How to change a hotel room?

We encounter the desire to change a hotel room much more often than changing hotels, so today we will answer questions that concern many travelers: what to do if you are not satisfied with your hotel room? How to change it and is it even possible?

Action plan upon hotel check-in

After receiving the keys to your room, don’t rush to unpack your suitcases. Walk around the room, does everything match what was stated in the booking? If the room type does not match the information specified in the booking, you can certainly demand a change. For example, instead of a Deluxe room, you were given a Standard category room, or instead of a specially ordered room with a sea view, you got a courtyard view… instead of two separate beds, there’s one double bed, etc. By the way, regarding beds. If you booked a twin room with two separate beds, but found a double bed in the room, don’t rush to worry. Some hotels equip their rooms with beds that can be pushed together and pulled apart. There is a special lock or latch between them that prevents them from separating.

Read also: Hotel room categories

In addition to checking if the actual room matches what you booked, check the functionality of necessary appliances, items, and plumbing. Is the advertised Wi-Fi available, does the shower work, does the air conditioning work (if you came to a country with a hot climate), etc. If you find a problem, don’t postpone solving it; immediately go down to the reception and talk to the administrator. Another category of reasons why you might want to change rooms is subjective: noise, the view from the window (if it wasn’t specifically agreed upon during booking), wall color, curtains, etc. In this case, whether your room will be changed or not depends on several factors:

• Your behavior. If you calmly talk and ask the hotel staff to change your room, your chances of getting what you want increase. Remember that if you simply don’t like the room, you cannot demand a change, only ask.
• Availability of vacant rooms. As a rule, vacant rooms are the main problem. If there are none, ask if anyone plans to check out soon so you can move into their room.
• Hotel policy. Some hotels always accommodate guests, even if you genuinely don’t like the wall color, while others will only change the room if there are objective reasons for it.

Remember another important point. You can only be provided with a room of the same category free of charge. If such a room is not available, the hotel may reasonably ask for an additional payment for providing a higher-class room.

Useful tips

If your request to change rooms is denied, don’t despair prematurely and don’t make a scene; a scene definitely won’t help. It’s better to approach the reception again on another day, during another administrator’s shift. The decision to change a room is made individually, so there’s always a chance. If another administrator also refuses you, and you still don’t want to put up with the room’s shortcomings, then request an audience with the senior manager. The principle of communication with them is exactly the same — calmly, politely, and reasonably.

How to always get exactly what you want?

The most important rule is to define your preferences and follow them when choosing a hotel. Read the description carefully, learn to estimate room sizes by eye; if the description states the room area is only 10 square meters, don’t be surprised by a small room. Study reviews, not only on the hotel booking system’s own websites but also on competitors’ sites or specialized review portals, such as Tripadvisor or Tophotels. If a certain point is crucial for you, for example, you don’t want to live near the elevator or on the 7th floor, etc., then specify this information when booking the room. Just in case, you can make a control call to the hotel or write them an email with your wishes. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee they will listen, but the chances are significantly increased in this case.