11 Things You Should Know About Staying in Hotels

1. It pays to be nice. Assignments of room and upgrades are made by actual people, usually the person at reception. If they associate your name with a friendly face, you may find yourself in a spacious corner suite on your next visit.


2. Ask and you will receive. Most hotels are happy to provide extra items, at no cost if they have them on hand. They are helpful with toothpaste, brushes and  travel adapters. Luxury hotels may also offer a massage in your room after a long busy day.


3. Loyalty counts, so stick with one chain. Frequent travellers can achieve a preferred status level, which comes with privileges such as 10-15 % discount. Some of the best offers are hidden. They occasionally give discounts and perks to guests who post reviews or fill surveys.


4. If you have any special requests like a no-smoking room or even an extra bed, ask for it before check in. Earlier is better, but even if you will request later they will make it happen but it'll take time.


5. When you are in the room, the filthiest thing might be on your bedside table. Research says TV remotes are generally covered with more bacterias than previous studies on public toilet surface.


6. Some hotels have tie-ups with local services like taxi stands and food joints. Use them till you get hang of the city.


7. For breakfast opt for dosa or eggs as they're made fresh. For lunch or dinner choose grills and tandoori dishes over curries. Reason: Curry has a shelf life of 3-4 days, so you could be eating a stale meal! Always head to specialty restaurant rather than the coffee shop.


8. Before you go out to eat in the city, try the regional variety at hotel. It's often lighter and surely more sanitized option than street food and also you get to know what to expect in the city.


9. Tipping lets you express gratitude and ensures you'll get good service again. Give a good tip to get a good service.


10. Stars can lie - rating systems varies widely between countries. For instance, In Italy, a hotel can get 5 stars by simply having a 24 hours reception desk. A single star is awarded for changing the sheets once in a week.


11. Never be tempted to take home a robe or towel. Some hotels have begun to install radio-frequency chips in order to track stolen items.