Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
All rates include breakfast, and
usually a glass of wine and light
snacks in the afternoon.
Hidden Extras
Room rates are generally quoted
exclusive of room tax, which adds
an additional 14 to 15 percent to
the bill. No sales tax is levied.
However, added fees are often
charged for phone calls. Local
calls, including access calls to toll-
free services, can cost up to $1
each. Long-distance calls can cost
as much as five times more than
they would from a private phone.
Wi-Fi access can also carry a fee,
generally from $15 a day, so be
sure to inquire before using the
Internet. The sending or receiving
of faxes costs around $2 to $3 a
page, plus any phone charges.
Parking at a city center hotel
can add at least $25 a day to the
bill, plus a tip for the attendant,
but motels will usually have free
parking. Some rooms come
with stocked mini bars but you
will be charged substantially for
anything you eat or drink - as
much as $5 for a candy bar.
Prices for these will be
prominently displayed.
A tip of $1 for each bag is
usually paid to porters for carry-
ing luggage to or from rooms.
Room-service waiters expect a
tip of 15 percent of the bill,
rounded up to the next full dollar
and paid in cash. Visitors who
stay more than a day or two may
also want to leave the
housekeeping staff a $5 to $10
tip next to the bed.
The luxurious lobby of the Fairmont Hotel
(see p215)
Facilities
It is usually possible to gauge a
hotel's ambience simply by
setting foot in the lobby. Some
of the luxury hotels, such as the
Hyatt Regency with its
impressive 20-story atrium or
the plushly appointed Fairmont
(see p213)
, are famous
landmarks, which adds to the
glamour of your stay in them.
Also, most of the better
establishments have excellent
restaurants where hotel guests
are often given preferential
treatment. Some hotels have a
piano bar or nightclub on the
premises, enabling visitors to
enjoy a night on the town
without having to set foot
outside. In San Francisco,
“boutique” hotels are often older
properties and rooms tend to
be smaller. Review websites and
ask reservation agents for
details. See
Entertainment
on
pages 256-7 for details. Many
hotels offer discounted access
at nearby gyms, if they don't
have their own facilities. At most
of the hotels in the city, guests
can expect complimentary
assorted toiletries and often
a morning newspaper, in
addition to free cable TV,
and a mini-bar.
King Terrace at the Orchard Garden Hotel
(see p214)
