I just saw in another thread a report from someone who reserved a double bed and received two twin beds at check-in. I have never requested bed-type but did request a room with a view last year in Venice (at a higher rate than non-view rooms) and had no problems at check-in. Everything went smoothly.<BR><BR>This leads me to ask, has anyone reserved a room with a specific feature (a specific bed-type, a room with balcony, or tub, or view, or quiet, or superior, etc.) and has been given a different room than what was reserved?

I am afraid that I am one of those annoying people that give the hotel a list of what kind of room I want-size bed,courtyard,view,sometimes which floor,but it helps not have to go to the room,hate it, go back to the desk and start over,we usually are happy with the room we get this way and I am sure the desk is happier too... or they are too polite to show otherwise.I also always send letters when I get home, thanking everybody for the good stay.

Hi Mariarosa:<BR><BR>I have been travelling for years, but this is the first time that this happened with me as you read in my posting. As a matter of fact, whereever I called for reservation in Spain, they asked me what kind of Bed I wanted. All the hotels in that same visit had been extremely courteous and thus I would not generalize my one experience. But, i did learn my little lesson that it is always helpful to get a confirmation letter from the hotel.<BR><BR>Sans

Quite a few hotels will give you an undesirable room if you don't speak up. Be a little aggressive and they'll usually give you what you want.My last trip to England I stayed at the Rose & Crown in Salisbury & asked for a large room & they gave me the honeymoon suite for the same price as a standard.

We've been told by our TA that requests for view, bed type & size, floor preference, etc. are just that - requests, and that the hotel may honor them or may not be able to. That being said, whenever we travel, we request 2 beds instead of 1, a room 3rd floor or higher, non-smoking section, and away from the pool/patio/party areas, and every time we're assigned the opposite of what we've requested! A trip to the desk to be assigned another room always takes care of things, though. We've come to think of it as our own personal application of Murphy's Law.<BR>ja

Unfortunetly, a request is just that; a request. Asking for a type of view, bedding or floor does not guarantee you'll get it upon arrival unless when you book, the room category reads "ocean view w/balcony" e.g.

Once, at a hotel in Merano, we requested a room with a bath. What we got was a poky little room with a shower next to the kitchen (which started at six in the morning). The bath was actually specified on our voucher. When we talked about this to the staff, the answer was that the rooms with baths could sleep 3 people (more money for them!) and we were only 2 and were staying for 10 days.... Needless to say, we never went back to this hotel.

Actually, the one time I got the room that I requested, the joke was on me. "Hotels of Charm" had recommended room 1 at the Hotel Delambre, so I requested it. When we arrived, we discovered that it was halfway below ground level, so that out our (high) windows we could see the foot of the tree outside (do trees have feet?). When I questioned it, the girl said, "I was wondering why you requested the room." It was rather large, and there was a little patio outside (in a hole in the ground) that we could have used if it hadn't been pouring rain. We had a pleasant stay anyway (nice staff) and got a good laugh out of my overplanning.

We asked for a non-smoking room at the Sheraton- Roma and got a smoking room. They switched us the second night to one of their suites for the price of the double and we were delighted!!

I reserved the most expensive room at the D'Aubusson in paris that was supposed to have a four-poster bed. When we got there, I was so tired I forgot about it until the next day so I didn't raise a fuss about it, but I ended up paying the same price for the room and it did not have the same amenities. I loved the hotel so much that I didn't complain about it, but I should have! I had reserved that special room 1 year in advance. Amazing what a long flight can do to you.

As others point out, a request for room is just that, and is no guarantee of what you'll actually get. I've had many trips where the first room I was given needed to be changed (for various reasons.) I have noticed, however, that there's a HUGE difference between reserving via a travel agent (where ROH is guaranteed!) vs. booking directly through the hotel. When reserving directly from hotel, IF a change is required, it's much more readily accommodated.

When we were in Europe a few years ago, we had great difficulty getting a double bed - always ending up with twin beds. Now strange as it may seem, my husband and I actually enjoy sleeping together - in the one bed!<BR>In Montreaux, Switzerland, the tourist office booked us into a lovely hotel, we asked for a double bed when booking and were assured that would be fine. We asked again at the hotel reception about a double bed and yes, that was fine. Get to the room, and guess what? Twin beds. I couldn't believe it. Back down to reception and no problem, changed rooms to a room with a double bed. Very odd, do they think married couples (in our 30's!) don't want to sleep in the same bed?<BR>Kay