If, at check-in, you find your double beds have become one or you were placed in a smoking room, speak to the front-desk agent and request a change-politely. First, know that hotels will generally try to honor your requests. The fix: The old adage "Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed" holds true here, but it's cold comfort when you really wanted a certain amenity. However, in the teeny-tiny fine print, most hotels also say that your requests aren't guaranteed. King bed or two doubles? High floor or low? Non-smoking? Water views? Three single red M&Ms? When reserving your hotel, most booking engines will allow you to make requests or add comments regarding your stay. But when those low, low OTA prices can't be beat-we know the feeling-you can always make a request for a certain type of room or location. If having the best possible room is key to happy travel, then book directly through the hotel's website. The fix: Joining hotel loyalty programs is often free, and being a member can guarantee better room placement, free nights or helpful amenities like complimentary breakfast or Wi-Fi. The agent couldn't tell me just how many hotel chains do this, but she said it was a "fairly common practice" and that it sweetens the deal for travelers who book at regular rates. Travelers who book through online travel agencies (OTAs), like Priceline, often receive "run of the house" rooms (what she called "ice-machine rooms," or basically whatever is left). She revealed this surprising tidbit: Those who book through the hotel website or are hotel loyalty members usually get first dibs on room assignments, with the better views and quieter locations. Curious, I asked what method her staff uses to determine who gets the best-located rooms. I was recently chatting with a front-desk agent about how her hotel chain distributes rooms at check-in. Read on to find out what you must avoid when booking that hotel room. From booking on the wrong sites to forgetting to check some vital information, these mistakes could easily make or break your trip. However, there are some big blunders you could be making when it comes to hotel reservations. Booking a hotel seems pretty straightforward, right? And most times it is: Pick a destination, choose your dates, enter payment info and voila, happy travels!
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