(WAITING FOR MY CHRISTMAS TREE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AND WANTING AN ARTICLE PROPOSAL FOR PINKONLINE, I OFFER THIS

Reading back on my very short report on the Marriott World Trade Center (I was tired from Turkey to write much) I came across an interesting entry.

Knowing I would be in very late from Long Island Thanksgiving night, I called the hotel and told them expect me about 9:30pm. I got in after 11 pm and the desk person thanked me for warning them.

My only guess: people were walking in looking for rooms and if you don't tell them you are going to be horribly late they could give the room away. But could they? (even though you will be charged for the night.)

I try to tell the hotels WHEN I'm arriving and if I"m going to be very late to HOLD THE ROOM.

And if you know you are going out partying the night before, REQUEST LATE CHECKOUT! I do if this happens (very rarely of course
or if I'm stuck some place like L-A very late (and not thinking of telling bruddar newself I will be in town awhile!)

It can also help if you sleep through the alarm and get the wakeup call hang up and go back to earning frequent sleeping points and double snoring miles!

One more thing: PUT THE PRIVACY PLEASE/DO NOT DISTURB SIGN ON THE DOOR. I went back to get my bag at my room Friday afternoon and in the room next to me housekeeping walks in to a guy still passed out (from turkey I guess) on the bed, snoring away. NO do not disturb sign on the door! The housekeeper said "It happens at least once during my shift!"

It happened to me too, remember!

Whenever I anticipate a hotel may be booked full and I'm scheduled to arrive after 6:00 p.m., I always call the front desk (yep, I spring for the long distance call) during the day to tell them I will be arriving late and to hold my room. Some hotels ARE known to give away guaranteed rooms. It's unethical, and likely illegal, but they do it all the time. And quite often, when they're full, everyone else in the area is full as well, so they may send you across town to a hotel of far less quality than what you had reserved and would have paid for if you no-showed, even though they re-sold it to someone else.

That's why I stay at Hyatt. You can check in during the day via the phone at all their hotels in the US by calling 1-800-CHECK IN. You just give your credit card number and they check you in, assign your room number. You only need to pick up your key when you get to the hotel. No need to worry about being 'bumped'!

I used the 1 800 CHECKIN twice this year, and it's great. I just keep forgetting about it!

I found it especially helpful when staying at a property that is used for conventions. To be able to call early & get your room assigned is a big +.

Thanks for the Hyatt tip DutchBoy. This could help with Tampa (and later DFW.)

Do other hotel chains have this feature?

NOw I know why Beckles likes Hyatt!

One hotel chain (WESTIN) has these terrific "Heavenly Beds". I am presently staying in the one in Portland, OR (for a nice rate of $119)... and it is HEAVENLY

There is a feather bed, down comforter, and down pillows... amazing rest.. and a nice little perk... 50 cable channels.. w/ CD Player alarm clock..

Over all.. relaxing experience

We had 'em (Heavenly Beds) last month at the Westin Maui. Outstanding! Just wonder how long all those white, white, white, covers, sheets, etc will last with all the Red Dirt over there?

Thanks for all the tips.

I'm going to have to try out those Westin beds one day SOON!!

Sounds scary that a hotel will give a CONFIRMED GUARANTEED room away like that. Are you entitled to any compensation if you can't find another room close by? It's sounds similar to airlines trying to account for no-shows by over-booking. Surely, if this becomes too big a problem, they'll be required to offer some form of compensation. Maybe, I'm just being difficult, but I would be pretty mad if this happened to me.

Anyway, great tip, Catman. I'll be sure to follow it!!

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Cheers.

Leo.

[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 12-01-1999).]

A sidebar to the Heavely bed story:

The "W" hotels also have this gadget phone that at least in my case you need a P.H.D in Engineering to figure out!!! I got a dial tone but I could nto make a call or find the answer button.

The C-D players are nice too. I played "the Jingle Cats, version 1.0" when I first stayed at the W hotel (got that C-D at an flea market. it's great holiday music in MEOW!)

And I was playing Christmas music in April. Glad I didn't get arrested!

I was down in El Paso, TX for a family affair and one of my relatives had a reservation at a Days Inn. He had guaranteed it with a credit card and showed up around 6pm.

They gave away his room since he had not 'guaranteed late arrival'. I thought giving the credit card does guarantee that, but apparently not. Even with Marriott, they ask me what time I plan to arrive. I always say evening no matter what to get the 'guaranteed late arrival' on the reservation.