Staying hotel is really common. However sometimes you can not avoid bad experiences, such as the advertisement is not match with reality, fully booked, or you do not get facilities you should have.

A 7 years hotel inspector and photographer at Forbes Travel Guide and TripAdvisor Company, share her experiences through reviewing several hundred hotels in the world. Here is what you should do to get the best experience in hotels!

1. Research your hotel 

Do your homework to research your hotel. Check specific traveling website such as TripAdvisor, booking.com, Traveloka, Tiket.com, google review, or social media. You should check former guest comments, photos or room type. You can also modify filter to look result like budget hotel, specific features like swimming pool, kids friendly, adults only, beachfront, or strategic location near tourist destinations like parks, historic building, market, etc.

2. Book your hotel directly

If you have chosen where to stay, just book it directly. Even it is easiest to book online on hotel site booking, many advantages if you book directly to hotel. Third party booking site usually get the worst or tiniest room, such as unrenovated room or the noisiest room near Air Condition machine. Hotels usually keep their best room for themselves to sell directly. No wonder, we often have a great deal with third party booking site, because we get what we paid.

Moreover, if we had any adjustment from our booking, like canceling or changing the date, we can discuss with hotels. They might give another room with the same price or voucher to reschedule. Some booking site might do not care about this.

3. Beware of decorative bedding

The best part in staying hotel is their bed and pillows. Freshly ironed Italian sheets, perfectly plumped down pillows and qualified king-size mattresses are a real bedtime treat. However, be careful about the decorative elements of the bed. The decorative pillow and runner might not be washed between guests.

4. Be specific on what you need

It is another advantage if you book hotel with their reservation team. You might want them to know about your specific needs, like coming early.  You might be cannot early check in, but they can identify your room to be cleaned first. You want to reserve a spa, restaurant, gym, or any of their facilities, it is time to tell. When you do this, the reservation team will accommodate your needs by telling other divisions.  

Don’t forget tell them when you have special occasion, like birthday or anniversary. They might have special treatment for any such occasion.

5. Check out the fitness center for freebies

From now on, consider to check hotel fitness center for workout. Since, so many freebies. Bottles of water, fresh fruits, protein bars that you can grab. Big hotels or resorts sometimes offer fun classes, outdoor yoga, beach walk, and meditation. You do not have to stay in the hotel to get those facilities. Just check on concierge desk about the gym center. You can also check coupons and discount from restaurants, tourist destination, water park, or any program on there.  

6. Join the hotel loyalty program

The only way to get the hotel loyalty program is to book with them directly. The third-party site might get their own point and not share with customers. Just track the chain of hotel and stick with them. After a while, you might get free breakfast, last time check out, or visiting places. Don’t forget to check your credit card. They might have partners with such chain hotel for more benefits.

7. Splurge on the room service, make it breakfast

You need to try a room service at least once because it’s holiday. And make it as breakfast. Imagine that you eat fresh fruit and licking your coffee while you still wearing a bathrobe. Some hotel allows ordering breakfast room service the night before. Simply, make your breakfast selections, choose the time frame you’d like it delivered, and enjoy breakfast in bed the following morning.

8. If there is a problem, communicate it

Hotel is a hospitality business. They want every guest has a wonderful experience while staying. However, things happened. If there is a problem, just tell them. Therefore, they have a chance to fix it. Do not share it directly at social media.

9. Ask for turndown service

Some hotel offering turndown service, but some not. For 4- or 5-stars hotels might come automatically, but you always can request it. It is always wonderful to have fresh and warm towel, emptiest basket, or snacks on your room. Sometimes the service is just a thoughtful extra, like bedside water, laid down slippers, or bath salt.

10. Pack duct tape

This is for sensitive light sleepers. Hotel usually covered with strong blocking light curtain. However, there are some lights from inside, like coffee machine, alarm clock, TVs, smoke detector, that might be bother for sensitive sleepers. Just place a little piece of tape over the lights before sleeping.

resource and photo: google