Improve Your Orlando Hotel Experience
It's easy to overlook some aspects of your hotel experience, whether in Orlando or anywhere else. Frequent travelers may have already learned these tips, but we wanted to share them for those of us who take occasional trips. It may give you some new ideas of how to plan for your Orlando hotel experience.
1: When to Take Room Photos
Many of us like to take photos or videos of our hotel rooms. YouTube is full of hotel room tours, and plenty of them are filled with a lot of junk in the room.
The best time to take your room photos and videos is the moment you arrive. That's the best it's ever going to look – before you unpack a thing.
If you plan to capture some memories of your vacation hotel, get the shots right away. The photos or videos will look much better without your clutter all over the room, and then you can settle in without the nagging idea of trying to clean up to take photos later. (Hint: you won't do it).
2: Requests vs. Guarantees
Make sure your expectations are accurate. If you booked a class of room, it's guaranteed to be there (though some hotels do screw up bookings, it's generally not a problem).
However, your desire to have a room on the ground floor or close to the elevator is a request, not a guarantee. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for what you want. If the hotel can accommodate your request, they're often happy to do so. Just remember that some things are a request rather than a guarantee.
Check with your hotel to know what's expected with your booking and what may not be available.
3: Is Your Room a Home or a Pit Stop?
Know how much time you expect to spend in your hotel room. Is it a place where you want to relax and enjoy the view, or are you just there for the bed and bathroom?
If it's the latter, you can save a few bucks by avoiding premium view rooms or other locations in the resort that cost a bit more. Why pay for a view you're not planning to enjoy?
Also, make sure you know what the hotel means by “view.” I've been in a few resorts that promised a view, but I had to put my face against the window and crane my neck to see a small bit of the view.
For example, there is a difference between “water front” and “water view.” Ask to be sure you get what you want.
4: How Far is it to…?
At some point, you probably want to leave your hotel room. How far is it to get breakfast or coffee? How far are you from the elevators? Is it a long walk to get to transportation? Where is the pool?
Some people like to be at the end of the hall, others want to be close to the amenities. Decide what's important to you and see if you can get a room in the location you desire.
It may be a request, or it may be a premium price. Your mileage varies by hotel.
5: Just Ship It
Let's face it. Food costs more in hotels. If you don't have a car to visit a grocery store, it's another expensive pain to get something local.
So don't do it. Buy your water and snacks on Amazon and have it shipped to your hotel room. It saves time and money. You also guarantee that you get what you want, rather than what's in the hotel snack shack.
One word of warning. Some hotels charge a small fee to accept packages, and they may charge per package. Call to find out and try to have your shipment arrive in one box.
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