goingtobeijing

I have borrowed a Rick Steves guidebook from the library and I've book two hotels that are in the guidebook, and requested a discount as I was advised to do in the guidebook.

Since it is the librarys book I will not be travelling with the book.

Now I'm wondering if I need produce the guide book to qualify for the discount.

Obviously, I don't want ask the hotels directly.

What should I do? Cancel the reservations? Find alternate hotels?

The regular rate at one of the hotels I booked is completely out of my budget, and marginally over my budget with the discount, so I thought I'd splurge on the hotel.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

WillTravel

When are you going? You should be able to get a used Rick Steves book from Amazon or a similar service before you leave.

Second, why not take a library book on vacation? It's not any different than taking it to the coffee shop, if you return it in good condition, or are willing to pay if you lose it.

janisj

I honestly don't see a problem

1) ask the hotels if they require you to have a copy of the book w/ you

2) if yes, buy a used one locally in your town or on line

3) if no - then you don't need to have one.

cruiseluv

Last year my aunt made a reservation in Rome at one of the Rick Steve's discount hotels. At check in they requested to see the travel guide.

dutyfree

I might add that if it is not the latest you might not get the discount. Last year in Rome, I showed the ROME 2006 book to the hotelstaff upon checkin and they refused the discount as it wasn't the latest 2007 book. I had quite an argument about it but they stated that too many people buy old used books and that is not the contract that they have with Rick and his company. Go figure? I thought that if you purchased the book one time that it would have been enough.

MademoiselleFifi

Depends on the place. A hotel in Budapest lowered the price when I mentioned the book over the phone (didn't have to bring it), but for discounts on a London bus tour we had to not only show the latest book but also let them tear off a corner of the page-- can't do that with a library book.

ekscrunchy

I also fail to see the problem. Why would you "obviously" not want to ask the hotel? That is exactly who I would ask, for only they can give you the correct information for their particular property!

Write to them (or call) and ask them if you need to bring the book along. Simple!

ira

Hi G,

You can buy a 2008 Steves trave guide for as little as $6.50 + SH at www.amazon.com

You might even find it useful.

kleroux

If the cost of the book is less than the amount you are saving on the hotel booking, why not buy a new copy and keep it with you? He has all sorts of information in his travel guides. Altho you can get one through Amazon, try to support your local book seller....if there is still one in your community.

janisj

ekscrunchy: Yes, the &quot;<i>Obviously, I don't want ask the hotels directly.</i>&quot; part confused me too. Why on earth would one not contact the hotel directly? They are the only ones who can give the correct answer. Plus from what has been written above - you may need to buy a brand new edition.

Me personally, I wouldn't stay in a RS recommended hotel. Not because there is anything wrong w/ most of them - but more that they will have been &quot;rue Cler'd&quot; - meaning overrun w/ RS fans.

goingtobeijing

Thanks for all the feedback.

When I said obviously I don't want to ask the hotel, I meant I don't want the hotel to know that I haven't bought the travel guide.

I will send the hotels emails to calrify whether I need to present the guide for the discounts.

longboatkey

Just buy the book, as IRA stated, &quot;You might find it useful&quot;.

Magellan_5

hi goingtobeijing - I have received the Rick Steves discount countless number of times - and I've never once had to produce the book itself.

That said, I have always bought the book anyway. I've never had to actually <i>show it</i> and they've never even asked about it. I usually just produce the email in which they said &quot;yes, you can get the discount. (....But who knows, maybe they'll read this thread and start requiring proof of the book! LOL.)

If $17.95 is worth your peace of mind, then you might want to just shell out the dough! The suggestion to get a used copy through Amazon was a good one, especially if you can't really afford the $17.95.

Although I see you've already got your reservation, I'll just make a comment for people who haven't tried to do the discount before: *Important: You have to ask for the discount directly at the time of making the reservation. Don't use the hotel website! I've found that the best way to get the discount is to first write to them via email. I always write, &quot;I read about your hotel in the Rick Steves book. It says that there's a 10% discount if I mention the book - can I still get the discount?&quot; What they invariably say is that, yes, I can get the discount, but I have to pay for the reservation directly - meaning that I have to send a fax or call them with my credit card informaton.

Note that I never get the discount if I book through the hotel's website OR if I use a hotel service web site (such as Venere). Also, I never get the discount if I book first and then ask later about the discount.

Good luck!

SusanSDG

If Rick Steves has negotiated a discount for buyers of his book, it's only fair you buy the book.

Robert2533

&quot;If Rick Steves has negotiated a discount for buyers of his book, it's only fair you buy the book.&quot;

Could it be that old Rick is being paid to promote certain properties over others? It would seem so if the hotel requires you to produce the latest copy of the book in order to receive the &quot;Rick Steves Discount&quot;.

In other words, doesn't his objective reviews of properties come into question? Or am I wrong in this assumption?

chevre

I know this is hard to believe but Rick Steves offers the discounts honestly without any expectation of a kick back or favor. People are polorazied about the guy. I live in his home town and he is as honsest and sincere as the day is long. What you see on those shows is really him. The only difference is that he doesn't talk as fast in normal conversation!

Robert2533

&quot;offers the discounts honestly without any expectation of a kick back or favor&quot; Really? You know this for a fact because you live in Edmonds? Yes, sounds quite logical...

goingtobeijing

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rick Steve's and the hotel's main objective is to make money.

I've always thought of this as the you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours scenario.

I should mention that this isn't limited to Rick Steves and the hotel/restaurant/tour/etc. recommendations in his guide book. This is a common practice in the business world.

Anyway, getting back to my original question, I've emailed the hotels and I am waiting for their replys.

luvtotravel

I may be mistaken, but I'd heard that he donates a lot of the money his books and videos generate to charity.

suze

Robert, Yes you are wrong in that assumption. Rick Steves is not being paid off by the hotels. If you look at the hotels he is recommending, you'll believe this too.