Quiet hours
Broadly ten at night until seven. A corridor carries a voice far better than the room implies, so late calls belong downstairs in the lobby.
Chapter one
Arrival
Reception attends the desk all day; the rooms follow a slower schedule. The two-to-three o'clock hour simply marks the point at which housekeeping has completed the last turnover in your grade. Present a photo identification matching the reservation, the confirmation itself, and a card against which a hold may be taken.
An early appearance costs nothing. Where no room stands ready, leave your cases in the care of reception and return at leisure — storage is complimentary and offered as a matter of course.
To hand
- Government photo identification
- Reservation reference or its email
- A card that will accept a hold
- Any request made, in writing
Chapter two
Departure
Rooms fall due at eleven or at noon. An additional hour or two is regularly waived where the house is not full — and the enquiry succeeds far more often the evening before, when the following day's occupancy is already settled, than in the middle of the morning.
Surrendering the key does not oblige you to carry your luggage through the city. Storage resumes the instant the account is closed, so an evening departure and a midday deadline coexist without difficulty.
The final round
- Safe, bathroom hook, back of the door
- Read the account before agreeing to it
- Return every key card issued
- Ask when the hold will be released
Chapter three
Conduct on the floor
No smoking
The costliest rule in the house. A cigarette or a vapour device in a non-smoking room brings a fixed deep-cleaning charge, applied without argument.
Occupancy
Every room states a maximum. An additional guest is generally welcomed for a supplement, provided the house is told at reservation rather than at the desk.
Pets
Received only where the house permits it, usually on nominated floors and for a nightly fee. Confirm the position well before you travel.
Safety
Read the escape notice on the door once, keep the corridor free of cases, and never hang anything from a smoke detector.
Extras
Minibar, parking, restaurant and laundry are posted to the room and settled on departure, not paid for at the moment of use.
Chapter four
Room grades
I
Single
One single bed and the smallest footprint on the corridor — entirely adequate for one traveller and one night.
II
Double
A single larger bed shared between two. The grade most widely stocked, and therefore the last to disappear from late availability.
III
Twin
Two separate single beds, frequently listed beside doubles under one heading. Confirm which of the two your reservation names.
IV
Deluxe
Additional space, a higher storey, or a superior outlook. The word covers all three, so ask which one you are paying for.
V
Suite
A bedroom with a separate sitting room attached — worth the premium where the room must also serve as a study.
VI
Family
Arranged for three to five guests. The detail worth establishing is whether the additional bed is proper or a fold-out.
Chapter five
Reserving well
- Read the total Taxes, city levies, resort fees and parking can lift a final figure by a fifth.
- Record the cut-off Note the date, hour and time zone at which free cancellation comes to an end.
- Establish the beds Twin and double often share a single listing, so obtain the answer in writing.
- Consult the house directly Direct rates frequently sit lower, and a direct reservation is far easier to amend.
- Attach every request A high floor, a quiet aspect, a cot, an accessible bathroom, a very late arrival.
- Keep a copy offline One screenshot of the reference and the address outlives a lost connection.
Chapter six
Enquiries received daily
Can a room be released to me early?
Only where a cleaned room of your grade already stands empty, which makes it a courtesy and never a guarantee. Raise it at reservation, then again on the morning of arrival.
Is identification examined at reception?
In almost every house, yes. A government photo identification is compared with the name on the reservation before a key is released.
Why is a sum reserved on my card?
It is an authorisation, not a payment, held against extras such as parking or room service. It is released after departure, though a bank may take several days to reflect it.
Is a later departure granted without charge?
An hour or two frequently is, especially midweek. Beyond that a fee normally applies, though luggage may be stored after departure at no cost.