Category: Travel and Tourism
So here's the deal. Next month, my new job is sending me to DC for four days of training. I don't have any info about what or where the hotel is yet. I'll be staying in a hotel with my guide dog, just us. I'm cool with the airport, taxies, ordering delivery to the hotel and all the large details. I've never stayed in a hotel alone before, so I'm looking for suggestions or tips on navigating the place. Truth be told, I've not stayed in many actual hotels, so I'm not entirely sure how everything works.
* I assume I can just ask the front desk clerk to show me a good spot for relieving my dog and where I can find an outdoor trash can.
* If a complimentary breakfast is offered, what's the best way to handle that as a blind person? How do I handle small details like finding what food I want or locating where to throw it away?
* Is room service usually a thing? How does that work? If there is a printed menu, I can just ask the front desk what's on it?
* What if the hotel has a restaurant or bar? What's the best way for me to locate that if it's inside the building? I assume I would just ask for really detailed directions from the desk and accost people along the way if I get lost.
* When I find out the name of the place, what kind of research should I be doing?
Any suggestions, tips, or advice would be appreciated. I do have the Around Me app to see what restaurants are near, but to be honest, the prospect of trying to find a place by myself on top of the anxiety of this trip doesn't excite me. Can't I just order Chinese delivery and eat it on the bed while surfing the TV? That sounds way more fun and relaxing than trying to go out and find pizza. I'm a little nervous aboutt this trip. I don't do a whole lot of long distance traveling, especially by myself to a giant city for government work training about which I am completely clueless.
Room service is expensive, so if the place has a bar or place to eat, use that.
First, stop over thinking it.
In a hotel, all that is important is off the lobby, so if you took a walk around it, you'll smell the rest. Smile.
Ask the people at the desk to provide you a bell hop to show you what you need.
Tip him or her for the help.
Use your cellphone, not the rooms phone, so before you leave,, get the hotels number.
Sometimes using that telephone is attached to a bill.
Not to call them of course, but to call out for ordering.
So, if you want pizza, find the number to that place with your phone, or computer.
Otherwise, it is hard to make everything perfect, because you don't yet know where you'll stay.
You'll also want to use the free Wi Fi service for entertainment, but when doing anything, like banking, or something, use your cellular network, not the hotels service.
Some are just not secure.
It is fine for music, surfing, chat, but nothing important.
Last, use all that lovely help other people staying in the hotel will offer.
If it gets you to the bar easier, there is no shame in accepting help.
Yes, I hear others hollering about independent, but you are already that. You are at the hotel, and have traveled, have you not? Smile.
You are a female, so if you get lost finding your room, only use the help from the hotel staff for that.
Some even have braille on the doors now, so.
Yea for you.
I'd ask the front desk to get someone to show you where your room is. You
may want to walk from the elevator to your room more than once, I wouldn't
worry about doing that. Get them to show you the air conditioning or heating
control, either the temperature or the noise might mean you want to turn it
on/off during the night. In some hotels, you need to insert your keycard in a
box on the wall to get the power to work, but they'll probably tell you. You
might also want them to show you things like power outlets. Shower controls in
hotels vary, but I've never struggled to operate one.
You could either get them to describe where the restaurant/bar is, but if it's on
the ground floor, you might conceivably hear it. If the hotel does have a
dedicated restaurant, the menu could well be online. Not all hotels have room
service, though many do. You're less likely to find the menu online. The hours
also vary. Room service menus typically aren't quite as extensive as restaurant
menus, so one of the staff may read it to you. You could ask whoever shows you
your room (if you're likely to remember) or when you ring to order. I've
generally tried to narrow it down for them if I've been by myself just to save
them hanging on the phone a long time and preventing other customers from
ordering, but it's up to you. Scanning the menu may be another option if you
have the wherewithal on your phone. Ordering takeaway to a hotel shouldn't be
a problem even if there is a restaurant, as the restaurant isn't their primary
source of custom. Personally I'd go down to the lobby and wait for it if you do.
The breakfast may well be a buffet. I'd get the staff to help with that, whether
it's either getting you a selection of stuff if you're not fussy, or going up with
them if you are. You could try and serve yourself with the tongs if you want but
I wouldn't bother.
Oh, and forgive me for this one.
If you didn't order if, ask for it, expect it, anyone knocking on the door can stay outside period.
You don't care what they have.
Tell the hotel to call you if they want your attenchen.
Great advice here. Ask directions, and people are usually pretty awesome. You can usually hear or smell the restaurants... if you want to order pizza or whatever, just make sure you have the hotel's address and phone number. Either way, good luck! People are incredibly helpful :)
Wayners, if I'd followed that last bit of advice, I'd've missed out on two
complementary bottles of champagne at a hotel in Paris once. We were there
for New Year's, and they delivered them to everyone in the hotel. Still, I I'd
agree with the advice generally speaking.
Ed, I would like to point out that the card thing is only in Europe. We don't have that here. Also, I believe you're overthinking all of this. Just simply ask the front desk for whatever you need, and as far as finding a restaurant in a hotel, just listen for them. From my experience, the people were really nice with helping with food and that sort of thing.
Hi Lakers. It's gone beyond Europe annoyingly - I've stayed in hotels in CA and
China where they've had them, glad they're not widespread in the US though -
it's very annoying.
Very, my roommate and I needed both keys. In the end, we tricked it, and put card board in the walls.
If they are delivering something special, they can call her.
You are also a guy. That alone, plus, you had someone else with you made it easier to see who was outside.
Like I said, forgive me, but.
I've never seen where you have to insert a card to get power to work, but many rooms have key cards to get in the doors. You never see just regular keys anymore. I get the front desk to put a small piece of tape on one end of the card, preferably the end that does not slide into the panel on the door, so you know which way you have to position the card to unlock the door. Sometimes the front desk people are a little confused at first, but nine times out of ten they catch on quick, and then are surprised at your resourcefulness for thinking to use that little piece of tape. Once you know the name of the hotel, I'd research it to get its address, phone number, and to see what kinds of amenities it has.
The key to keep your air conditioner on is an European thing Alicia.
It's primarily a European thing, but I also saw it in a hotel in Toronto a few years back.
I agree with the key card idea, I do that all the time. And as others have pointed out, the staff of a hotel are there to help. As long as you tip them good, you can get essentially whatever you want. Want to get on the right foot with service staff? Give them some cash with your card when you check in. IN DC, I'd say a $10 minamum, probably $20. IN rural areas $5 will do. This is uniformly true. I've stayed in small places in the middle of Montana and the Dakotas, and have stayed in cities like London UK and NYC, and dollars always will determine the quality of help you will receive. Best of lukc in DC, I've yet to go there. I mean, I got stuck at Dullas a few times, but that doesn't count.
I stayed alone at a hotel in Edmonton a couple of years ago. Got great service, and while I did tip at the end, I didn't at the beginning. Anytime I needed something, I had but to ask.
Now, not everyone will have that sort of luck, but the idea that you'd have to tip up front to get it kind of blows my mind, honestly.
Most of the advice that's already been given here is good. Restaurants can often be found by smell. Menus can often be found online. You probably ought to get your food delivered to the lobby and then walk up to your room with it, if possible. Definitely walk the route from lobby to room more than once if you're even a tiny bit unsure. And as for stuff like an outdoor trash can and a place for your dog to relieve itself, that's as simple as a question or two right when you check in.
Good luck.
One thing you should know about DC, there are people everywhere who are willing to help. Its a very clean city to navigate, and because of the constraints on building size, the hotel shouldn't be that hard to navigate. I would just ask at the front desk if someone can show you to all of the important parts of the hotel, the bar, places to eat, the pool, stuff like that after getting settled in your room.