Master Index of Archived Threads


Book me Dano

Frayed Knot Sep 14 2022 07:39 PM

Reaching out here to seasoned travelers cuz I'm not one. I'm trying to book a hotel for one night in a smallish town where there aren't a ton of choices and I won't have a car so staying 10, 20, 30 miles away won't be an option. Due to an event in the area there are, at the moment anyway, no rooms to be had. But seeing as how I have several weeks to go I trying to figure the best way of snagging any cancellations that come in between now and them. I called the hotel directly asking if I could be contracted in the event of a cancellation on the night in question. "Well I'm not going to be working that day" I was told. Well I don't need to be contacted on THAT DAY, I told her, that'll be too late. I want to know if I can be notified if and when a cancelation comes up between now and then. This seemed like a request she never heard before but agreed to take my name and number with a vague promise to do just that. Problem is, I suspect this means my digits just got scribbled onto a post-it note which will probably fall off whatever they stick it to, probably by tomorrow afternoon. And that's the best case scenario; my other guess is that she just told me she'd do this in order to get me off the phone. So my question is this: Does anyone have any opinions on the best method for being notified of hotel cancelations? I mean, I could spend 10 hours/day on some booking site hoping to get lucky by logging in just after someone un-reserves a room but I have neither the time nor patience for that, nor the confidence in its effectiveness. And while this place Might actually contact me if a room suddenly opens up, I don't have a lot of confidence that they will.

MFS62 Sep 14 2022 07:59 PM Re: Book me Dano

We had a similar situation. When we got to our hotel the room was totally unacceptable. The hotel owner said he had no other rooms and hotels are "usually booked up this time of year". He suggested we contact the local chamber of commerce (or tourist bureau use your imagination of what it might be called there). The C of C usually has contacts with the hotels and motels in the area. They might even call around for you or even know some place for you to call. We got another place within two hours. That was a vacation destination (Cape Cod) and they take tourism very seriously. Good luck. Later

Frayed Knot Sep 14 2022 08:03 PM Re: Book me Dano

Problem is that this all has to be handled ahead of time. I can't get there and wind up sleeping on the street if something can't be found.

MFS62 Sep 14 2022 08:37 PM Re: Book me Dano

Frayed Knot wrote: Problem is that this all has to be handled ahead of time. I can't get there and wind up sleeping on the street if something can't be found. No. I was suggesting where you could call and meant call them now. See if they can do the search for you beforehand. They may know some places that are suitable but not as well known. Also, instead of calling your hotel directly, if they are part of a chain, call the national number. They sometimes have rooms that the local hotel only keeps for last minute arrivals and the national operator can miraculously override a "full" situation. Later

Edgy MD Sep 14 2022 08:38 PM Re: Book me Dano

I thought this thread was going to be about you getting busted. is this hotel part of a chain?

Frayed Knot Sep 14 2022 09:06 PM Re: Book me Dano

Yeah, the two big hotels in town seem to be part of the same chain (Best Western) I understand that they're currently booked for that weekend. I just wondered if there was a preferred method for getting an inside track on rooms if and when they become available.

Edgy MD Sep 14 2022 09:31 PM Re: Book me Dano

My first guess is that sold-out reservations aren't always sold out but often given in blocks to expedia/travelocity and the like. So my try (and the first suggestion by USA Today) is to try the major booking sites. Most of their tips aren't that innovative, but, you know, USA Today. Forbes also has a list of perhaps more sophisticated maneuvers.

MFS62 Sep 15 2022 05:44 AM Re: Book me Dano

You didn't say if your destination is a large, medium or small city. Try the booking sites that Edgy suggested. They may have interesting non-chain places like the Bates Motel. I hear it's to die for. Good luck. Later

Benjamin Grimm Sep 15 2022 06:31 AM Re: Book me Dano

Try Booking.com. They list a lot of places that are not connected to chains. You might discover something that you hadn't been aware of.

Lefty Specialist Sep 15 2022 08:32 AM Re: Book me Dano

Or try Airbnb.com

Fman99 Sep 15 2022 09:44 AM Re: Book me Dano

Sleep outside it's nice there (I bet)

Willets Point Sep 15 2022 10:59 AM Re: Book me Dano

I thought this would be a thread about actor Paul Dano.

TransMonk Sep 15 2022 11:35 AM Re: Book me Dano

Willets Point wrote: I thought this would be a thread about actor Paul Dano. Same.

whippoorwill Sep 15 2022 12:06 PM Re: Book me Dano

I thought Frayed Knot was arrested!!!

kcmets Sep 15 2022 12:15 PM Re: Book me Dano

I had to Google Paul Dano. I still wouldn't know him if I passed him 5th Ave.

Willets Point Sep 15 2022 12:22 PM Re: Book me Dano

=kcmets post_id=107416 time=1663265741 user_id=53] I had to Google Paul Dano. I still wouldn't know him if I passed him 5th Ave.

I wouldn't either because I'm much better at remembering names than faces.

DocTee Sep 16 2022 06:44 PM Re: Book me Dano

hoteltonight is usually very good. They often have rooms when the hotel sits says they are booked. good luck