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11 Tips from a Hotel Insider
What You Need to Know to Get the Best Room and Have the Best Time
My pal Jared works at a hotel. At the front desk. As a night auditor. He’s also put in time in both maintenance and laundry. When I asked him for some insider advice, here’s what he told me:
THIRD PARTY RESERVATIONS
Hotels hate third-party. They view dealing with third-party outfits the same way you view dealing the DMV. Hotels will often match the third-party rate, and if you go this route you’ll have a lot more control over your reservation when it comes to things like cancelling or extending your stay, a request to stay in certain parts of the hotel, or other adjustments. Not to mention that if you book via a third party, any such requests or adjustments have to go first through the third party and then the hotel desk. So things are simpler and easier for all concerned if you book through the desk or the reservation department.
EARLY CHECK IN
A lot of hotels have a set check in time but offer early check in for a small fee. My hotel’s check in is at 4:00, but we charge $25 to check in at noon. (I usually let people in at 11:30). This is well worth the opportunity to, for instance, use the pool for an extra 4+ hours before most of your fellow…
