I've heard some people request to see rooms before they check in or request a better room if they do not like the one they have. I'm wondering what the proper etiquette of this is and what reasonable expectations are? <BR>Let me clarify. Say one books online through a hotel discounter and gets a very good rate at a more upscale hotel, does that mean that you should be prepared to accept whatever's given to you or is it reasonable to ask for something better? By better, I don't mean an upgrade to a suite for example but to a nicer or newer room within the class that you booked for.<BR>Does it make a difference how much you paid? I realize that if you pay $100 for a 4-star hotel maybe you shouldn't expect too much, but say you paid $250. For that amount I wouldn't want a room that's got worn bedspreads and carpets or is right next to the supply closet or faces a brick wall.<BR>I'd appreciate anyone elses take on this. I think the internet makes it so easy to bargain shop that not too many people pay rack rates these days. <BR>I'm expecially curious about London and Paris as I am in the early stages of planning my next vacation there. I'd also like to hear the opinions of people who work in the hotel business. Is room changing considered a fair request or does it make one look like a cheapskate?

I think you're entitled to get the room that you paid for. For example, if a hotel has a "standard", "deluxe" and "suite," and you book a "standard," then that's what you're entitled to. If you are given a "standard," but for whatever reason you don't like it, I think you are perfectly entitled to inquire whether there is another room within that class that you could have instead. The hotel should make every effort to accomodate your request for a change. It should be irrelevant what rate you paid for the "standard," (i.e. whether it was discounted or not). If the hotel makes an effort, but says there are no rooms in that class available, then you are S.O.L. If there is something materially wrong with the room, however, such as torn sheets, etc., the hotel should either find you a room that is OK (no matter what class) or take steps to rectify the problem (i.e. by giving you another sheet or bedspread).

ttt

Once, we booked a room in a hotel that we had been to twice before. Those times the rooms were great. I asked when booking for a room on a high floor facing a certain direction.<BR>We got the high floor, half way the direction, but it was next to the room with the ice machine and about half the size of a normal room.<BR>I took one look and was so surprised, that I blurted out, Are you kidding? I am not staying in here!<BR>So back to the desk we went and I explained in a more diplomatic way why I hated the room. They were very nice about it and gave us an excellent room. <BR>I do think that sometimes they hope you won't say anything and they can unload the least nice rooms first-although for second/third time clients, they should be nicer than that.

I know what you mean, because in some hotels, the rooms are not standard. this is especially the case when the hotel is a converted house or mansion. I have also learned over the years, that when I book with a package tour or hotel discounter, I tend not to get the larger or nicer rooms. This was very evident once when we made a private booking with a hotel on Lake Orta in Italy. We probably paid the rack rate, but the room was huge and faced the lake. At the same time was a party of English tourists who had come with a package tour. They were all given smaller attic rooms not facing the lake. I think the discounters and package companies sometimes take the least desirable rooms which is how they are able to offer them cheaply. I have also noticed that when travelling with a package company, the room I get usually bears little resemblance to the room shown in their brochure. This is especially true of city hotels. Like you, I have never known what to do about this. I guess that I supposed that if I complained, they would say to me "well what do you expect for what you paid?" I would be interested to hear other people's views.

IMHO, I think it is the same with restaurant tables. We will inevitably be given a table near the kitchen, or less desirable location. If you don't open your mouth and ask for another table and say this is not acceptable, they will save the good tables for others.

This was a point of contention between my wife and me for a long time, but in recent years I've been won over: if you don't like the room ask if there's another, regardless of the rate you're paying. My rules of thumb are keep your expectations realistic - - don't expect a suite if you're paying for a standard - - and don't sound angry or complain about the original room, and you can usually get the staff to work with you. For example, say that you'd like a room with more space or nicer decor, not that the original room is tiny or a dump.