Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that a hotel loses track of your reservation, bring along a hard copy of their confirm-
ation.
Canceling a Reservation:
If you must cancel your reservation, it's cour-
teous—and smart—to do so with as much notice as possible, especially for smaller
family-run places. Simply make a quick phone call or send an email. Request con-
firmation of your cancellation in case you are accidentally billed.
Be warned that cancellation policies can be strict; read the fine print or ask about
these before you book. For example, if you cancel on short notice, you could lose
your deposit, or be billed for one night or even your entire stay. Internet deals may
require prepayment, with no refunds for cancellations.
Reconfirming a Reservation:
Call to reconfirm your room reservation a few
days in advance. Smaller hotels and B&Bs appreciate knowing your estimated time
of arrival. If you'll be arriving late (after 17:00), let them know.
Reserving Rooms as You Travel:
Youcanmakereservationsasyoutravel,call-
ing hotels and B&Bs a few days to a week before your arrival. If you'd rather travel
without any reservations at all, you'll have greater success snaring rooms if you ar-
rive at your destination early in the day. When you anticipate crowds (weekends are
worst), call hotels at about 9:00 or 10:00 on the day you plan to arrive, when the
receptionist knows who'll be checking out and which rooms will be available.
