INTRODUCTION - France 2014 - page 33

can add up, particularly for families. While hoteliers hope you'll buy their breakfast, but
it's optional unless otherwise noted (for more on breakfast, see here ) .
Somehoteliers, especially incoastal resorttowns,stronglyencourage theirpeak-sea-
son guests to take demi-pension (half-pension)—that is, breakfast and either lunch or din-
ner. By law, they can't require you to take half-pension unless you are staying three or
more nights, but, in practice, many do during summer. And though the food is usually
good, it limits your ability to shop around. I've indicated where I think demi-pension is a
good value.
Most hotel rooms have a TV, phone, and usually Wi-Fi. Some will have a guest
computer in the lobby. To turn on your TV, press the power button or the channel-up or
channel-down button on the remote; if it still doesn't work, see if there's a power button
on the TV itself to press, then try the up or down button again.
Towels aren't routinely replaced every day. Hang up your towel to dry. Extra pillows
and blankets are sometimes in the closet or available on request. To get a pillow, ask for
“Un oreiller, s'il vous plaît” (un oh-ray-yay, see voo play).
If you're arriving early in the morning, your room probably won't be ready. You can
drop your bag safely at the hotel and dive right into sightseeing.
Hoteliers can be a great help and source of advice. Most know their city well, and
can assist you with everything from public transit and airport connections to calling an
English-speaking doctor, or finding a good restaurant, the nearest Internet access ( accès
à l'internet, ahk-seh ah lan-ter-net), or self-service launderette ( laverie automatique, lah-
vay-ree oh-to-mah-teek).
Even at the best hotels, mechanical breakdowns occur: Air-conditioning malfunc-
tions, sinks leak, hot water turns cold, and toilets gurgle and smell. Report your concerns
clearly and calmly at the front desk. For more complicated problems, don't expect instant
results.
If you suspect night noise will be a problem, ask for a quieter room in the back or
on an upper floor. To guard against theft in your room, keep valuables out of sight. Some
rooms come with a safe, and other hotels have safes at the front desk. I've never bothered
using one.
Checkoutcanposeproblemsifsurprisechargespopuponyourbill.Ifyousettleyour
billthedaybeforeyouleave,you'llhavetimetodiscussandaddressanypointsofconten-
tion (before 19:00, when the night shift usually arrives).