Good to go...

[555Ann555]

We paid off our honeymoon today!

It's only the second thing that's fully paid, and the first we've paid for by ourselves but we wanted to get it out of the way so we can consentrate on gathering funds for the rest of the bills!

Was great to be able to walk in with the cash and clear our bill off, doubt it'll feel as nice to pay the rest of the bills though

The travel agent gave me some advice about the hotel too. One of you (was it Feb?) said you had stayed at our hotel in NYC and it was lovely but Steven sent me a site with reviews and there were some very mixed reports, it seems the hotel was in the midst of a refurbishment and the higher floors were lovely but the lower ones were not. So she recommended calling them in advance to say we're on our honeymoon and can we please have a nice room, but if they don't give us one to tell them I work for that travel agency and surely they'd like me to recommend their hotel not tell our customers how shabby it is I don't know if I've got the bottle to pull that off!

Anyone ever had to do that? Ever got your room switched or upgraded because you complained? Any advice? Just incase!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

I don't think I'd be able to lie like that to get a better room, either. How exciting to have it all paid, though!!!

Uh, I guess since it's your HONEYMOON and all we can't beg you for a Bliss convention with the NY tri-state area locals?

[ljeagle]

It works sometimes. I use to have to go to Richmond a lot with work and I would stay in the same place every time. I think is was my 3rd time staying and they gave me the worst room ever. It smelled like some one had been partying in the room for weeks. I right away called the front desk and had the manager come up. She put me in a really nice room after that. This story is gross but I will tell it. I rented a room in Tn. for the weekend and when I got to my room the bed had a big lump in the middle of it and the room smelled like someone forgot to flash. I pulled the covers back and someone had taken a big dump on the bed. Needless to say my stay was free and I got one of there tip top rooms. Can't never hurt by trying. It feels so good when u can mark something off your list...

[555Ann555]

Originally Posted by Marrying_the_Good_Husband

Uh, I guess since it's your HONEYMOON and all we can't beg you for a Bliss convention with the NY tri-state area locals?

I *love* that idea!!! May take a lot of work to persuade Mo to agree to it though!

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

We can find something to occupy Mo. Or we can all bring our sweeties and we can all be squealing and laughing and they'll just be like, "So, uh, your gal's addicted to the web site?" "Yup." "Do you get it?" "Nope." "Me, neither."

Just like a dinner or a lunch or a night out for drinks--whatever you and Mo prefer! I would DEFINITELY love to come into the city to meet you. We know Maggie's already there. We might convince Heather to drive down from upstate. Allison and I are trying to narrow down a time for her to come and visit me from Texas--if not before then, maybe this could help make the decision if she gets to meet "Bonus" Blissers! Uh, Pashers! Who else would come?!?!?

[PlanetClaire]

Ann, I am surprised that your agent would tell you to tell them that you're an agent! If you were an agent you would have asked for a discount or gotten a lower rate and would have to present agent ID or at the very least your business card. Faking it could backfire and you'll just have egg on your face!The travel biz used to love agents and treat us like royalty but since the advent of direct selling and web bookings that is no longer the case. No freebies, no upgrades. No fun anymore!!

I would definitely call ahead and tell them you are on your honeymoon. Any hotel worth their salt would want it to be special for you. If you have any problems or want a nicer room, you definitely should take care of it while you are there. And again, if it is a hotel that cares about their customers they will do their best for you.

And don't worry about the reviews. There are people out there who want to stay at The Ritz but cna only afford a Motel 6 and will complan about everything! Take their comments with a grain of salt.

I was Customer Care Manager for the biggest travel company in North America and the things that people complain about is mind boggling! Too many black people in Jamaica! They want a full refund because there was no pineapple at the breakfast buffet! They didn't get an "ocean view" room in Paris despite having requested one! I could go on and on!

I've been to NYC twice and each time I was convinced I was going to move there!!! Great, great , great city!!!

[bebe]

Originally Posted by ljeagle

...This story is gross but I will tell it. I rented a room in Tn. for the weekend and when I got to my room the bed had a big lump in the middle of it and the room smelled like someone forgot to flash. I pulled the covers back and someone had taken a big dump on the bed.....

OH MY GOD. Thsi is so disgusting lj!!!

I have easily gotten a new room on two occasions. My first trip to Hawaii some work was being done on the hotel. We had a balcony room, but had no view from our balcony because there was scaffolding in front of it. I called the front desk and politely explained that our balcony view room had an unusable balcony and obstructed view, so we would like to be moved to a room that had an accessible balcony and unobstructed view. They apologized and sent someone up to move all of our things to the new room. I don't even remember where I was the other time. We were unpacking and I noticed a couple of grapes and a chunk of watermelon on the floor. I again called the front desk and told them about it and requested a room change because the room appeared to not have had a very good cleaning. Same thing, they apologized and sent someone up to move our stuff. I think the key is to be as nice as possible about it, and they will generally give you a new room if any are available. In your case Ann, I think calling the hotel in advance and explaining that you understand their hotel is being renovated, and that you will be on your honeymoon and would like a room that has already been renovated and away from the noise would suffice.

[sparklesweetie]

I've had to switch rooms at a hotel in PA I stayed at. The first room I had smelled like someone had kept cats in it for about a week. So I went back up and requested another room, just politely saying that room stunk. They apologized and sent me to another room. This room's door was open, and hadn't been touched by housekeeping. So I waited a minute, figuring someone would be right back to finish up the room. Nope, five minutes later, still nothing. So I went back to the desk, told them about that room, and they finally gave me a room we could stay in. Like Bebe said, I was nice about it the whole time, although if the 3rd room hadn't worked, I might have not been nice about it.
I would think if you told the hotel you were on your honeymoon, they'd be willing to work with you.

[Jennifer]

We made sure to tell the travel agent exactly what we wanted. Top floor, corner suit with a 2 window view (two walls made of windows to see the city). I'll let you all know later if that happens.

But our travel agent gave us his card and told us to call him if we have any issues and he will handle it. LIke if we check in and don't like the room, he will handle it. He is awesome (well and he is also one of FH best friends)

[Kim&Bob2004]

Bob took care of our Honeymoon, and knowing my DH I am sure he called and put in a request for the hotel we stayed at on the first night and he told me he talked at some length for the place we stayed at on Orcas Island. Be sure to tell them it your Honeymoon and maybe they will accommodate. Don't always trust reviews though. We stayed at holiday Inn Express that had some reviews and while it wasn't the best place we have ever stayed, I have stayed in a lot worse. Our firdge was not working so it had to be fixed but we expected it might have a lot of traffic noise and really we weren't bothered at all. I have never had luck being comped a room when something is bad. A meal yes, a room no.

Good to have that out of the way though.

[Complicated Woman]

Originally Posted by Marrying_the_Good_Husband

Uh, I guess since it's your HONEYMOON and all we can't beg you for a Bliss convention with the NY tri-state area locals?

Ahhh! Consider this me, begging for us to do that. How great would that be?

Of course, we don't want Moreno to be put out on his own honeymoon...

[cru5h]

woooooooo exciting!

[555Ann555]

On the hotel fornt... When I talked it over with the travel agent she said it wasn't possible to pre-book a specific room that they're allocated on arrival so in general if you check in late your kinda stuck with what you get (unless it's truely awful, then you'd just refuse!) but that the best thig is to speak to the hotel and tell them it's for a special occasion.

When I'ce comlained in the past about things (not hotels though) I've always found being nice works well, so I'll call them a couple of weeks before and see what they can do otherwise I'll need to wait and see what we get allocated when we get there. It did get some lovely reviews too, like Claire said there's just no pleasing some people! BTW Claire, I was shocked when the agent said that too. She said she had done it in NYC and hadn't been asked for any ID but isn't it written in your passport anyway? It'll work out fine I'm sure... I'm quite easily pleased anyway!

About the Bliss/Pash get together, I'd love to! I even let Mo see this thread so he'd see how considerate of his feelings you were all being and he was chuffed to see someone else mention his name...(BTW chuffed= V.pleased)
(this was him-->..... )
The plans would need to be made on your end coz I've never been and have no idea where we'd meet but I'm getting quite excited about this idea now!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by Complicated Woman

Ahhh! Consider this me, begging for us to do that. How great would that be?

OMG That would be awesome! Seriously! I would definitely hop on the train and head down for a day or night. CW - we can meet on Amtrack and head down together! I would even drive down... Taxi drivers don't scare me!

[Marge129]

Why can't I live in NY?

[whiddle]

Im right there with you Marge!

[sparklesweetie]

Margie, other than gymrat and yourself, is there anyone else remotely near us? We'll have to have regional conventions before the big one, lol.

[555Ann555]

Awww didn't mean to make you feel left out

If it's any consolation I'm normally just about the furthest from NY! (apart from Elle down in OZ though I don't know how far that really is form the US...) and you'll all have the chance to meet up again soon but I'll just be over this once...

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

YAY!!!!!! I can make the arrangements--unless someone more familiar with the city would like to. When will you be heree, Ann? ...And Mo!!!

[Marge129]

Originally Posted by sparklesweetie

Margie, other than gymrat and yourself, is there anyone else remotely near us? We'll have to have regional conventions before the big one, lol.

I have no idea.