a huge plus and are a great way to give everyone a break in the afternoon. Does the hotel offer a kid's menu or kids eat free options? How about a welcome package?
6. While ratings are helpful, take them with a grain of salt. Online hotel rating sites such as Trip Advisor are a wonderful resource offering buckets of information. Just remember that not all travelers have the same expectations. What are yours? Cheap rates? Don't care about ambience? If so don’t be bothered by the negative comments on how the hotel is "basic." Want peace and quiet? Look for ratings written specifically about the noise level. Also, keep an eye out for replies. If a patron has complained through an online service and the hotel has replied with answers, it shows that they are respectful of feedback and are obviously taking the time to address issues.
7. Ask, ask, ask. You are the customer and don't hesitate to ask for help, directions, or to have a problem fixed. I recently traveled with a friend who received the wrong drinks delivered to her room from room service. She was a bit frustrated but was willing to let it go. One quick call resolved the issue, came with a hearty apology, and the correct drinks were delivered in minutes.
8. Don't hesitate to ask to change rooms. If you requested easy access to an elevator but ended up miles away from one, call the front desk and see if they can resolve the issue. Room smells musty? Make a change. It’s worth asking. Of course, busy hotels during crowded time may have a hard time meeting requests, but in general, the front desk will do anything they can to make you happy.
9. Be aware when using the concierge. I'll probably get hate mail for this one but by no means do I mean do not use the concierge. They are wonderful, helpful, and a great asset in hotels that have them. If they do a nice job for you, for instance procuring reservations for a great local restaurant, a tip is customary. That being said, use your best judgment on recommendations. If you have your heart set on going to a restaurant that you read a rave review about, but the concierge proclaims they "never heard of it," something may be up. If they insist their restaurant is better, and that you should listen to them, hmmmm. I am by no means a concierge expert, and each and every hotel has different policies and standards, but it's good to be aware.
10. Wireless internet is often free in the lobby or a nearby coffee shop, but may incur a charge if you use it in your room. If you can take advantage of this it can save you a bundle.
11. Tip the cleaning staff daily. If you have a multiple night stay make sure to tip daily. Leave your tip on the pillow. How much? That depends -- how messy are you? What is the local economy of the city you are in? Usually between $5-$10 is appropriate per day. Why per day? Staff changes daily and let's be honest, extra touches are probably more frequent when someone knows you care.
12. Take time at check in to ask questions. Where is the pool? How late is it open? Also, take five minutes to review the hotel book (often on a desk or tucked in a drawer) that tells you about amenities, restaurants, room service, and more. I recently discovered that a hotel offered a free in-room fitness kit for the length of my stay, only because I opened the hotel guide.
What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.
I travel extensively for my job and I believe the comment on tipping in this article is inaccurate. Most people do not tip housekeeping staff in the U.S. I'm not saying they don't deserve it, but I've never heard of anyone tipping as much as $10 a day so please don't take this guideline of $5-10 per day as average.
The general guideline on tipping housekeeping is $1-2/day per person. So $5/10/day is in line with a family (and I know the author of this article travels with a family). Less if you're a couple or on your own, of course.
One of the things I do to prepare for our trip is to decorate an envelope for each day of our trip. I include the day on it ( Have a Marvelous Monday, Terrific Tuesday) you get the idea. I then put $5.00 in each and pack it in the suitcase. It's one less thing I have to worry about when I'm there and I know I have it covered. If you wait and only tip at the end of your stay, then only one person gets the tip, if done daily no one gets slighted.
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