Hi, everybody! How are you today?
Today we'll talk about hotel policies.
But first let's understand what they are.
I mean, could tips be considered a hotel policy?
The answer for that is: no!
Tipping is a very common cultural aspect in the US.
And what are cultural aspects?
Let's take a look at a definition of cultural aspect.
So, guys, they're not like laws or rules,
but they're a part of common knowledge and they vary from one country to another.
And that's why we should observe, respect, and educate ourselves
about the cultural aspects of the places we're visiting.
Otherwise, our behavior might be seen as being impolite or even rude.
Tipping is an example of an American cultural habit.
Now let's see the definition of a hotel policy:
It's quite a big deal, right, guys?
Afterall, if we think about it,
a hotel is a place that gathers people from all over the world.
It's important to have clear policies
so that everyone can have a pleasant stay, right?
The document that lists the hotel policies
is usually available in every hotel room.
But in case it isn't,
all you have to do is ask the front desk.
You can say:
Or:
In this document,
you will also find information on extra taxes and fees.
So, if there's any doubt or discrepancy regarding any charged amount,
this document might clear things out.
It's also a good idea to take a look at some specific points of the policy
when making your reservation.
For example,
the Cancellation Policy or No-show Policy
are available online at the moment of reservation.
So, it's advisable to read it before you finish the reservation process.
Let's take a look at the most common cancelation policies
adopted by American hotels.
Many hotels have a "cancel by a certain date" policy,
so you can see something like this:
Another common policy is the "one-night penalty" policy,
which means that the cancellation fee
is equivalent to a one-night stay at the hotel.
And there's also the "nonrefundable" policy.
With this kind of policy, the rates are usually cheaper,
but they're paid up front and if there's any unexpected problems,
you won't get your money back.
That is:
In general, the no-show policies charge just like a cancellation policy,
one-night penalty or nonrefundable policy.
Of course, there might be some differences among hotel's cancelation policies.
But, in general, these are the most common ones.
Now, there's one specific detail
we should also pay attention to during the reservation.
Many hotels require the following:
So, don't forget to take the credit card used for the reservation,
even if it's already passed its valid date.
Another noteworthy point is the Non-smoking Policy.
Nowadays most hotels and buildings in the US are smoke-free zones,
including balconies and outside facilities.
So, you might read some sentences like this:
Or:
Or you could also find a sentence like:
And then they'll tell you about the fees you're supposed to pay
if you don't follow the policy.
For example:
It's also wise to take a look at the Food & Beverage policy,
especially if you enjoy having meals at the hotel restaurant.
So, let's say you bought an excellent bottle of wine during the trip,
and you'd like to drink it at dinner at the hotel restaurant.
It's very likely that there will be a corkage fee,
the fee that you pay for bringing in your own wine.
And that will also be mentioned in the hotel policy,
in a sentence such as:
Now if you can't find anything about it in the hotel policy,
you can just ask them!
You know, just to be sure.
You could say:
Or:
And to know how much you'll have to pay you can say:
By the way,
you can use these same kinds of questions to ask about any existing fee.
For example, some hotels have a package receiving policy,
which means that if you want to have any package delivered to you in the hotel,
you should pay for it.
So, you can use the same questions
just changing the kind of fee.
For example:
Another important policy you'll find in the document
is the Lost and Found policy.
Some hotels will ask you to simply contact the front desk,
others might require you to fill out a form with your personal information,
some details about your stay
and a brief description of the lost item.
But you should do that as soon as possible,
since some hotels keep their lost and found items
for a maximum period of three months.
So, you'll probably read some information like these in the hotel policies:
And, finally, guys,
don't forget to get informed about luggage storage policies.
In general, you'll find this information:
So, if you get to the hotel before the check-in time,
or if your flight is way beyond the checkout time,
you can ask:
Or:
And that's it for now, guys!
We've been over the most frequent and important hotel policies,
now go on and do the follow-up activities so you don't forget any information.
And I'll see you on our next video, take care!