I think that if that bellman is the only one hanging around then that's who you tip. He will tip out the other guys or maybe they just have an agreement to help each other out. If the other ones really wanted a tip they would have hovered around you.

And to answer your question, YES! I did get a job around Thanksgiving, so I am gainfully employed once again. So I don't have as much time on FT, but we all have to make sacrifices http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif.



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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

Hello Spike74. Have a great honeymoon. Is your hotel part of a chain with a loyalty program? Sometimes there are various levels within that program that you can buy rather than earn.

For example, this December prior to going to Rome, I joined the "Six Continents Club" a program with the Intercontinental Hotel group. I paid $150 to join.

Part of the benefit list was a reduced rate limo to or from the airport. The rate for 4 of us was $75. rather than the $120 rate they would have charged another guest for just a car.

Then I booked a week in their hotel in Rome, using the internet and getting a rate of 261 euros a night.

The six continents membership provided us with complimentary fruit and bottled water when we arrived.

When we arrived we were upgraded to an executive suite. Rack rate on the room was about 1000 euros!

Also we told them that my sister and her husband (also guests) were celebrating their 25th anniversary on New Year's Eve. They received a bottle of champagne (can't remember the brand, but it would be in the $30/bottle range, as I recall)

Oh, and every hotel guest got a split of Asti Spumanti on New Year's eve with a nice note from the manager.

Also, we discretely asked to be admitted to the rooftop patio at midnight to watch the Rome fireworks. Although it was closed for repairs, we got to view the citywide fireworks, with champagne in hand.

By the way, when we left, we put together something for Roberto, one of their wonderful concierges. In addition to a healthy tip, we gift bagged some little presents for him in gratitude for his care and assistance.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of treatment we get when we return.
rkt

spike-
Seeing as though you have already informed the hotels that it is your honeymoon, I think that you have really done all you can without shelling out more $$$. Hotels will often upgrade you if there is availability (this has been discussed on this thread). It is also very likely you will receive some type of amenity: champagne, fruit basket, etc.
Certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to ask for an upgrade politely at check-in, and you could also call now and politely request one, but this of course cannot be guaranteed ahead of time.
As far as airport transfers: pretty unlikely you'll get that for free, but there's no harm in asking. The best advice I can give you is not to go in expecting free upgrades and other extras, because the hotel is not obliged to give you them. If you do get them, then its an extra bonus.
Have a wonderful honeymoon and do let us know how everything turns out. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

The only way you would be able to check-in that early would be if you paid for the night before. If there is a clean, vacant room available that early then you can probably check in early, but this is up to the front desk's discretion. If check-in time is 3pm then you may have to wait until 3pm. There are a few hotels that offer check-in at anytime, but this requires 24hour housekeeping staff which is expensive, so only a few of the more upscale hotels will have this available.
Its worth a phone call to the hotel to check. Also see if you can find out how busy the hotel will have been the night before. If it will have been half empty, then your chances of being able to check in early are pretty good. If it will have been full, then you will have to wait until people check out and rooms are cleaned.
Good luck. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif



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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

Cholula-
Thanks for your kind words. Yes, I have landed another job, and I certainly appreciate the concern. (Its not in the hotel industry thankfully http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif )

"The main thing I've learned from all the posts is that I'd better start greasing a few more palms"

I guess this is sadly a big part of this thread isn't it? I hate to make out the hotel business to be "sleazy", but the bottom line is: money talks! A $20 bill can go a long way, and that is just how the hotel business works nowadays, especially in this sluggish economy.
It makes me wonder if a $20 bill would get you an upgrade on a flight too?.... Hmmm... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif


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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

rkt-
Thanks for posting this. I didn't know you could buy elite membership like that. Is Six Continents the same as Priority Club? I thought they were partnered, but maybe I imagined that.
Glad to hear that you had such an excellent stay over the new year, and that you scored such a generous upgrade! Sounds like you also had a truly outstanding concierge, I'm sure he GREATLY appreciated your gift.




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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

Hi g_leiser. Yes, you can buy. Start by joining their Priority Club. Then join the Six Continents Club. See the link on this page: http://www.intercontinental.com/six_...ub/index.shtml

Here's the list of benefits of the Six Continents Club:




The Six Continents Card

Guests at InterContinental and Forum hotels and resorts can experience the highest levels of recognition, service and value-added benefits by joining the Six Continents Club®.


You will benefit from the following:
Complimentary weekend night certificate. This certificate, valid for six months, entitles you to complimentary accommodation for one night when you spend a minimum two-night weekend stay at any InterContinental or Forum hotel.
Bonus airline mileage points.
Priority waiting list reservations.
Special check-in desk / area.
Upgrade to superior room.
Single rate for double occupancy.
VIP greeting and in-room welcome gift.
Fresh fruit and mineral water awaiting your arrival.
Complimentary newspaper delivered to your room every day.
One free 'pay TV' movie per stay (where available).
Late check-out (4:00 pm).
Express check-out.
Regular member newsletter, including unique travel offers.
Complimentary weekend night certificate when you renew your membership. This certificate, valid for six months, entitles you to complimentary accommodation for one night when you spend a minimum two-night weekend stay at any InterContinental or Forum hotel.
'Members only' toll-free reservation numbers.
Six Continents Club® WorldAssist.
Availability of Airport Chauffeur Service at selected destinations.

Hope you all join! It was the best $150 I ever spent. And the renewal is only $50 a year.

rkt

hi,

recently I made a reservation on the internet at the Mandarin Oriental Miami and I do hold a confirmed reservation on a very good deal. A day after making the booking (guaranteed with my Amex card) the hotel sends me an e-mail that they will not honour the rate due to a flaw in their online reservation system which made it possible to get a room at about 1/7th of the rack rate because I was able to book the room for the whole week at the rate of one single day. They offer me the room about 100USD below the rack rate per day which is not a good deal if packages are available. What should I do ?
Just turn up and insist on my reservation at the price of the initial booking?
Remember:
If I was dissatisfied with any hotel I could definitely not just say I will pay less due to a lack of service because a reservation is a contract, agreed to by both parties.
Thanks in advance!

flamboyant-
I think that unfortunately you aren't holding any cards here. The hotel made a mistake and have called you to correct it which is totally within the bounds of reason.
This happened recently with the super low Bali rates people got on an Internet screw up. Does anyone have more info on this?? My understanding is that the situation was similar to yours: the hotel contacted each reservation holder and informed them ahead of time that they will not honor it. I believe they got 5,000 SPG points as a consolation prize.

I really don't think showing up and demanding your rate is going to get you anywhere except a heated argument.
The fact that your Amex is guaranteeing the room means nothing, that only guarantees the payment for the hotel.
You say that they are giving you $100/night off rack, which is not a good rate IF there are packages. IF there are packages then you should be able to book that rate, but if there are no package rates available then you are still getting a great deal.
Your profile says you are Amex Centurion, so you could try calling them, as they often have decent partnerships with upscale hotels.
Otherwise, I'm afraid you are stuck with the higher rate. I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news. Please do post the outcome of this situation as I think many here would be very interested to see how it turns out. (Myself included http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif )


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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

Bumping this thread as it has some amazingly useful info.

Thanks for your reply gleyser!

The outcome was pretty simple. I did not go there and the hotel gladly took my reservation out of their system. I spent a nice week in Tuscany which was fine as well although I did not stay at a five diamond property.

The next time in southern Florida I will try the Westin Diplomat on which we all can find amazingly positive info in the Starwood forum.

This is a question about smoking and no smoking rooms. In the olden days, when all rooms were 'smoking' if you wanted to, all rooms at decent hotels were cleaned in such a manner so that when you arrived, they didn't smell smokey and stale. I smoke a bit, a pipe, very light, just a few puffs now and then. Nowadays, if you choose a smoking room, the rooms are often stale and smell. I always choose a no smoking room, and since I smoke so little, it is not a great sacrifice not to smoke, and I often don't--in the room. Sometimes I do, and I feel a little guilty about it, but since they don't keep their smoking rooms in habitable condition, I feel justified. They often assign a no smoking room without asking anyway. I don't really think my smoking causes them any trouble, I doubt they can even tell. I have no real complaints about service, except this.

The reason that smoking rooms are stale and smelly is because people smoke in them! Now you have turned a nonsmoking room into a stale and smelly smoking room.
And nonsmokers CAN tell when a room has been previously smoked in.
Because you smoked in a nonsmoking room, the housekeeping staff will need to do a more extensive cleaning on the room, and even this will not guarantee that the room will not still smell like smoke.
You are lucky you have not been charged a cleaning fee in the past for smoking in a nonsmoking room.
Although this may not seem like a big deal to you, it matters to the housekeeping staff and probably to the next nonsmoker that stays in the room---please have some consideration!

I can't speak for the hotels, but I can definetly tell when someone smoked in the non-smoking room where I am staying, and I immideatly call to the front desk and ask them to change the room.
Try to have more consideration for the non-smokers who will stay in that room after you.

Agreed. I can always tell if someone smoked in a non-smoking room. I hate the smell because it permeates everything, the curtains, the carpet, the cloth on the furniture. I hope that smokers will give consideration to the non-smokers and please, do not smoke in a no smoking room. It may not seem like a big deal to you because you do not mind smoke, but to many nonsmokers, it is a huge deal.