The Great 'What Can You Blag On Holiday' Hunt

dahjoh

Skyhigh wrote: »

Quick tip:
Take an old credit card, store card or similar with you, many hotels now have key cards that you have to put in a slot near the door before you can have any power/light.
Most of the time these aren't 'intelligent' and can't read your room card/key, they just check to see if something is in the slot.
Stick your card in, or cut it to size.
Leave the aircon on low to keep the room cool for when you come back.
No more walking into a furnace after going out for dinner!
(Not eco friendly, but there are worse things).
- Don't leave it in if the maids going to clean your room either...

:!: Thanks for this, I'll try it out next week. Can't stand sleeping in hot rooms

DKLS

phizzimum wrote: »

do you manage to get away with using both these tactics on the same person?

yes, but only because I say my trip is work and pleasure related. I blamed the excess baggage on my boss, I am lucky in that I get quite a few work trips to places I wouldn't consider as a holiday destination, and add a few days holiday onto the end of the trip, that way I only have to pay the hotel and spends for a cheap holiday.
Best tip I can offer is dress smart and be nice to the check-in staff

phizzimum

i just wondered if you managed to flirt with the girl on the desk while claiming you were on honeymoon! if you can, well done you!

hollydays

Thoroughly check the holiday you booked coresponds with EXACTLY what it said in the brochure-ie take a copy away with you.Check your booking is exactly what you requested.Go through it with a fine toothcomb.

Earlier this year I booked our annual wintersun holiday and looking at the booking saw some mention of a full board upgrade.(which we hadnt paid for).Rather than have any confusion on arrival,i rang the travel agent,and queried it (i knew they upgraded on certain promotions).Although i wasnt entitled- it was a clerical error-they agreed to upgrade us - it would have cost us another £220 quid! I was Very polite though not pushy. If you dont ask-you dont get

hollydays

dahjoh wrote: »

Skyhigh wrote: »

Quick tip:
Take an old credit card, store card or similar with you, many hotels now have key cards that you have to put in a slot near the door before you can have any power/light.
Most of the time these aren't 'intelligent' and can't read your room card/key, they just check to see if something is in the slot.
Stick your card in, or cut it to size.
Leave the aircon on low to keep the room cool for when you come back.
No more walking into a furnace after going out for dinner!
(Not eco friendly, but there are worse things).
- Don't leave it in if the maids going to clean your room either...

:!: Thanks for this, I'll try it out next week. Can't stand sleeping in hot rooms

thanks for this-we tried to leave ipods etc on charge but you couldnt if you took your card out

Surrey_Elmo

On a trip to Egypt in January I found out the email address of the hotel on the internet and emailed ahead to ask them for a high floor because I don't like to hear the noise from the bar, restaurants etc.. In order to ensure they complied I told them it was a "special anniversary" and was looking for a peaceful holiday.

On arrival at the hotel we were given VIP treatment: they bought us a free drink as we registered, offered us a seat at a special desk while others queued etc.. and then shown to a suite in a special block by the pool, rather than a room in the main hotel. On arrival in the room we were confronted by a home made cake with "happy anniversary" piped on it!

:T

I did not expect all of these things but will definitely be mentioning a "special anniversary" next time I travel abroad!

stick2000

slsom64 wrote: »

We went on holiday to Turkey last year and signed up for a day-trip boat excursion via the rep (cost 90000 turkish lira). Then went into the nearest town and got the same excursion for 27000 turkish lira... So the lesson is check out the local companies before giving money to reps.

We went on an excursion with someone from the local town too - to the calcium rock place. The hotel was offering the same trip but for at least triple the price.

BUT BE WARNED - the people that went from our hotel with the reps went on a nice air conditioned coach (the journey there was 4.5 hours), we ended up on a rickety old minibus thing with no air con and I thought the driver was going to end up driving up of one of the mountain roads :eek:

glamourpug

sorry to be a pedant but the two words are often confused... Bartering is when you swap stuff, eg I'll give you a pint of milk in exchange for a loaf. Haggling is when you negotiate to lower the price. OK?

GabbaGabbaHey

hollydays wrote:

thanks for this-we tried to leave ipods etc on charge but you couldnt if you took your card out

Hmmm - I would never leave an iPod or other expensive gadget on show in a hotel room when I'm not in it - even in business class hotels in the UK.

(BTW, your CAPS key seems to be broken).

madshopper_2

Once the booking is made, I email the hotel direct and request a high floor (better views) and quiet room. Have done well with that so far... take a copy of your email/their reply along on your trip.

If you are not happy with your allocated room, always go back to reception and ask for an alternative, they will usually oblige if they have the space and the room offered has always been significantly better.

A friend of ours always asks for a room with a view, as he is a photographer
(he is only a holiday snapper, but has had some great rooms!)