Do I need to reconfirm hotel reservations?

What do you have to lose by reconfirming? To me, it's worth the extra few minutes it takes to send an email. At least once, our hotel had confused us with another couple with the same surname, on the same tour. They had us checking out a day earlier than we had requested.

And another time there was some confusion about our dates, even though we had emailed details. Once again, it was the final hotel of a RS tour, and the hotel employee confused our group with another one.

Do it.

I always do, especially in Italy....I am a duel citizen so I can say that! LOL Enjoy!

I do via email as mentioned nothing to lose by doing so and you may catch some type of booking error.

Just make the message brief and be clear that you are just confirming your upcoming stay and looking forward to it.
Try to write any dates in the European standard or write out the month to avoid any confusion.

If you know your approx. arrival time it is not bad to mention it as well ; especially if it later than usual

Usually, you'll be fine without confirming, but you never know. I've only had one issue in all my years of traveling, but I was really glad I checked ahead of time. I discovered a B&B in Oban, Scotland had lost my reservation. They apologized profusely and offered to book me at a nearby B&B. They also gave me the option of staying with them but switching rooms each night (we were staying 3 nights). We chose to stay with them because we appreciated their helpfulness, and we ended up having to move just once. It might have worked out had we not confirmed in advance, but who knows. It definitely would have taken longer to check in.

So I think it's a good idea, but if you forget or run out of time, you'll probably be fine.

I re-confirm apartments arranged with private parties, often by text message to be sure I have their correct phone number ( and they will then have mine). They also need to know a projected arrival time, as most often they will meet you.

For hotels, do not bother re-confirming reservations made on the website with a credit card guarantee. I do re-confirm any reservations held "on trust" with no cc guarantee.

Priscilla, while it is probably not necessary, I usually do, by asking a question that might be helpful to me, but at least call for a sign of recognition by the hotel or inn. Several days before i am to arrive, I might send an e-mail that would start with "I have a reservation to stay at your hotel, arriving June 8 for 3 nights." Then a question like, "I will be arriving at 1 pm (13,00). Will my room be ready, or if not, can I leave my luggage with you for a few hours?" or "what is the best way to get from the train station to your hotel? Is it a good idea to walk, since I have little baggage?" Or "could you please place me in a quiet room, away from street noise?" Anything that asks for them to respond and show that they recognize me. Or if not, to say, "we have no record of your reservation, maybe you are confused?" Etc.

I agree. We always reconfirm and for the reasons the posters above have noted.

I want to know there is NO discrepancy in the dates or price.

I end with "We can't wait to meet you" ! I have found that when I enter the B&B, I am greeted by my name as if I am a long lost relative!

Reconfirm everything about a month in advance. We didn't do that on our first trip to Italy, and the very first hotel we stayed at (in Varenna) had us arriving on the wrong day. They did not have a similar room available. This forced us to choose between either downgrading (bathroom down the hall) or upgrading (larger room with bathroom and view).

I always reconfirm, because that is my OCD! I stay in B&B's, not major hotels, so I write very short, simple notes in case the people don't speak much English.

I confirm a few days in advance, sometimes earlier. As Larry suggested, I ask a question that will prompt a reply (if I am confirming a week or more in advance).

Thank you all for your helpful responses!

I really like the idea of asking a question to assure a reply from the hotel or B&B host.

The two B&B's I'll be staying at have asked for an estimated arrival time, so that gives me a good opportunity to reconfirm a few days prior to my arrival as well.

I will most definitely reconfirm around a month in advance, thanks again! ;-)

Interestingly, someone just posted that their Paris hotel had no record of their reservation when they arrived to check in : https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france-reviews/bumped-off-a-confirmed-reservation-at-hotel-bastille-speria-in-paris-on-saturday-apr-15

Sounds like you didn't need any further convincing after all the replies here but your post and the Paris post have convinced ME that it's worth reconfirming.

Julie,

Thanks for sharing the Paris hotel post.

Sounds like you didn't need any further convincing after all the replies here but your post and the Paris post have convinced ME that it's worth reconfirming.

I would definitely hate to be in that unfortunate situation...

Great question, Priscilla! I always reconfirm at my B&B's with information on my arrival time.