How to improve a stay in a bad hotel

by Gadling Staff on

I stay in a lot of hotels. I mean, A LOT of hotels (my husband and I joke that our apartment is just a place to keep our stuff. We don’t actually live there). And for the most part, my experiences are quite positive. But occasionally, I might stay in a room that looks — and smells — like a family of Sasquatch had stayed there before me. Or one that’s so noisy, I’ve considered grabbing the blankets off the bed and dragging them underneath the nearest freeway, in order to get some relative peace and quiet.

Fortunately, if you find yourself in a room you aren’t happy with, there are plenty of options to improve your stay that don’t involve spending the night underneath an overpass or plugging up your nostrils. Just keep calm, take a few deep breaths, and check out our eight essential tips for making your next hotel stay a pleasant one, no matter how bad the circumstances.

1.) Let the staff know that you aren’t happy — immediately. If you have a bellhop with you, don’t let him leave unless you’re satisfied with the room. If, after a quick glace, you find there’s a family of possums in the closet or raccoons have chewed through the electrical wiring, let someone know right away. The sooner you inform the staff that you need to switch rooms, the easier it will be on all of you (plus, it spares housekeeping the task of cleaning your room twice).

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2. ) Be flexible. If you’re willing to accept a downgrade (e.g., no view or balcony) or trade in a king room for two queens, the hotel will more easily be able to accommodate your request to change rooms. If there are no other rooms available in your price range, ask them to upgrade you to a problem-free room at no extra charge. While most places won’t offer this up on their own, they likely won’t refuse when you suggest it, either.

3.) See if the problem can be fixed. If you can’t switch rooms, ask the staff to remedy the situation: if the room is dirty, ask for another pass by housekeeping. If a sink is clogged, request a visit from maintenance. If you suspect there’s a poltergeist in the bathroom … well, you know who to call. If you’re still unsatisfied with your accommodations and have exhausted all other options, let the staff know that you’d like to move into another room as soon as one is available.

%Gallery-99721%4.) Be reasonable — not only of your requests of staff, but also in your expectations. They obviously can’t control the cooing of the pigeons that are nesting just outside your room (seriously … don’t pigeons sleep?!), but they can ask your partying neighbors to keep it down. Try to rectify the things you can control, and remember that many of the annoyances that are out of your hands (like fluctuating water pressure and overly-poofy pillows) might actually fall under the category of “the joys of travel.”

5.) Ask to speak to a manager. They usually can help with upgrades and changes that regular staff can’t. Since they’re the highest on the chain of command in a hotel, they can probably straighten things out for you. Just make sure you’ve been polite and reasonable to everyone you’ve talked to before then — if you’ve already been labeled as “the crazy guest who’s screaming in the lobby,” it might be harder to make your case.

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6.) Request a refund or discount. Most places won’t give you money back unless you specifically request it. A few dollars knocked off each of your nights’ stay can add up to a lot. If they aren’t able to provide a substantial reduction on the your stay, then ask them what they can offer you (vouchers to a nearby spa, a comped dinner or breakfast in the hotel restaurant, etc).

7.) Plan ahead. If you’ve had an unpleasant stay, ask the staff how you can avoid a similar situation in the future (when booking your room, ask if it’s noisy, above a busy street, near a stairwell, etc.). Not only will it help make your subsequent stay more pleasant, but it lets the staff know that you’re a repeat customer — and one who should be taken care of. You might even score TWO mints on your pillow next time.

8.) Switch hotels. If the staff is unable or unwilling to help you out, see if there are any vacancies at other nearby hotels. Nothing will get a hotel staff cracking than hearing, “We can simply check-out and go across the street.” Thanks to the Internet (is there anything it can’t do?), you should be able to find other accommodations, even during the busiest of seasons — that meet your standards (e.g., no circus animals in the hallways, plumbing pipes that actually drain, etc.).

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Have you ever had a nightmare hotel stay that you handled like a pro? If so, share your tips and tricks in the comments section!

[Photo: Flickr | Fly for fun]

Label your chargers, stay in charge: Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Do you panic about leaving a phone charger behind in a hotel room? Do your hands get clammy when you have a jumble of chargers cords in your carry-on bag, but can’t find the right one? I solved the tangled cord problem by using colored twist ties, electrical tape, or sticky labels.

I save twist ties from bags of bread/bagels in a small ZipLoc bag in my silverware drawer in the kitchen. As I buy cell phones, I label the phone charger cables with a twist tie. My phone has a red twist tie while my husband’s phone has a green one. My teen’s charger cord is yellow while the tween’s is blue. When we arrive at a hotel, I will unravel the charger cables we need, so the phone can be placed on the desk in the hotel room while charging. I use the twist tie to secure the remaining charger cable to prevent the phone from slipping to the floor. At the end of our trip, the charger cables are easy to spot because of the colored twist tie.

For larger charger cables, such as though for digital/video cameras and laptops, I use a piece of colored electrical tape or a sticky label. I buy electrical tape, which is about 0.5″ wide and is red or blue. I write the name of the device on the label on the charger cable. Many laptop charger cables come with an attached velcro or plastic tie, which helps to prevent tangled cords in a carry-on bag.

[Photo: Flickr | A. Germain]

Role play at dinner – Dining out tip

by Gadling Staff on

Vacations are all about having fun and getting a break from your normal life, right? Here’s a fun tip that can really give you and your family something to remember:

  • Select a rather nondescript, local(ish) restaurant.
  • Select a fun theme to play, such as “sophisticated snobs” or “silly southerners.” (Nothing offensive, just something different and in contrast to the normal clientele of the restaurant.)
  • Dress for the theme and have fun joking and pretending to be something you’re not!

Combine this with being courteous to the wait staff, and you’ll have an amazing dinner! Don’t forget to take photos!

[Photo: Flickr | GiddeanX]

Travel fitness: Road trip fitness gear for families

by Gadling Staff on

Traveling cross-country with kids in tow can make fitness more difficult. You can’t leave your children to take a long run, or spend an hour in a gym. But you can pack a selection of family friendly items to keep everyone healthy on the road.

The following choices will not only provide a good workout, but they have the added bonus of building memories with your family.

Playground Pump This application for your iPhone or iPod touch features 50 exercise cards designed for the playground. This is a fun way to get a full body work out while traveling. Make a pit stop at a playground and let the cards guide your routine. You are given 6 cards/exercises to perform using typical playground equipment during each workout: 2 upper body, 2 lower body and 2 abdominal cards equals a 30 minute session.

Fit deck Purchase a set or two of these exercise playing cards to carry on the road. Each 56 card fit deck has a different focus. Travel-friendly decks include body weight, yoga or the stretch deck. Each card features three fitness levels to accommodate different abilities. Shuffle and let your child become your trainer by pulling out the next exercise.Yoga paws. Traveling yoga enthusiasts will love these! Yoga paws are better than even the most travel friendly mat. Slip them on your hands and feet for solid support, padding and the ability to practice whenever and where ever you have the opportunity. Their small size allows you to carry them in your purse or glove compartment.

Jump ropes. Pack a jump rope for everyone in the family. There is no question that jumping rope provides excellent cardio. It is also a fun way to get a quick work out in with minimal space and time. Set up a timer or watch the clock while you perform intervals of high and low intensity for 15-20 minutes. You can also use the rope to perform stretches.

Sidewalk chalk. Pack a container of sidewalk chalk for quick exercise session where ever there happens to be concrete. Draw up a game of traditional game of hopscotch and play. The jumping and bending provides an excellent impromptu workout with the added bonus of being simply fun. Chalk can also be used to mark off lines for a series of suicide runs or pyramid drills. These intense conditioning exercises can even be done if you have little ones since you are basically running back and forth. Try to smile, and this exhausting exercise becomes entertainment for little ones!

Sylvie Branch is a Seed.com writer.

Unconventional travel tips to ensure a great vacation

by Gadling Staff on

You know the basics: Don’t forget your I.D., pack your 3-1-1 bags, always bring a spare set of clothes, and make sure to charge your cell phone before setting off on your adventure. But how about trying something a little different? Here are some not-so-typical things that can make a vacation fun

Don’t book a hotel before venturing off to your destination. Take a chance and go to your destination without pre-booking your hotel room. The fun of not knowing where you are going to stay heightens the excitement of the trip. Not only will you be able to see the hotel up-close-and-personal but you might be lucky enough to find a hotel at a cheap rate.

Forget the web. Spontaneity helps keep the fun in relationships, so why not be spontaneous when it come to your vacation activities? Forget researching the web before you go. Get there and explore — you will have the insider’s guide as you explore your surroundings and check with the locals to find the destination’s hidden treasures.

Become your own tour guide. Take a walk around town with others and see what you see. Talk to locals about the town’s history; you are more likely to find secrets and additional information from them than with a tour guide.Cash out. Budgets are extremely important but splurging on something worthwhile can add to the fun of vacationing. You worked hard to be able to go on vacation, so why not treat yourself while you’re there? Whether it is a five-course meal at a high-end restaurant, a pricey souvenir that you are sure to never forget, or VIP seating at the hottest local club, you are sure to have a blast breaking the bank.

Re-introduce yourself to entertainment. Leave the electronics at home. You do not want to be distracted by portable DVD players and iPhones when you are visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time, or climbing Mt. Washington. Re-introduce yourself to entertainment from before it was electronic (i.e., nature, reading, walks and sunsets.)

Pack only what you need. Over-packing can actually save you in the long run. Imagine not having your sneakers on a vacation to the beach. You want to visit the boardwalk and ride the rides, but all you brought were a pair of flip-flops. Nothing brings your mood down like not being able to do what you want to do because you packed lightly.

Antoinette Francis is a Seed.com writer.