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Hotel Requests You Might Not Think Of To Improve Your Last-Min Stay

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So you’ve bagged your last-minute holiday to one of your dream destinations like Italy, Jamaica or the Canaries. This trip is EVERYTHING - it’s a romantic getaway with your amazing SO, or the first holiday you’re taking as a family with a baby or that final-summer hurrah with your best mates before one of you moves across the Atlantic for a new job.

You’ve scored the flights and hotel, now what? You haven’t actually had time to plan every single last detail. While spontaneity can make a holiday, when it comes to getting the most out of your hotel, it’s worth planning - just a little.

Like did you know that Sundays are typically cheaper nights to stay (and the day of the week you’re most likely to get that much-coveted upgrade?). Or if you’re on a weekend city break, a business-district hotel can put you in the centre of town (and get you reduced room rates)?

Here are the other tips you need to know to make your holiday amazing from dusk til dawn (and all those other hours in the day).

The sneaky room upgrade
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When we're on holiday, the most luxurious experience we can afford is what we are after. In fact, we'd prefer to have an experience we can't afford, which is why asking for a room upgrade can't hurt.

What to say? Ask for a corner room - it's likely to be more spacious, have more windows and be less noisy. Top tip: ask in private, when no other guests are within earshot.
The special-occasion perks
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If you've ever looked on enviously as the couple in front of you has been greeted with a bottle of bubbly at hotel check-in, know this: it's perfectly acceptable to tell the staff at your hotel that your visit is tied to something special, like an anniversary or pre-wedding celebration. Be sure to do this before you arrive for the best chances of securing a room upgrade - and a box of chocs. Even if the occasion is only big by relative standards ('We finally found a babysitter so it's our first holiday in three years!'), it's worth showing the staff your enthusiasm and gratitude at being there. Newlyweds tend to get the most free stuff, so if you've said your vows recently, let people know about it.
The cleanest bedding
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Hotel rooms aren't as clean as we think, which can be hilarious or unpleasant (take your pick). So asking for clean linens is a must. Especially considering hotel blankets are typically washed once a week and bedspreads are only cleaned around four times a year.
Recommendations from staff (but not the concierge)
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When you've booked a last-minute stay somewhere, in all likelihood, you haven't had a chance to plan out every single activity or meal out. The front desk staffers and bar staff are likely to have more unbiased info than the concierge, who will likely get tips for giving middle-of-the-road, touristy recommendations.
Freebies and amenities
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Does your hotel have a spa you can use? If not, do they have a relationship with a nearby facility that offers free use of the pool and sauna? It's worth an ask. In addition to amenities, many hotels are offering some fab freebies for guests during their stay. So the moral of the story is: always ask. And yes, you can still stash all of those mini toiletries into your suitcase each day, too.
Loyalty schemes
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If you're bedding down in a chain hotel, it's worth signing up to any loyalty schemes where you can earn points and improve your stay with complimentary add-ons like room upgrades, free nights and breakfasts. If you're going back to a destination you love, staying in the same hotel can also qualify you for frequent-guest perks.
Electronics
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Booked a last-minute trip? Forgot something crucial? Not to fear - in these modern times, there's a good chance your hotel can lend out those key items like phone chargers, travel adapters, hair straighteners or a night light to help get your little one to sleep.
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