On the Way/At the Hotel

Check back for a better price. Just before you arrive, call the lodging again and ask what the best rate is for the evening. If the hotel isn't full, the new "best" rate might be better than the one you were quoted when you made your reservation. Hotel managers are fully aware that an empty room generates no revenue. If the rate is not better, simply show up with your reservation as planned. (If you have guaranteed reservations -- the kind that charge your card even if you don't show up -- this trick won't fly.)

Make sure you're heading to the right hotel. This may sound obvious, but in larger cities where chains have multiple properties you need to know whether you're heading to the Heavenly Hotels Downtown, the Heavenly Hotels Seaport, or the Seaside Heavenly Hotels Resort and Conference Center. To be sure, keep both the name and address handy, and ask about local landmarks when booking.

Make sure you are in the hotel's computer. Late arrivals are often handled by night auditors who give you your key and leave the paperwork for the morning desk clerk. If you are expecting visitors or an important phone call, you'll be out of luck if the paperwork hasn't been properly completed. The best way to make sure everything is in order is to call the hotel and ask to be connected to your room. You'll know immediately whether or not you are in the hotel's computer.

See if everything is working. Upon arriving, make sure everything works---lights and lamps, TV and radio, sink, tub, shower, and anything else that matters. Report any problems immediately. If you're going to need extra pillows or blankets or an ironing board, call housekeeping right away so the items will be there when you want to use them. Also, check out the fire emergency instructions. Know where to find the fire exits, and make sure your companions do, too.[]

Request a late checkout. As a courtesy, most hotels will grant you an extra hour or two to leave your room, especially if it isn't booked for the upcoming evening. But you must call the front desk in advance and request a late checkout. If not, you might be billed for additional hours or an entire day. If late checkout isn't available, ask to leave your bags with the bellhop.

Overbooking. Hotel managers routinely deal with problems associated with "oversales," the industry term for booking more reservations than there are rooms. Even the best hotels engage in the practice, because a consistent percentage of all reservations are either canceled or result in no-shows.

Often the hotel will have a nearby "sister" property or an arrangement with another chain or hotel to honor overbooked reservations. If this is the case, you can usually get an upgrade to a larger room or suite at the substitute property for no extra charge. If the room is the same or inferior to the one you have reserved, demand a rate reduction for your inconvenience and inquire as to when a room at the hotel you originally chose will become available.

In the event that a hotel does not have an alternate room and you are left stranded, be sure to get the names of everyone you deal with. Corporate public-relations personnel are very sensitive to these occurrences, and are quick to compensate you -- sometimes quite generously -- for your troubles.