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what does "Reference SRM Travel when booking pre or post-tour nights" mean?

Posted by on

We have booked 2 Rick Steves tours - Greece & Turkey. We will have a couple of extra days before/after the tour and we want to stay in the same hotel as the RS tour.

On our trip documents for Turkey, it says "Note: Reference SRM Travel when booking pre or post-tour nights", but we don't see that phrase on our Greece documents.

Does it mean:

  1. the hotel gives you a Rick Steves discounted rate?
  2. the hotel will put you in the same room as for the RS tour so that you don't have to change rooms?

Why isn't it mentioned on the Greece documents?

We don't want to arrive the day before and the next day have to check out at 11:00, store our bags, and then check in to another room down the hall at 15:00. That pretty much ruins the full day of sightseeing (meet & greet is at 18:00)

When booking an extra room before/after the trip, how do you choose the type of room & bed to match what you get with the RS booking? For example, if I book an "economy" room with twin beds and the tour provides a "standard" room with double bed, then almost certainly I'll have to change rooms. I'll book whatever RS books to ensure I won't have to move.
Thanks.

Posted by
7049 posts

SRM Travel are the Turkey based guides that RS uses for its Turkey tours. That’s why that reference only applies in Turkey.

Posted by
2375 posts

You won't need to tell the hotel what type of room. Once they know you are adding nights to a tour, they will know what type. You can tell them you prefer not to move to be certain.

Posted by
2074 posts

The hotel in Turkey moved our bags for us. We left them packed in our room. When we returned, they gave us our new room key. It was easy. They also moved anything we had on hangers as well.
You won’t be wasting a day.

Posted by
13 posts

Ok on the rooms. Is there such a thing as a "Rick Steves rate" for before/after hotels?

Posted by
2074 posts

Not sure about always getting a discount but don’t ask for the Rick Steves discount. Ask for the SRM discount. When we went we were told that the hotel would not know who Rick Steves was.

Posted by
8375 posts

In general, most hotels offer a special rate for travelers booking rooms before and after Rick Steves Tours when they know you are on the tour. One caveat, most of the time, they will quote you for the same type of room that has been contracted for the tour. This is not always the least expensive option available. I do find that I appreciate being able to stay in the same room and have not found this to be a big issue.

Posted by
13 posts

Good info. Thanks everyone.

We're probably ok with the same type of room as the tour provides. if it costs more, it's a small amount compared to the total trip cost.

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