Q: Thanks to a new job requiring business travel, I have elite status with a hotel chain’s loyalty program. I’ve been getting gifts in my room — a basket of fruit, chocolates and, on a couple of occasions, half-bottles of wine. I have two questions. First, am I supposed to tip or thank somebody for these things? And second, is it bad form to ask if I can swap the gift for something else? I’m pregnant, and thus had no use for the half-bottle of wine that was in my hotel room in Boston a few weeks ago. But I’d have gladly swapped it for the bottle of Perrier in the mini-bar. A: You don’t need to tip — these are gifts. But it would be nice to thank the hotel, perhaps upon checkout. You could also call the hotel manager or leave a quick note in the room. I’m sure they’re not expecting you to do any of these things, but I bet they’d appreciate it.
I don’t know about swapping the gift for something else, though. If you don’t like the gifts you’ve been getting, check your loyalty program’s website, because sometimes you can put in special instructions (e.g., “I’m pregnant — no alcohol, please”) or specify a favorite beverage.
You could always call the manager and say, “Thanks for the lovely bottle of wine. I appreciate it so much, but I’m pregnant and won’t be able to drink it. I just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to send someone by to pick it up.”
That opens the door for a thoughtful manager to say, “How kind of you to call. Would you like something else instead?” You may not get that response, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
Just don’t make it sound like you’re trying to wheedle a fancier gift out of them. “Can I have that half-bottle of expensive champagne in the mini-bar instead of this cheap chardonnay?” would be greedy. Or try a different chain. The Kimpton Hotels loyalty program, for example, offers frequent guests a “raid the mini-bar” card — it’s a credit for a certain amount of snacks and drinks, and you get to pick which ones.
Q: If someone sitting near me on a plane reeks of perfume, I get a horrible headache. Don’t you think they should stop selling perfume in airports?
A: That sounds a bit drastic, but I do think people should refrain from dousing themselves with perfume before boarding a plane. If you’re in an airport shop and want to test a fragrance, spray it on a paper strip rather than directly on your arm. (And FYI, if you’ve been traveling a while and smell rank, do not attempt to cover your BO with tons of perfume. The only cure is a shower.)
