If you read my hotel review from my stay at the Hyatt Place Times Square last week, then you know I wrote about why it’s smart to call the hotel directly. And if you read my recent review of the Delta Hotel at Palm Beach Airport, you know I was landing after midnight, so I made sure the hotel knew ahead of time so they didn’t give away my room, especially since I was traveling with my little kids. I called the hotels multiple times just to make sure.
Bottom line: Always email or call to reconfirm your room reservation a few days before your stay. It only takes a couple of minutes (if the hotel answers the phone) and can save you a major headache if something has gone wrong with your booking.
For B&Bs or small hotels, I also like to call on the day of arrival to let them know what time I expect to get there, especially if you’re arriving late (after 5 p.m.). And if you start running behind, follow up again so the front desk knows you’re still coming.
If you’re traveling internationally, use WhatsApp, since most B&B owners and small hotel managers use it. We did this last summer when we stepped off the ferry in Ischia, Italy, and our host was already waiting for us, which made the key transfer super easy for everyone. Best of all, it was free. I have T-Mobile and also use an e-SIM (Ubigi) when I travel, which makes staying connected overseas simple.
It’s a small step, but it can be the difference between walking straight to your room or scrambling for a place to sleep.
And if a hotel ever “walks” you (which means they gave away your room), politely demand that they put you in an equal or better hotel than the one you originally booked. This happened to me once in Maui. I didn’t like the first property they offered, so they upgraded me to an even better hotel than what I originally booked. It still made for a long night, though, which is another reason to call, email, or text ahead.
