Getting choice rooms
 

All rooms in a hotel are not created equal. Most rooms have features proportionate to price, but rooms within the same price range can vary significantly. The most obvious variations are the view, balcony/terrace, jacuzzi, room size and floor location.

Most hotels donot promise an exact room at booking time. My question is: What is the best way to get the best room possible within the class reserved ????

Is it simply a matter of asking at check-in ?? Does the customer offer a few euro's to get desired room ??? Does early check-in matter ??? Or is it the luck of the draw ??

I think mostly luck of the draw. However I have been to hotels that have asked me if I have a preferance in terms of floor or back/front of the hotel. Hard to know which room to ask for though if you've never stayed there.

I agree it's mostly luck of the draw, but you may be able to pick and choose a bit if you're lucky with your timing. If you arrive after rooms have been vacated by departing guests and before they've been assigned to arriving ones, you can ask to see what the hotel has available. Most hotels will be willing to give you your choice of room within the category you've reserved.

Ask to see your room before accepting it. It is expected in Europe, and done very frequently. The desk is usually very accommodating.....they think nothing about you asking. For everyone who enjoys looking out the window, or doesn't like the noise of being next to the elevator etc...there are those to which it makes no difference.

Being charming to the desk staff - not cash! - but just showing a little genuine interest/enthusiasm can sometimes get you extras - IF the hotel is not full.

I've gotten unpaid for lake views, mountain views, fireplaces, sitting areas etc with this technique - my beau claims its black magic.

Once you pick a hotel, contact them and ask them which rooms are available. Express your preferences up front. At some hotels, like the Hotel Florence in Bellagio, rooms are assigned when you book and since the hotel is usually full, your chances of waltzing in and grabbing one of the best rooms are pretty low.
If you are staying with a hotel chain that has a preferred guest program that also helps (just because a hotel is part of a chain, doesn't mean it's a cookie cutter hotel). I am a Favorite Guest with Accor and am usually given an upgraded room, sometimes a suite, at no extra charge. If I express a preference (view room, high floor, balcony, whatever), my Favorite Guest status generally guarantees that I get it.
I have never paid anyone at the front desk for an upgrade.

Good question. Here's what worked for me in Italy, so I think it could work anywhere. I booked all of our rooms directly with the hotels. When the hotel confirmed my reservation, I checked to see who had signed the e-mail or fax confirming my rooms. I corresponded with this person by e-mail. I tried to be pleasant, very positive, which was easy, as I was picking hotels I was excited about and I mentioned something positive about each hotel, and if the person I was corresponding with went out of their way (like 1 man who actually went and measured the bed to tell me what size an Italian "double" bed is!), then I thanked and complimented that particular person for being so kind, helpful.

I was also very specific about what I wanted. But I didn't sound demanding, I took care to call these "special requests" or "special needs". I asked for quiet rooms with nice views that were quiet at night for sleeping, non-smoking rooms if available, and also I let them know that my husband and I were staying in the double room and would prefer a nice big bed..."letto matrimoniale", which also, by the way, lets them know this is a couple who would prefer a romantic room.

In every case we got excellent rooms! We got exactly what we wanted. Also, I think it helps if you mention something like, I read about your hotel in Fodors guide, or I head guests on-line making many good comments about your hotel. I think this lets the hotel know that by pleasing you, they are actually enhancing their reputation since you represent not only yourself alone, but you carry with you the added benefit of being a Fodors or a Rick Steve's guests, who will influence other guests. I always mention all of the various places I have seen this hotel recommended.

Remember to thank them by name. People like feeling appreciated.

Finally, of course it helps if you plan on checking in as early as you can. Remind them in a friendly manner upon checking in what rooms you requested. It's important to sound excited and positive, nobody wants to help a crabby, critical, bossy person! Also, no matter what they say at the desk, if your room isn't cleaned for you yet, don't disappear for hours and return late and expect that they have held the best rooms for you. It doesn't happen. Try to return to the hotel by the afternoon if your rooms aren't ready earlier. If you wait too long mistakes get made and you'll get last choice by returning at 9:00 pm for that room key.

We had great double rooms in Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Siena, and Venice using all of these methods. Also, I didn't mention you should go on the hotel's web-site and see if you can figure out which rooms you prefer and request them...I knew I would prefer the garden view when there was one because it's off the street and quieter so that's what I requested. If you want the quieter side of the hotel and you're not sure where that is, ask them.

Good luck.

One more suggestion. I think it helps to make an effort to learn a few words in the language of the country you're visiting, and use some of these words in your e-mails to the hotel. You're speaking to a person who has made the effort to learn your language and they appreciate that you are at least trying to learn some of their language too.

Another important thing is to study the guest comments for this hotel (you can find some on www.tripadvisor.com and some on fodors). Notice patterns...are there satisfied customers in every level of rooms, or are the only happy people the ones who booked the best rooms, and everyone else is dissatisifed? If a hotel only has 2 rooms that people love, don't stay there!

Thanks to all who replied ... These are great suggestions, and it's nice to hear that you have had some success in your approches.

I now know that being excited, positive and personal will go a long way. I didn't want to be perceived as a complainer, that's not my style.

Again, thanks to all.

Melissa
You approach this much as I do - by researching the hotel and the rooms, by investing a little time at the email/ reservation stage and by being as friendly, polite and enthusiastic as possible (which is genuine anyway as I'm always excited to be booking a trip and I always choose hotels that appeal to me).