Several weeks ago, I booked a reservation at the Park Hyatt Los Angeles for three nights, using the Hyatt Web site.

I've just learned that I need to arrive in Los Angeles a day earlier, meaning that I'd like to extend my stay by one day. Fortunately, the hotel has availability for the "extra" night.

Ordinarily, I'd simply:

• Book a new reservation for four nights.
• Cancel my old reservation.

However, I just discovered that the hotel is full for one of my original three nights.

Also, the rate is now higher than it was when I confirmed my reservation.

So, should I book a separate reservation for the extra night (and then explain the situation when I check in)?

Or should I call and ask about modifying the existing reservation? If so, should I call the hotel or Reservations?

Thanks for any advice.

Why don't you try calling the central reservations first about the extension and if they extend at your original rate you're done otherwise then call the hotel's in-house reservations (during their business hours of course) and ask for the same thing. If neither of this works, then just do a 1 night reservation for the additional night and tell them at check-in to combine the reservations - why should you pay extra for the nights you already have reserved.

Then ask Hyatt to merge the reservations. I've also had the front desk check me out and back into the same room in a single transaction.

The worst that can happen here is you move. If you don't like the first room you might want to.