By Andrea Sachs, Hannah Sampson, Natalie B. ComptonThe Washington Post Hotels say they want you to feel at home, but hospitality has its limits. A reservation is not a property takeover.
It’s your vacation, so go ahead and break some of your own house rules. But if you want to be an upstanding guest and expert traveler, you still need to follow the main tenets of a hotel stay. We compiled a list of tips that cover every step of the experience.
We also included some general decorum reminders, so that when the staff tells you to come back soon, they really mean it. AI-generated room photos. Reviews written by bots.
The internet is making it easier than ever to dupe travelers who do the majority of their research online. Before you lock in a reservation, shop around on multiple booking and review sites, and beware of suspiciously glowing or repetitive feedback. When you book a room through a third-party site, the hotel has to pay them a commission.
Cut out the middleman and you may be able to negotiate a better deal. Experts say hotel rates may be more flexible than you think. Sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program, too.
You might find lower prices, even if you haven’t built up status. Hotel prices are dynamic. High rates one day can plummet the next.
If the property doesn’t require payment upfront to hold a reservation, wait to pay until check-in, then keep checking the price on the website. If you spot a drop, cancel your reservation and rebook the lower fare. Make su.
