Do most people call their hotel a day or two ahead just to confirm the hotel has their reservation? I'm going to Paris in May and have a faxed confirmation, but I'm wondering if I should bother to call. Thanks.

I should add that I booked the hotel several months ago.

This is a tough call. If the hotel has overbooked, it will be easy for them to give you the shove-off over the phone rather than dealing with you showing up in person on the day of check-in with your confirmation in hand. There have been posts here from people who've experienced that problem. Since you have a faxed confirmation, I would stick with that. If you feel you must make contact, I would call NOW and ask some simple question about your room--is it street view?--get the name of the person you talked to and write it down and attach it to your reservation confirmation.

no, I don't-- unless I were going to be arriving very late or something. The hotel I stay at in Paris is one I have a long relationship with and I know them well, they are professional, so no need. Even others, I don't do it because I've got enough to do and worry about. Only 3 things can happen: everything is ok, or they have no reservation for you, or they have overbooked and want to bump you as someone else said, so you get the shaft. I figure if it ever happens I get to a hotel and they refuse to give me a room when I have a written confirmation from them, I'll deal with it at the time -- get them to find me another close by and use their phone (most do that) or something. That has never happened to me so I've saved my time and trouble. I suppose some people think it's no trouble to do that, but it would be for me (calling Europe at night when I don't stay up that late, cost, if I'm traveling around during that time, it's definitely more cost and trouble). If you want to do it, I'd just do it and say I'm reconfirming without making up a story. A lot of hotels wouldn't know if your room has a view because they don't reserve specific rooms ahead of time and certain clerks (like night clerks) definitely wouldn't know stuff so if you do it, you should call in day time.

Thanks for the advice. I think I will show up with confirmation in hand and deal with it from there. I agree that I'd rather have them help me there find another place rather than having to deal with searching for another hotel a month ahead of time.

I would call - simply to verbally confirm the dates, etc. It may cost a buck or two, but it saved us recently.<BR><BR>I had booked two rooms for our upcoming trip to London and Paris (my wife and I, and my parents) through our agent (gives us a nice rebate), and called the hotel a few days later to ask about the size of the rooms, amenities, etc. <BR><BR>Guess what - the agent had only booked ONE room. Nice catch - It was still two months out and I got another room there easily. We would have been in a tight spot arriving in London this Monday, and having only one room!<BR><BR>If the Boy Scouts taught me one thing, it's BE PREPARED!<BR><BR>Drew