How to get a complimentary stay at a top hotel

This article is about being assertive and demanding a better service, rather than looking for ways to deceive and get a free stay. The story below is a true incident, and may not elicit the same offer everywhere, but it is worth knowing about.

We had booked a very nice room with a view for a special occasion a few months ago. This was at one of Chicago's top hotels and we were very excited about it. The day arrived and there we were at the hotel reception, relaxed and ready to check in. We noticed that there were a lot of people around, including families and groups of young men. Anyway, we proceeded to check in.

Minutes later, we were told that we would not get the room we had asked for. We were flabbergasted, and asked for a reason. The manager on duty informed us that there was a ball game, and that they had overbooked, and so the room had been allocated to someone else who had turned up earlier. Additionally, the hotel made no guarantees apparently about room allocations.

We understood that, but our reservation online was made for this room, and this room alone. The package was named after the room. How could we not be guaranteed that room? The manager, who was looking quite disheveled and frazzled, probably due to the volume of people around him and our querying, kept repeating himself. He went on to say that he was not the regular manager, who was on vacation. It seemed of no use to carry on the conversation. Extremely disheartened, we took the key, but we got all the details of the regular manager.

We got to our room, several floors below the one we wanted, and facing blocks of concrete: office blocks. It was depressing, but we made the best of it, and departed very early the following morning. Not what we were expecting.


So this is what we did. We carefully drafted an extremely detailed letter addressed to the manager who was on vacation. We also posted a review on Tripadvisor, and included a link in the letter. We emphasized that as professionals, we had come to expect professionalism for services we had paid for, and how this incident had given the hotel a bad reputation for us. We added how we would recount this to friends and colleagues, and recommend that they don't make a reservation there.

We made a copy for the hotel's customer service department, and posted both letters, registered.

A month later, we received a reply from the hotel manager. After exchanging pleasantries and saying sorry for the fact that we were dissatisfied, his letter included a free one night's stay at the hotel. Not in a regular room, but in a bi-level presidential suite. With full access to its Executive Lounge, with complimentary drinks, appetizers, desserts, and a cooked-to-order breakfast.

We were thrilled of course. Not only had we been given, what we considered, a suitable compensation, but we were very happy that our complaint was acknowledged. The stay turned out to be one of the most luxurious ones of our life. The hotel succeeded in changing our mind about it.

So many of us when faced in a similar situation get upset, shrug it off, and fail to do anything concrete about our dissatisfaction. It is time-consuming, but if you were legitimately expecting more for your money, my advice to you is to document your complaint, and let the right people know. Be authoritative. State the time and detail the incidents. Document names. This isn't just true about hotel rooms by the way.

Following this procedure above is not a guarantee in securing a complimentary stay. It is at the discretion of each individual hotel. But it does mean that you would be asserting yourself if you have been genuinely shortchanged, and you may have a chance in getting something back. The opinion of every guest is important to a hotel, especially when it is a well-known name, so use that knowledge wisely.

Do you have a similar experience? Did you get the same results? Share your stories by posting your comments, at this link.

What are the popular shops in London(UK)?

If you are going to visit the UK for the first time, you might be wondering what the main shops or departmental stores are. Here's a quick guide:

High-end

• John Lewis
• Harvey Nichols
  
• Fenwick
  
• Barker's
• Selfridges
• Harrods
• Peter Jones

High/Mid-Range (but excellent quality)

• Debenhams
• House of Fraser
• Marks and Spencer

Budget

• Primark
• TK Maxx
• TJ Hughes
• BHS

Stylish and Trendy

• River Island
• Zara
• Mango
• New Look
• French Connection
• Oasis
• Top Shop/Top Man
• Morgan
• Jane Norman
• Monsoon
  

Great cosmetics , essentials and OTC drugs

• Superdrug
• Boots

There are lots of other excellent stores to explore, but this is just a snapshot of the most popular. Caveat: the terms 'high end' and 'mid-range' could be considered subjective. They are used here in relative terms, or how they are generally considered in the UK. In other words, what is considered 'mid-range' in London could be considered in 'high-end' or even 'budget' in another city.

Holiday Shopping in London

Granted, the US dollar is not at its strongest right now, and everyone's flocking in from the UK to the US for this at the moment, but the shopping experience in London is just very satisfying, even if you plan to just window shop. Holiday or Christmas shopping as it is better known as in the UK, can be a competitor sport, but this article is about informing you about alternatives to the popular areas tourists usually go to (i.e. Oxford Street and Knightsbridge).

Okay, here's a bit about the lingo. The British do not generally use the term 'mall'. The rest of this post uses the phrase 'shopping centre' which is essentially the same thing, and is the preferred term in the UK. Also, you'll notice the spelling for 'centre'...

Try:
1) Whiteleys Shopping Centre: Situated just north of Hyde Park on Queensway in the popular Bayswater area, this mall is medium-sized and houses stylish upmarket fashion names such as French Connection and Karen Millen, as well as super-trendy Zara to name but a few, the Spanish fashion chain which is affordable and popular with the 18-35 bracket. There is a food court, a cinema, and countless shops and various ethnic as well as mainstream restaurants in the surrounding area.


2)Whitgift Shopping Centre: If you're not staying in central London but closer to South-East London, then this mall is where you should be. This huge covered shopping center is located in the busy town of Croydon, and has all the big names you expect. There are many dining options, and being here gives you a taste of where some of the real residents of the city shop.


3) Brent Cross Shopping Centre: Located in North London with tons of free parking, this is another gigantic covered mall with all the main heavyweights having a significant presence. It used to be the country's biggest covered mall when it was first built in the 1970s, and it is always being improved in terms of its look and accessibility. Highly popular with the locals.


4) Richmond: I recommend this mainly for the warmer months, and if you are into more high end, unusual and boutique-y shops. Richmond is a beautiful area in South London, and as soon as you exit the train station and walk towards the Thames (should be signposted, or ask anyone around you), you will fall in love with the 'village-within-a-town' feel. I say summer, because there isn't a covered mall as such, and also the riverside here is stunning (see my posts under London). There is a good mix of the popular high street names as well as upmarket boutiques with beautifully tailored clothes.


5) Kensington High Street: Or as the locals say 'High Street Ken' is a beautiful and popular shopping alternative to Oxford Street, located in the posh area of Kensington. A couple of excellent shops are located in a covered section adjoining the station, but the bulk of the shopping is out on the open street. It is very easily accessibly by both the tube and buses. The main departmental stores are all clustered in the area between the western edge of Hyde Park and the tube station. Great departmental stores, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and coffee shops, this area has it all.


6) King Street Shopping Centre: Situated in Hammersmith Broadway in West London and minutes from the Hammersmith tube and bus station, this offers a somewhat grittier shopping experience compared to the others mentioned above, but does offer the household names. There is a covered mall called the 'King's Mall' as well as free standing shops along the street. There are several discount shops too so if you are looking for a bargain or more reasonably priced items, you are more likely to find it here, compared to say, High Street Ken. There are some excellent pubs around, and the station also has some smaller shops which are worth exploring.

Given London's excellent public transport network, all these areas are easily accessible from Central London. Doing a quick Google search on each should yield you with directions of how to get there. Or ask at your hotel or local tube station for assistance. Get hold of the free tube and bus maps to help you as well. Bus maps may not be visible at the stands, but if you ask an attendant, they should be able to provide you with one. Bus maps are broken up into regions (central, north west London etc) so check which ones you need.

Traveling to India this winter?

Not only am I going to be in Kolkata for a few days, the city where I grew up, but we have managed to chalk out some time to visit another city. This not might sound like much, but given how big India is, how short previous trips have been, and how easy it is to just be in one place where you have family and will be ritually pampered, this is a big undertaking.

Both of have never been to the South, so that is a strong contender. We have no idea where exactly to go though. There is so much to see. We do want to fit in a beach, so the Keralan coastline is winning so far.

Even though we are both of Indian origin, and I was there since 6, I am overwhelmed about the complicatedness of it all. How to get there, where to stay, is it safe etc etc? We have no family there nor do we speak the languages. I can only imagine how harrowing it must be for someone with no connections to the country whatsoever, who simply wants to explore without confusion.

I recommend getting in touch with a very reputable travel agent who has experience in creating completely inclusive packages to India for the western traveler. While this may be on the expensive side, nothing beats peace of mind. You can also do a web search and contact Indian travel agencies, and see what they offer.

But firstly, start off with a good book, and I recommend Lonely Planet's 12th edition of 'India'. It is a gloriously detailed and enjoyable read of 1236 pages, and you will feel a lot better knowing what this book tells you. Borders stores it for $30, but you can get it for $20 at Amazon.