Modern Manners Guy Podcast: Hotel Manners

In his weekly Podcast, Modern Manners Guy (MMG) serves up quick and friendly tips to help listeners live a more pleasant life, particularly in awkward or unfamiliar situations.  Advice on wide-variety of topics such as arriving fashionably late to a party to politely informing someone their zipper is down, are covered by Mr. Manners. 

Although many of these tips apply both at home and during travels, MMG dedicated a recent Podcast specifically to manners during Hotel stays. He reminds us hotels are mini communities, and its residents should adhere to norms that make for a pleasant stay for everyone. 

So how do you handle loud neighboring guests? What acts of kindness can you carry-out at the hotel to brighten someones day, while still enjoying yours?  Visit the Modern Manners Guy for answers to these questions and many others. 

Hotel Manners Podcast and Transcript can be found here. 

When A Superior Room Just Isn't Enough

Stains on the carpet and smells in the air, both good reasons for complaining to hotel staff about less than satisfactory accommodations. Finding yourself in a smaller corner room or next to the elevator though are less than legitimate reasons for complaint. Still, some will.

In this New York Times story last weekend, reporter Geraldine Fabrikant uncovers the many techniques guests use to complain about a room and ultimately land an upgrade. Some do so with complete honesty and sincerity, notifying the hotel of a legitimate problem. Others capitalize on discretionary power of hotel staff, allowing them to check-in and check-up to a higher value room than paid for.

Read: "You're Giving Me That Room? No Way." NY Times