CHECKING INTO A HOTEL
This is the first of a series of travel video segments — rawly hand-recorded — to help show how to travel. It tackles the issue travelers face almost immediately when arriving to a new destination: checking into a hotel. It was filmed in June 2009 during a work conference at Lonely Planet‘s Melbourne offices.
Thanks for the subtitles. I have printed out proof of reservations for years, and I have not been asked to show them for years, so I am rethinking this step. If I have an email confirmation on my phone, do I need to bring paper?
Very good question tom caw. No. You probably don’t. Very few travelers remember this vital piece of information.
I find that I get my room key/card to work properly on the first attempt about 64% of the time. Any tips for improving that?
Rub your feet on the carpet beforehand. It improves the odds to 76% success rate.
Any chance you can do something a little bit more “advanced”? Checking into a major hotel in a first world country, that speaks your language isn’t exactly going to rock anyone’s world…
How about including something like checking into a third world hotel, when you don’t know the lingo and have to bargain for the reservation/room type etc?
Just a though, as Lonely Planet should be leading the way…
I travel once in a while alone in the countryside. Its not common though for women to do that here in the Philippines.
In my trips alone I have found people to be more friendlier and more open. Somehow the barrier is just gone between you and that other person. They are more likely to invite you into their private space. The less fancier the accommodation, the more you are likely to get real local interaction. (my experience)
Friendships are easily formed and in most cases they extended extra assistance. Not to mention access in even restricted areas.
But every time I get to the door of my room for the first time its almost always like a surreal moment. Weird. Dont know why.
Re: Reservation vouchers, if one fails to print this make sure they bring their ID. Reservations check you name with that of the one listed in them.