Important Questions To Ask When Reserving A Hotel Room

This is a tips for you if you often go for vacation and stay in hotels. Enjoy.

Whether you are booking a hotel room through the hotel clerk, a national toll free number or on the Internet, it is important to have the answers to all of your questions so that when you show up at the hotel, undoubtedly tired and ready for a break, you are not facing any surprises. There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions, but it is important to know what to expect before finalizing your plans.

How do I know if my room will be there?

Most hotels will provide you with a confirmation number when you reserve your room. This number guarantees that the room will be there when you are arriving. There is a small technicality in this situation, however. If you have not yet paid for your room, and plan on paying cash when you arrive, the hotel may not hold your room if you do not arrive by check-in time, and there are other people wanting rooms. The way to alleviate this concern is to rent the room with a credit card. This way, the room is paid for, and cannot be given away. If you want to pay cash for the room, ask them to hold the room with a credit card number, but when you arrive, pay for the room with cash.

Can I change my reservation?

Someone decides to go with you, or someone decides to stay home. Changes are common in travel. Ask the reservation agent what the procedure is for making changes to your reservation. Reservation clerks are generally more accommodating of changes to the reservation than to canceling the reservation altogether.

What happens if I cancel my room?

Sometimes the early bird does not get the worm. Often, after making plans for a long weekend or vacation, it is necessary to change or cancel them. It is difficult to predict when this may happen, and it is no fun to get stuck paying for a room that you cannot use. While most hotels are not going to like last minute cancellations, each will have a different procedure for cancellations. Even if you have every intention of following through on your trip, ask the person who is taking your reservation what the process is for canceling the room.

What are my payment options?

Credit cards are universally accepted as payments for hotel rooms, but beyond that, you should still ask. Cash is always accepted at the desk, but you can not hold a room with cash. If you make plans far enough in advance, you can mail a check, assuming the hotel accepts checks. Debit cards, which are often treated as credit cards, may not be accepted. If you plan to pay with anything other than credit, you should check with the reservation clerk to make sure it will be accepted.

Do you allow pets?

If you want to bring a pet, make sure you ask what the hotel's pet policy is. Some hotels do not accept pets at all, while others allow small pets or pets that can be crated. If the hotel does accept pets, and you plan on bringing one along, ask if there is an area to walk your pet, as well as any pet friendly areas of town.

How many children can stay in a room?

It is easy, as a parent, to assume that whatever is okay with you is okay. This is not always the case. Even if you and your children are fine with sleeping bags and extra pillows on the floor, the hotel may not be. Many hotels have a limit to the number of people that can stay in one room. Even if you are not planning a party, the hotel will want to know if you have three or four children and are only paying for one room. Asking this question when making the reservation can save you aggravation and even money upon arrival at the hotel.

What amenities do you offer?

Ask what is included in the room. Hotels may offer everything from a heated pool, a free breakfast to free Internet, but you may not know unless you ask. Some amenities, such as a continental breakfast, can save you a lot of money, particularly if you are traveling with children.

What are the room rates?

Ask for their lowest rate, and then ask if there are any discounts that you may qualify for, this includes AAA, AARP or present any travel coupons that you may have.

What taxes and fees are in addition to the room rate?

The room rate is only part of the hotel expense. Taxes and fees can add up quickly. When making your reservation, ask what your total cost will be, not just your nightly room rate.

This aticle is originally written by Brian Jenkins

A Close Look on Railroad Accidents

Reports of railroad accidents have been increasing these past few years. Still, millions of people in the United States ride trains every day.

Statistics show that there are approximately 3,000 train accidents every year and that 1,000 people die as a result of these accidents.

In 2007, according to the Office of Safety Analysis of the Federal Railroad Administration, there have been a total of 13,187 railroad accidents and 6.04% of these accidents or 797 are fatal. Deaths that resulted from the accidents reached a number of 851 and the injured were up to 8,960.

And from January to May 2008, there were 4,875 railroad accidents recorded, 309 fatalities and the total number of injured were 3,223.

In Los Angeles County, a total of 2,334 railroad accidents were recorded from 1998 up to 2007. The total number of fatalities were 134 and 1,839 were injured.

Causes of Railroad Accidents

These are some of the most common causes of railroad accidents:

• Human error
• Negligence
• Derailment
• Use of drugs or alcohol intoxication of a train or railroad employee
• Bridge collapses
• Faulty train track or rail inspection
• Explosions on board
• Defective railroad crossings and highway rail
• Collision with another train
• Inadequate train security
• Collision with a bus or car
• Operator fatigue
• Inadequate train controls
• Inappropriately maintained tracks
• Miscellaneous causes
• Signal defects
• Equipment defects
• Waste materials or hazardous chemicals
• Improper switching
• Failure to use locomotive horns
• Unguarded railroad crossings
• Excessive speed by the train operator
Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

The United States Congress passed an act to protect and compensate who are injured while on the job. This is known as The Federal Employers Liability Act or FELA.

FELA was not created to be granted automatically to an injured railroad worker. It requires the injured worker to show or to prove that the railroad company was the party legally negligent. Such negligence must also be the cause of the accident that resulted in the injuries of the passenger. If negligence is proved, full compensation is entitled to the injured railroad worker.

FELA is a complex law and it is advised that a railroad worker who was injured because of a railroad accident to consult an experienced Los Angeles railroad accident lawyer in order to protect their legal rights.

Many factors contribute in railroad accidents. There are also a lot of people that can be held liable for the injuries, pain and suffering, or loss of income.

It is the duty of railroad companies to maintain the train and tracks, but car and truck drivers also have the duty of obeying the laws. Even the railroad workers and the people who ride on trains have the responsibility in following safety regulations so it would be difficult to determine the person/s responsible for the accident.

In proving who is liable in these cases, the help of Los Angeles railroad accident lawyers are needed. These competent lawyers will aid you in the difficulty of the situation, assist you in legal matters and help you get back on your feet.

This article is originally writen by Kamille Pagibigan