Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Look into group or long-stay
discounts.
If you come as part of
a large group, you should be able
to negotiate a bargain rate, since
the hotel can then guarantee occu-
pancy in a number of rooms.
Likewise, if you're planning a long
stay (at least 5 days), you might
qualify for a discount. As a general
rule, expect 1 night free after a 7-
night stay.
•
Avoid excess charges and hidden
costs.
When you book a room,
ask whether the hotel charges for
parking. Use your own cellphone,
pay phones, or prepaid phone
cards instead of dialing direct
from hotel phones, which usually
have exorbitant rates. And keep in
mind most hotels charge obscene
rates for minibar offerings, includ-
ing non-alcoholic beverages and
snacks. Finally, ask about local
taxes and service charges, which
can increase the cost of a room by
15% or more. If a hotel insists
upon tacking on a surprise
“energy surcharge” that wasn't
mentioned at check-in or a “resort
fee” for amenities you didn't use,
you can often make a case for get-
ting it removed.
•
Book an efficiency.
A room with
a kitchenette allows you to shop
for groceries and cook your own
meals. This is a big money saver,
especially for families on long
stays.
•
What's the view like?
Cost-con-
scious travelers may be willing to
pay less for a back room facing the
parking lot, especially if they don't
plan to spend much time in their
room.
LANDING THE BEST ROOM
Somebody has to get the best room in
the house. It might as well be you. You
can start by joining the hotel's fre-
quent-guest program, which may
make you eligible for upgrades. A
hotel-branded credit card usually gives
it owner “silver” or “gold” status in fre-
quent-guest programs for free. Always
ask about a corner room. They're often
larger and quieter, with more windows
and light, and they often cost the same
as standard rooms. When you make
your reservation, ask if the hotel is
renovating; if it is, request a room
away from the construction. Ask
about nonsmoking rooms, rooms with
views, rooms with twin, queen- or
king-size beds. If you're a light sleeper,
request a quiet room away from vend-
ing machines, elevators, restaurants,
bars, and discos. Ask for a room that
has been most recently renovated or
redecorated.
If you aren't happy with your room
when you arrive, ask for another one.
Most lodgings will be willing to
accommodate you.
12 Recommended Reading & Films
So many great American writers have
come from Chicago, lived here during
their productive years, or set their
work within the city's confines that it
is impossible to recommend a single
book that says all there is to say about
Chicago. However, here are a few sug-
gestions to get you started.
Upton Sinclair's
The Jungle
tells the
tale of a young immigrant encounter-
ing the filthy, brutal city. Its 1906
publication caused an uproar that led
to the passage of the Pure Food and
Drug Act. James T. Farrell's trilogy
Studs Lonigan,
published in the 1930s,
explores the power of ethnic and
neighborhood identity in Chicago.
Other novels set in Chicago include
Saul Bellow's
The Adventures of Augie
March
and
Humboldt's Gift,
and
Richard Wright's
Native Son.
For an engrossing overview of the
city's history, read
City of the Century
by Donald Miller (an excellent PBS
