Confirming accomodation prior to arriving

Can’t hurt. I keep confirmations on my phone AND print a paper copy. Old school, literal paper trail.

Save the email exchanges and jot down the name of the staff member who sent it.

We used to do that but haven’t in many years. It is a good idea!

I still do it, every time. I'm a senior woman who travels solo and I don't want to show up and find myself out in the cold (so to speak). Better safe than sorry.

I always confirm my travel arrangements a week or so prior to traveling, especially if I will be arriving early or really late. I don’t know if it is necessary, but makes me feel better that everything is set for my arrival.

My husband always does this. We usually try to book smaller hotels. As well as confirming our reservation it also sets up an opportunity to create a rapport with the owner or front desk staff. Great way to get local restaurant recommendations.

I don’t confirm the reservations I make through Booking.com for smaller hotels or B&B’s. I would for something like an AirBnB - haven’t used them in Europe.

I don't usually do that--partly because I make so many reservations only days before arrival--but I think it's a good idea. It's an opportunity to reinforce what characteristics your room needs to have--set up with one large bed or two smaller ones, for example. Last year I arrived in the evening at a hotel where I had reserved a twin room and found they hadn't split the bed. My travel mate and I spent over half an hour in the lobby, waiting for that to happen. I imagine that would have been avoided if I had sent a message a day or two ahead of time, mentioning the type of room I had booked.

The same goes for air conditioning in hotels that have some rooms without that feature and tub-vs-shower if that is important to you.

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. If I have any questions, I will message the hotel and ask, and then that is a good way to confirm that my reservation went through. Many times though the hotel/host will message and ask me questions such as estimated time of arrival, or will provide the door code, etc.

I confirm all my hotel, b&b reservations about a month before I leave home. Since I make reservations far in advance, it eases my peace of mind. I also keep email confirmations in a trip email file. Also a paper confirm copies in my paperwork folder in case my phone dies or is lost.

I confirm about 2 weeks out, sometimes by contacting the property with a question. I also print my reservation confirmations and keep the emails in a separate folder on my phone so they’re easy to find.

With Booking.com, AirBnB, VRBO or other companies I like to just send a heads up or friendly reminder of when my arrival is scheduled the day prior or any delays that occur in route.

Thanks for all the comments. I think I will contact them about a month before to advise of our arrival times.

I've done that in the past but rarely.

The last time was ca. 15 years ago in Berlin, called the Pension from a pay phone in the Berlin Hbf to inform the Pension that I had just arrived and would be at their doorstep in about an hour. Why, mainly as a courtesy to the proprietor, that it would be appreciated by her.

I always do.
Often, the host or hotel will contact you a few days before arrival too.
I also print on paper, all confirmations and terms, including final pricing.
I screenshot them too.

Always have a folder with a paper copy.....of everythig. Did you ever lose your phone? I have (not in Europe but still) and it is a total disaster. Or your phone could simply die. So easy to stuff that folder in the backpack.

I find with Bookimg.com, the majority of my stays, there really is no need. There are usually massages from the property, updates, information about arrival sent out, that there is a communication line. Not like years ago where you contacted a place by phone or letter, and no communication until you walk in the door.

Same with places I book through my IHG app, again, there is usually some notification a few days before the stay.

I suppose if you still do independent bookings by phone or email, then sure, touching base the week before might be a good idea.

What does this mean, to confirm your reservation? Do you contact each hotel and ask them, do I still have a room at your hotel? How many times do people who confirm find that they no longer have that room?

The hotel we booked in January 2025 for June in Lucerne changed ownership and did not notify us that our reservation would not be honored. Thanks to another forum member, I learned about this and was able to find another hotel. So from now on, I will be confirming all reservations a few weeks in advance or at least checking the hotel website to be sure they are still in business under the same management.

treemoss,
By confirming our reservations, for me, I just email the lodging directly and say something like "This is to confirm my reservation for (date), for (number of) days, for (number of) people and or rooms at (euros, etc) price. Please confirm." If I don't hear within 24 hours, I resend it, or call them.
If I book through Booking.com, I just log in to my account and it is in there. I can verify with them at that time. They have always been right on top of things.

...AND print a paper copy. Old school, literal paper trail.
...Always have a folder with a paper copy.....of everything...

Yes! Totally agree. Technology is great when it works as it should. Unfortunately, it doesn't always do that. A few sheets of paper has very little weight, takes up very little space, but is worth its weight in gold if technology fails -- not that that has every happend to any of us, right?

Yes! to paper copies. Old school here also (81 y/o). And an itinerary printed out. Did this for family members who went to France for the first time with us so we all knew what was what, when was when, and where was where. Details of phone numbers, addresses, etc. included. Three week trip easily fit on one page printout.

Post-pandemic I don't confirm any more, no paper copy or on the phone. I keep a record on which day I should arrive where plus for the number of nights and the price per night. That's all.

One of the things I most appreciate about AirBnB is that their website and app allow (and encourage) frequent communication with one's hosts. We find this extremely helpful when we're on the road.

Years ago, I contacted a hotel to confirm and the manager kind of laughed and said, "you know this is no longer necessary. We have computers now." I could feel his smirk. Since then, I haven't confirmed and been fine. I've also started taking the approach that, with me having the paper confirmation, the hotel won't want me taking up room in the reception area and will find me a room somewhere. I'd rather they do it, than me panic at home. At least that's my thought now...

Thanks Judy for your reply about how you do it? I use booking.com pretty exclusively and never email ahead to confirm. DW does print out our confirmations.

I didn't once, and showed up to my small-town Provence hotel to find that the hotel had my booking down for the wrong day, leaving me nowhere to stay that night.

Luckily the owner or manager or whoever took it upon themselves to call around and find me a place to stay at a local B&B that night. I appreciated that since the mistake was on their end.

So, I often do confirm. But not always.

Always take a screenshot of any reservations made in an app, including your confirmation # and dates. I had an overnight travel delay that affected a reservation made on booking.com. I messaged the hotel as soon as the flight was delayed and they confirmed they would hold the room. The next day, upon arriving in Europe, I received a message from booking that our multi-night reservation was cancelled as a no-show. All the reservation information and messages were GONE from the app. I called the hotel and they said it was an error with booking, but they still had our room and they worked out the issue for us.

Years ago, I contacted a hotel to confirm and the manager kind of laughed and said, "you know this is no longer necessary. We have computers now." I could feel his smirk.

That would really irritate me and I have ready retorts: "I'm in IT. We find user error." or "I'm in IT. We see GIGO (garbage in garbage out)"

Once, in Ireland, my sister-in-law called that evening's lodging (small town along the highway) to see if they happened to have a room available which my husband and I could book. We were an hour or two behind them on the road She discovered there was no room for them (she'd used a third party). She and my brother stopped off in another town (Moneygall) and stumbled across an old mansion which was not fully set up for guests but allowed us to book two rooms. It was such a stupendous, serendipitous experience. We were happy that their first lodging had fallen through but it made me especially wary of third party booking. I have had some good experiences with booking.com, however.

We are currently on a 6 week trip, and print reservations and put in a small 3 ring binder. The day before we are to arrive at next lodging, I write pertinent info, codes to apt, train/bus # and schedule. Screen shots of directions. I’ve run out of battery a few times, or cut it very close…