'Can't go wrong': Hotel boss reveals the room you should always ask for
Updated . First published
Staying in a hotel soon? There’s one way that you can level up your stay to make it even more special, without even having to fork over extra cash.
Even in the most cookie-cutter of hotels, each room is slightly different, in size, layout, or in-room features. So how can you secure yourself the best one?
A corner room is often bigger and quieter. Rydges
Lee Davey, General Manager at Rydges Melbourne, told nine.com.au it’s always worth asking for a corner room. They’re often far quieter, away from the elevators with less foot traffic passing by.
At his hotel, he said to ask for the west-facing deluxe corner rooms, which give you stunning sunset views over the city skyline and Chinatown.
The east-facing corner rooms aren’t too bad either, he said, with sunrise views of the Dandenong Ranges.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard the ‘corner room’ travel tip from an expert.
Jamie Fraser, owner of Wedderlie House told us that corner rooms “are often slightly larger than standard rooms because of the building layout, and they usually only share one wall with another guest.”
Even if you didn’t specifically book a corner room, Lee said it’s always worth asking for an upgrade. “Don’t be shy about it.”
“Just ask at the front desk whether anything better is available. We’ll always check. No guarantees, but we’d rather explore the options than have you wonder what might have been.”
Never be shy about asking for an upgrade. iStock
A hotel concierge also recently echoed the same advice to nine.com.au, adding that booking directly (rather than with a third-party site), can make you more likely to secure an upgrade.
Alongside upgrades, he said many hotels also offer other perks that many guests might not know about. “People genuinely don’t realise how much is possible if you just ask,” he said.
“If you’re celebrating something, whether that be a birthday, anniversary, a promotion, whatever it is, let us know before you arrive. We’ve surprised guests with locally sourced treats from Koko Black, a bottle from Four Pillars, a local sparkling on arrival. It’s never cookie-cutter and we’ll tailor it to what you tell us.”
Hotel staff want to make your stay as comfortable as possible. iStock
He added that families travelling with kids should also ask hotel staff if they offer any in-room child-friendly amenities, like toys, activity packs, or special bedding.
“The real tip? Just ask. The worst we can say is we can’t, but more often than not, we’ll do our best to go the extra mile.”
