Staying in a hotel is a treat that many of us absolutely love; it’s a chance to enjoy a little bit of luxury, and even the cheapest hotel is going to allow you to step away from the at-home chores you would normally be doing and let someone else take on the jobs for a change.
Yet most of us will use our hotel rooms for the bare minimum, and when that happens, you’ll be missing out on some of the very cool and very enjoyable extras that you could be enjoying, and that will make your stay an even more memorable one. Read on to find out how to make the most of your next hotel stay; you won’t regret it.
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Breakfast
Depending on the hotel you’re staying in, you might be in line for a free breakfast (or at least one that’s included in the price of your room), and if this is the case, you really don’t want to miss out, especially if you plan on a good day of sight-seeing, or even a good day of lazing about doing nothing. You’ll need a big breakfast inside you.
Make sure you find out what time breakfast starts and ends so you don’t miss it altogether or get up too early and have to wait around. Then enjoy the buffet or table service and order whatever you want. This is your chance to really indulge, so don’t be shy.
Order In
If you don’t want to go out for dinner and the hotel you’re staying in doesn’t provide it, what can be done? You might not realise it, but you are more than welcome to order food in if you want to. Depending on the hotel’s rules, the delivery person might not be able to come up to your room, so you may have to meet them in reception, but that’s not such a hardship overall.
Use The RestaurantOf course, if the hotel does provide food in its own restaurant, it’s certainly worth trying it at least once because this will allow you to make the most of the hotel you chose – if you weren’t going to use the restaurant, why pick a hotel that had one?
Take the time to really read the menu, look at your surroundings, feel the high-quality table linen from Richard Haworth, and savour the entire experience.
Ask For Extras
In a hotel, you’re going to be given some things for free. Shampoo, condition, soap, shower gel, perhaps a sewing kit and shower cap too. You might even be given some bottles of water, and of course, there will be teas and coffees and everything you need to make them.
If you don’t feel as though you have enough, you don’t have to settle; call down to reception and ask for some more. They will be brought to you, and this is perfectly acceptable; most people do it. If you prefer not to speak to someone at reception, you can wander the halls until you find one of the cleaning staff, and they will be able to help. Either way, these items are for guests’ use, and if you need more, you’ll get more.
Arrive Early And Stay Late
The trick of getting to your hotel early and staying late is a simple way to extend the amount of time you get to spend there. It works very well for an overnight stay which makes it seem like a weekend trip, and when you’re traveling abroad and staying in different hotels every two or three nights.
If you’ve stayed at a hotel chain before and liked it, perhaps becoming a loyalty card member, they’ll usually let you stay a few hours longer on each end if there’s room. If you don’t belong to a loyalty programme, just remember that early check-ins and late check-outs are not unusual requests. Tell the front desk that you might come early and stay late. This will let the staff know that you need more time. Even if they say, “We can’t guarantee this request in advance,” they will at least make a note of it in the system, and most savvy hotels will try to meet the request. No matter how many hours you gain, you win.
Celebrate
Good hotels know that they are also in the business of surprising and delighting their guests. With this, you have to let them know ahead of time if you’re celebrating something, like a birthday, anniversary, babymoon, a night away from the kids, etc. This gives the property a reason and a chance to give you perks they already have, like chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne, a cheese plate, an early check-in/late check-out, or a much-desired upgrade to the lounge level.
Call the hotel ahead of time and tell them what you’re doing to celebrate. If they don’t congratulate you at check-in (sometimes things get lost in the shuffle), tell the front desk agent that you’re happy to be staying there to celebrate your event.
Find the best deal for your next hotel stay.
When visiting Universal Studios, be sure to find the best hotels near the theme park. This will ensure that you are able to get to the park easily and enjoy your time there. There are many different hotels in the area, so be sure to shop around and find the one that is right for you to get the most out of your stay.
If you are looking to save money on your next hotel stay, there are a few things that you can do. One of the best ways to save money is to look for deals during the off-season. This is when hotel prices are typically lower because there is less demand. You can also look for package deals that include your hotel room and tickets to Universal Studios. This can help you save a lot of money on your overall vacation.
