How To: Get a Bed During High Season
How To: Get a Bed During High Season
December 6th, 2007Pornthip Yoskittiphat, PR-Communications Coordinator-Asia of the Accor Hotel chain, gives us some ideas on how to find a room during the festive season.
The sooner the better. It’s better to book the room in advance, but a week may not do the trick. You have to give it at least two or three months before the actual festival to book the room.
Face to Face. Walking in with high hopes for a spare room can reap rewards as some guests don’t show up. Try crying and begging for the staff to let you wait in the lobby for a lucky break.
Choose your moment. The best time to check for a cancellation is between noon and 2pm. It is during that time that the reservation department will cut out all those bookings that haven’t shown up. Keep the phone numbers of the hotels you're interested in handy, and come 2pm, dial away.
Cyber Force. Internet booking gets you discount prices but also last-minute deals (see Last Minute Helpers box). Also, as some of these rooms are pre-booked, a hotel might tell you it is full and actually still have rooms online.
Go to the right people. If you’ve been turned down at a hotel by the front desk, don’t ask them for another hotel suggestion. They don’t know, they don’t care, and they’re obviously busy since they’re fully booked. Go to the concierge and ask him for some tips. Those guys usually aim to please, and they know absolutely everything in their town.
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