The hotels listed in this book are rated from $ to $$$$$. These ratings are not an official ranking system, nor do they reflect the overall quality of a hotel. Rather, these categories reflect the approximate price range
of the hotels that I recommend, related to their overall value. A ranking of
$indicates a budget gem, $$means a pretty cheap hotel, $$$is applied to moderate joints, $$$$means more upscale accommodations, and $$$$$
is for a recommended splurge. These ratings are comparable only within the same city, meaning that a $ joint in an expensive place like London may cost nearly the same as a $$$$ hotel in a far cheaper area like Athens.
For the top hotels, in addition to these categories I include the hotel’s actual rates, which should make finding something in your price range much easier. Of course, rates can and will go up regularly, but barring massive renovations, a budget gem or moderate choice this year will fall in the same category next year, even if the price tags are $10 higher.
The rack rate(referred to in this book’s hotel listings simply as rates) is the maximum rate a hotel charges for a room — they usually fix it pretty high because, legally, that’s the most they can ever charge and they want a nosebleed-high number in case some event or holiday comes along and demand outstrips supply, allowing them to charge a premium. It’s the rate you get if you walk in off the street and ask for a room for the night. You sometimes see these rates printed on the fire/emergency-exit diagrams posted on the back of your door — and at least posted, in most countries by law, on the wall near the reception desk.
Hotels are, of course, more than happy to charge you the rack rate, but you can almost always do better. Perhaps the best way to avoid paying the rack rate is surprisingly simple: Just ask for a cheaper or discounted rate. You may be pleasantly surprised. You’ll stand a better chance of receiving a lower rate if you’re traveling in the off-season or if you’re staying several days at that one hotel. If you’re booking ahead, many hotel’s Web site often run specials that clock in well below the official rack rates.
Room rates (even rack rates) change with the season as occupancy rates rise and fall. But even within a given season, room prices are subject to change without notice, so the rates quoted in this book may be different from the rate you receive when you make your reservation. If you’re book-ing at a major international chain, be sure to mention membership in AAA, AARP, frequent-flier programs, or any other corporate rewards programs.
You never know when the affiliation may be worth a few dollars off your room rate. (Mom-and-pop hotels or European chains, of course, couldn’t care less that you have a membership in some American automobile club or senior citizens’ network, so don’t bother asking them.)
Something else that applies only to major international chains: Reserving a room through the hotel’s toll-free number may also result in a lower rate than calling the hotel directly. On the other hand, the central reser-vations number may not know about discount rates at specific locations.
For example, local franchises may offer a special group rate for a wedding or family reunion, but they may neglect to tell the central booking line.
Your best bet is to call both the local number and the toll-free number and see which one gives you a better deal.
Settle all hotel charges when you check in. You don’t need to pay in advance (though occasionally, a budget hotel may require it), but make sure that you and the hotel clerk agree on the rate. Does it include break-fast, taxes, and showers? What are the phone rates (although you should never make long-distance calls from the hotel)? Do they charge even for you to dial your calling card’s toll-free number? Also, be sure that the quoted rate is per room, not per person,as may be the case in resort-type coastal towns and islands.
In most European destinations, taxes are automatically included in the quoted rates. However, in some countries (often in Spain, where it’s 7 percent; in England, where it’s 19 percent; and in France, where it varies depending on the classification of the hotel), these local taxes are not included in the price quoted over the phone. Always ask, “Does that price include all taxes?”
When you check in, always take one of the hotel’s business cards. You’d be surprised by how many people forget their hotel’s name or location after a long day of sightseeing. Many cards have a little map on the back.
If you’re clueless about where your hotel is, hop in a cab and show the driver the card with the hotel’s address. He can get you home.
Making reservations
I always reserve at least the first night’s stay before leaving home, espe-cially if I’ll be arriving on a weekend. Having somewhere to base yourself right away minimizes the stress and uncertainty when you arrive tired and in a strange place. But don’t book the room for more than a few days;
having the option of changing your travel plans at the last minute or look-ing for other accommodations if your choice isn’t what you expected is nice. I often book my first night’s stay in a new city simply by phoning from the train station when I arrive.
You should be aware that making last-minute arrangements can cause headaches. If you’re traveling with young children, you don’t want to be fumbling for coins in the train station as you simultaneously try to reserve a room and keep the kids from running off for parts unknown.
You should also find out whether you’ll be arriving in town during a festi-val or trade fair. If you are, the gala may be the highlight of your trip, but you could end up sleeping under the stars if you haven’t booked a room well in advance (before you leave home).
If you reserve a room before leaving home for your vacation, always con-firm the reservation with a follow-up fax.Most hotels prefer this, and it gives you printed proof that you’ve booked a room. Faxes to hotels should use simple language and include the following:
Your name
The number of people in your party
What kind of room you want (Make sure you say “double with one bed with private bathroom” or “double with two beds and a shared bathroom,” and specify “two adults, one child, in the same room.”) The number of nights you want to stay
The date of the first night
To avoid confusion, always spell out the full name of the month — Europeans numerically abbreviate dates day/month/year, not month/
day/year as Americans do (so “5/6/2004” would be read May 6 in the United States, but June 5 in Europe).
Smaller, less expensive hotels often won’t take reservations for short stays (fewer than three nights). This policy protects them from cancella-tions, which can be particularly damaging to smaller hotels’ bottom lines, and no assurance you offer will convince the hotelier that you’ll show up. Even when you have a reservation, these hotels will hold your room only if you call from the station to say you’re on the way.