Outdoor Activities: The Top Health Benefits of Wakeboarding

“Some people choose activities which give them please; while others seek pleasure in every activity they perform.”-Sukant Ratnakar

The Philippines is known for its many beaches that almost every Philippine province would have its own respective body of water. These beaches and other bodies of water gave rise to the popularity of water sports such as water skiing, diving, surfing and more recently, wakeboarding. If water-related activities pique your interest; you might want to try your hand in wakeboarding as well. The great thing about wakeboarding is the fact that what you are doing does not feel like exercise at all. The water-sport would not only challenge you both physically and mentally, but it would also be an opportunity for fun and egress for stress if you may.

Apart from being an excellent activity to execute on the water, wakeboarding is also an avenue for exercise insomuch that it offers you various health and fitness benefits. However, as you would be enjoying yourself so much in the water, wakeboarding would not feel like it is an exercise at all. In any case, if this is a water-sport you have always thought of attempting in Republic Wakepark or elsewhere, here are just some of the health and fitness advantages it would afford you:

1.) Great exercise

Inevitably, any sports activity would be considered exercise in one way or another and wakeboarding is no exception. However, while wakeboarding might be construed as a fitness activity by some, it is vastly considered as a leisure activity by many owing to the enjoyable nature of this water-sport. In this regard, wakeboarding would not feel like exercise at all and would instead feel like something you would do in the pursuit of fun. However, it is undeniable that the sport itself comes with a myriad of benefits that comes with strenuous exercises. As the water-sport requires strength in holding the rope, you can expect to have toned arms. Essentially, you might want to consider it as an effective full body exercise—particularly if you are the type of wakeboarder who has a proclivity for performing aerial tricks. In any case, it is an excellent activity to keep fit and healthy.

2.) Improves flexibility

Wakeboarding involves a series of jumps and turns—all of which you have to perform while you are on the wakeboard. While you are not expected to execute every one of them perfectly, a degree of flexibility is required for you to mitigate and avert any possibility of injuries. In this regard, agility would be a skill necessary to possess if one wishes to get on a wakeboard. Being sprightly, lithe and pliant on your feet could work to your advantage. Resultantly, these are also skills you would learn to develop in the long run.

3.) Strengthens arm and leg muscles

A lot of flexing would be involved in wakeboarding. Congruently, you would also need to resist and hold your position for periods at a time either to maintain balance or to execute an aerial trick. More often than not, you would have to allow yourself to build on these static positions and only moving from it if you wish to perform any trick or execute and technique. Holding on to these positions for so long would develop leg muscles and strengthen your arms which would then result in stronger arms and toned calves.

4.) Improves your swimming skills

Undoubtedly, you are going to end up in the water more times than you think especially if you are still a novice. In fact, even seasoned wakeboarders would get wiped out now and then in the execution of aerial tricks, so expect to do a lot of swimming as well. In this regard, you would need to develop your swimming skills if you wish to pursue your passion for wakeboarding.

5.) Develops hand-eye coordination and balance

Stability and balance are pivotal skills if you wish to get anywhere in wakeboarding. In fact, some would even say that these two skills are the very foundation for the water-sport. Consequently, core strength would be an integral component of this sport especially as the majority of the tricks performed while wakeboarding would require jumps, fast hand switches, and rotations. In this regard, you need to possess good hand eye coordination while being able to balance yourself on the wakeboard.

 

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Delectable Eats: Four Qualities that Make a Good Restaurant

“Restaurants are like having children: it is fun to make them, maybe, but then you have them for good and bad. You are going to have to raise them, and if something goes wrong when they are 30 years old, they will still be your little boy.”-Wolfgang Puck

What makes a good restaurant?

Although much of what makes a restaurant recognizable is hinged on its ability to serve quality and delectable food, that is only one aspect (albeit a crucial one). If we wish to know what makes a restaurant truly great, we need to reexamine why the average individual wishes to dine out first.

Apart from not having to prepare the food himself or herself, dining out has also been seen as an avenue for relaxation and a way to unwind insomuch that it can even be considered as a leisure activity.

Unless you are perpetually dining it fast food joints, you can readily see how dining out in restaurants should be considered an experience. In this regard, food only plays one element while there would be a myriad more factors at play that would contribute to an elevated and better dining experience. They might be readily apparent, while some would require a little more meticulous scrutiny to see. So, if you are wondering whether your favorite Nuvali restaurants or elsewhere will truly give you the dining experience you deserve, here are things you ought to keep an eye on:

1.) Quality service

A particular restaurant can serve the best food in the world and would still pale in comparison to other restaurants owing to its inept food service. What indeed makes a restaurant great is how its staff deal with their diners and the kind of experience they give them. If the service is rather subpar, a restaurant can expect customers to repeat the same kind of impression to their friends, and regardless of how good the food might be, the restaurateur would soon find himself in wanting for diners. In this regard, while food preparation remains a paramount concern for restaurateurs, so should the quality of service be. After all, as they say: Great service can lift average food, but great food can never make up for inept service. Good restaurants aim to have their diners leave not only full and satisfied, but happy as well.

2.) Good décor

Part of what makes a restaurant great is how tastefully it is decorated. After all, the ambiance is key, and it actually plays a vital role in making you enjoy your food. Great restaurants never underestimate the value of adding something beautiful to enhance the overall aesthetics of their interiors. A well-designed and thoroughly maintained space would make for an excellent dining experience after all and at times would serve as a preamble to what the diners can expect from the food and service.

3.) A good menu

Menus are the initial things that would give customers an insight into what they can expect from the restaurant. In this regard, restaurateurs should curate a menu that is not only diverse and adaptable to many palates but would create one that is distinct and identifiable to the restaurant and its theme. Moreover, menus should be appealing enough to entice the diner not only to place an order, but also to have them come back to try the rest of them as well. Menus laden with well-selected food pictures along with a descriptive caption should be enough to capture and hold the interest of a diner. With this in mind, anything that is written on the menu should be carefully checked insomuch that spelling, grammatical and syntax errors are non- existent.

4.) Consistency

Good restaurants can expect to have their diners come back, and in time, these very customers might even become regulars. However, it is not enough to deliver an excellent service most of the time, a great restaurant should never fail and should provide only the best service every single time. In this regard, diners can feel like they can go back to it again and again and expect the same kind of treatment and the same sort of food. Good restaurants are not only commendable, but they are also excellent enough to be recommended to relatives and friends.

 

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The Top Five Reasons to Dine Out this Week

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like an let the food fight it out inside.” -Mark Twain

There are a lot of reasons for dining out.

For one, you might not be so skillful in the kitchen as you wish to be plus you actually want to enjoy the masterful creations of seasoned chefs and have a slice of their expertise if you may. On the other hand, dining out can be quite exorbitant depending on where you wish to eat. To others, it might even be considered as somewhat of a minor luxury.

However, all that aside, we can all agree that going out for a good meal is always a highlight. It would not only nourish your body, but it would take away all the stressors in your life—at least in just that moment. There is just something about savoring every bite of a good meal that is prepared just for you and in one way or another, it is both a gustatory and gastronomic experience. In this regard, one can say that dining out is one of the easiest avenues for rewarding yourself after a busy week. So, if you have been incredibly productive for the past few days, go ahead and give yourself a treat in the form of eating in one of Nuvali’s restaurants or elsewhere of your preference. In any case, here are some of the good reasons why you should dine out this coming weekend:

1.) You need a break

If you are constantly preparing food for your family, then it would be nice to have food prepared for you for once—even if you have to pay for it. Apart from not having to prepare and cook the food, dining out would also effectively eliminate the possibility of doing dishes. Regardless of who you might be, it is a universal truth that dish-washing is that one chore everyone hates to do. At the very least, it is a tedious task. So, why not avoid it altogether and dine out with your family? Apart from enjoying a meal professionally made for you to enjoy, you and your family would not have to argue about who gets to do the dishes for that night.

2.) You cannot imagine making complicated recipes at home

While cooking tutorials, and online recipes are readily available to stream online whenever you wish, you simply do not have the time to do it. Yes, eggs Benedict for breakfast sounds like a delight, and a wagyu steak dinner is divine, but unfortunately, you neither have the ingredients nor the time to do it before or after work. Furthermore, you are not entirely sure if your initial execution would turn out right. So, why not address all these simply by dining out? Try out that dish you have always wanted and maybe when you have enough time, you would learn how to simulate the very same recipe.

3.) You all get to taste something different

Generally, what you cook at home is for everyone’s consumption. In this regard, if you opted to make mac and cheese for the night, then everyone gets to have mac and cheese. When you dine out, however, each of your family members gets to choose a dish to their like. As dining out does not necessarily have any rules on food being a communal thing, you can even get to taste what your spouse and children are having. With this in mind, you can taste a whole range of dishes granted that everyone orders something different and that you are a member of that group as well.

4.) You get to be pampered by the dedicated staff

Restaurants typically have a team of servers and dedicated staff to ensure you get the best dining experience possible. A good restaurant makes certain they only employ diligent and hardworking employees who are committed to giving their patrons and diners a positive dining experience. If you wish to be pampered while eating good food, you might as well dine out and sample the offerings of your local restaurant.

5.) Try something new

When you dine at home, it can be rather easy to keep on repeating the same recipes over and over again. In fact, you might fall into the comfort zone of cooking the same things regularly because they are easy to make or because the ingredients are not expensive. In this regard, you would miss out on trying out the things that are outside your comfort zone. Restaurants give you a myriad of options and would allow you to expand your culinary horizons and may even be an avenue to traveling the world—solely with the sense of taste.

 

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Weekend Activities: Three Reasons Your Next Vacation Should be a Staycation

“Unwinding is very, very important. You have got to make sure that you are not thinking about what you are going to do the next day or what you did that day before you go to bed.” -Dr. V. Mohan

You feel overworked and tired.

In your opinion, you are in dire need of a long holiday. Unfortunately, booking a vacation is more stress that it is worth. Not to mention that going on one requires you to plan and budget for it. So, you might as well stay in the city and enjoy your weekend, right? Well, truth be told, it is now very much possible to stay in the city and not go very far just to have a weekend respite from all the stressors in life. Furthermore, it allows you to rediscover your city in ways you never imagined.

While a full-blown vacation certainly trumps a staycation, we can all admit that there are a time and place for it. If you do not have time to dedicate or money to spend on one, you might as well settle for the alternative. After all, being on staycation practically puts you in the same mindset as individuals on a holiday would. Plus, it allows you to spend quality time with your family without having to spend exorbitantly. So, you might want to check out your city if there is a nearby Seda hotel in Nuvali. In any case, here are some of the excellent reasons why your next vacation ought to be a staycation:

1.) Save money

Domestic vacations do not cost as much as vacations taken internationally—that much is incredibly obvious. On an average, you spend about $587 on a four-night vacation that you spend at a hotel at home. Prices would vary depending on the hotel or resort you book and the number of days you intend to stay. International staycations, on the other hand, would constrain you not only to spend for your accommodations but on airfare as well. Domestic vacations effectively eliminate this leaving you with more cash to spend on entertainment, food and the like.

2.) It allows you to rediscover your city

When was the last time you went someplace new in your city? Have you tried the new restaurants in your vicinity that most people are raving about in social media? When life gets in the way, chances are, you would not have much time to do so. However, when you opt for a staycation instead of a full-blown vacation, it would be your chance to see all those. Furthermore, you will get to know your city better. You might just be surprised at how much you will find out because regardless of how long you have stay rooted in one place, there will always be new places to explore.

3.) You do not need to pack

Unless you are booking a nearby hotel or resort in your city, then there is hardly any reason for you to pack. Even then, packing should not be so much of an issue considering that you just live nearby and anything you might forget can be easily retrieved at home. For some individuals, this might be the number one reason why they favor staycations over vacations. After all, packing can be a lot of stress and it can be incredibly frustrating once you realize that you left important items at home.

4.) Anxiety and stress associated with travel can be avoided

No doubt, there is always a sense of apprehension and even foreboding when one is anticipating to travel. After all, traveling can be a lot to take in—particularly if you are traveling internationally. From figuring out flights to deciding how to budget your money and the limited amount of time, traveling can be a lot of stress. Staycations are an effective workaround to this as you would effectively eliminate all of the stress that goes into planning a vacation. Moreover, you only plan as much as you wish but for the most part, staycations require no planning at all, and you can have just as much of a rejuvenating holiday as you would have you been traveling internationally.

 

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Aqua Sports and Hydro Activities 101: What Every Beginning Should Know about Wake Boarding

“Water: The fountain of youth, better skin, less cravings, more energy, better digestion, less headaches, a higher metabolism, better mood, and an ability to concentrate more. That is just from drinking it. Getting out and playing in a big whole body of it is a whole other ballgame”-Author Unknown

So, you are desirous of an activity that would both strengthen your core and upper muscles while getting wet in doing so. With that considered, you have decided to take up wake boarding.

After all, not only does it exercise your muscles, but it would make you look cool while doing it as well. Unfortunately, learning how to wake board is not quite as easy and straightforward as some novices would wish it to be. It takes a lot of balance, stamina and a degree of patience as well. Much like any other sport there is, learning it will be difficult and undoubtedly, it would take a lot of time and perseverance on your part. However, if you are persistent and sure in this endeavor, then soldier on. However, do take note that you might not get it right on your first try and it takes a lot of training before you can fully master the sport.

In any case, if you have been planning to learn how to wake board whether in republic wake park or elsewhere, here are some of the things you need to know:

1.) You will fall…a lot!

Maintaining balance on a wake board is already hard by itself—especially when it starts to move around the water. Every wake boarder is already well aware of how often you would fall down and even on your face sometimes. More often than not, you will not be able to pinpoint why exactly you fell. It may be that one moment you are doing fine and even waving to your friends, and in the next second, you are face-planting and drinking in lake water. The best and seasoned wake boarders are even known to experience this every once in a while. Unfortunately, you probably will not understand what went wrong. It might be your execution was wrong, or the way you placed your foot was off. However, you can rely on your instructor to assist you in refining your technique. Heed their advice the next time you take on the wake board.

2.) It will be tough on your arms

One of the reasons why wake boarding builds arm strength is because the sport itself is incredibly taxing on your arms alone. For the first few minutes, you might not be so bothered by it; you can still pull the rope. But after a few minutes or so, your arms will start to throb, and a dull ache would develop. Ten minutes in and your arms would feel like they are about to fall off. Brace through the pain though, as this is normal and eventually, you will get used to it. As a result, your arm strength would be a lot stronger as well.

3.) It will be easier when you are goofy footed

If you have already tried other sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing then you would have previously assessed whether you are regular or goofy footed. However, if you are unsure, then one way to determine whether you are is to think about which foot you would naturally kick a ball with. This foot will be your resultant back foot. Once you are in the water, you would be able to tell which foot will be your dominant foot for wake boarding. Whichever feels more natural to you will inevitably be the foot that will point forward.

4.) Water hurts

Most beginners have developed this false sense of security thinking that wake boarding would in no way be harmful. However, much like the case of extreme sports, wake boarding can be potentially painful—especially when you slam yourself in water. On the outset, water might look like a soft landing but once you start skipping along the surface, take a tumble or even catch an edge, you will realize that it is not as smooth as you had initially thought it would be—especially when you are running on high or full speed.

5.) Use a shorter rope when you first start

Shorter ropes make it easier for wake board beginners to stand up and balance themselves on the board. Shorter ropes would mean that the beginner would be in the narrower portion of the wake. Moreover, it is much easier to take instructions yelled by the instructor seeing as you would be in proximity to the boat. As you progress, you can increase the length of the rope used. Longer ropes are for seasoned and advanced riders who wish to gather more speed and air in executing some aerial techniques and tricks. However, as you are still starting out, start with a rope length that is somewhere between 30 and 50 feet.

 

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Romantic Evenings: Three Great Reasons Why the Movies Make a Great First Date

”These days, dates mean a dinner and movie-falling back on the old standards. I think that is just too simple and great to share—whether good or bad—and then discuss it afterwards. It is just a great way to spend an evening.” -Christina Applegate

In today’s generation, there has been no doubt that the concept of watching movies at home is synonymous with an actual date. In fact, going to the cinema has become an activity that is saved for special occasions. Usually, these activities are few and far in between. After all, why watch a movie when you pretty much have an entire library of movies at your behest with a Netflix subscription? Sure, you might want to watch what is currently showing, but what would waiting a few weeks or even days be–especially if it meant watching it for free on a website that hosts it? From that standpoint, it seems pretty nifty, right? While true indeed, technological advancements and innovations have effectively dispensed with the actual need to go out and see movies, but you might find that they make for great first dates. After all, it is a straightforward way to execute a date without planning in great detail save for knowing what you and your date would watch and where you would eat if you wish to have a meal after. Sure, it is understandable why some people would rather not bring their dates to the movies seeing as all you would really do is sit in silence for a couple of hours or so without engaging in social interaction.

However, while it does not really provide much avenue for socializing, you would be surprised how sitting in silence with someone for a couple of hours can actually be quite telling about a person. In any case, if you have any plans on catching a movie this coming weekend with your date, here are some of the advantages you ought to keep in mind before you start checking out those Solenad movie schedules or theaters elsewhere:

1.) Silence is golden

Although you may have to sit through a feature length film in silence for a couple of hours, how your date handles that can be quite telling. In this time and age, silence has been reduced to staring and scrolling at our phone screen. Real silence has been rendered overrated and obsolete. Today, it has become so rare for two people to just sit in silence and enjoy each other’s company. When you find something like that, it would be special and unique. Movies are great avenues for that. Gauge how your date conducts themselves, plus watching a movie does not mean you have to sit in agonizing silence for a couple of hours. It is an opportunity for small talk after all. You can make comments all throughout the movie provided that you do not disturb anyone or make too much noise.

2.) Body Language

One of the incredible things about physical interactions is the fact that you can read and express emotions through said body language. It does not matter what relationship you might have—whether it is platonic, business or romantic, body language is pivotal. The fact is, there is so much you can say with just body language alone and at times, you would even say more through said demeanor than actually speaking. In this regard, the sentiment that actions speak louder than words would ring true. With this in mind, observe your date. Are they engaged? Or are they bored? Are they comfortable? Gauge their body language and their overall demeanor and plan what your next move would be.

3.) A check test

It is no question that money is a significant factor in most relationships. In this regard, you might want to check how your date treats it at the incipient stages of your relationship—which means during the very first time you go out. While there are some women who believe that their dates should shoulder the entire expenses for the night, some women might not be so comfortable with that and insist on splitting the bill. It all boils down to your preferences and how your date reacts to what you suggest. Watching a movie allows you to explore how your date views relationship. Does she expect you to pay without so much of thanks? Or does she insist on paying her way? Furthermore, it gives you an insight on how well she would compromise. If you do insist on paying, does she offer to get movie snacks at the very least? Or does she expect you to pay for that as well?

 

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Etiquette 101: The Unspoken Rules of Dining at Restaurants

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” –Luciano Pavarotti

At some point in our lives, we are inevitably going to dine out and enjoy a meal prepared by someone else. However, regardless of whether you are dining at a multi-awarded Michelin star restaurant, a humble eatery joint, in one of the Nuvali restaurants or even a fast food restaurant chain, know that you should conduct yourself in a manner that befits the place. In this regard, you should never forget your dining etiquette nor common manners and good courtesy when you are dining in a location other than your own. Unfortunately, some people have erroneously associated payment for service to free reign as to how you comport yourself. This strong sense of entitlement among inconsiderate diners could not be any further from the truth. After all, you may be paying for a service, but that does not automatically give you an excuse for being an
unsatisfactory human. To truly elevate your dining experience, know that you have to do your part as well. A combination of proper dining etiquette, recognition for unspoken social contracts and basic courtesy are some of the elements that keep our collective dining culture intact and thriving.

As part of the dining clientele, you should do your part as well and make the entire experience easy and comfortable not only for you but for other patrons as well. However, as most of these etiquette rules remain primarily unspoken, it might be best to be aware of the rudimentary ones at the very least. So, if you find yourself dining someplace else, here are some of the things you ought to keep in mind:

1.) Do not let your kids run around

If you have to bring kids with you, make sure that they behave themselves while you are at the restaurant. Do not leave them to run around where they can bump into servers who are carrying hot plates of food. Furthermore, when you are seated in a booth, ensure that they behave while they are seated and try to keep them as quiet as possible. Having your kids behave ensures not only their safety but the other diners’ as well. Kids who run amok are considered a nuisance in busy restaurants, and if you cannot control them, it would be best if you left them at home.

2.) Tip the servers

Not only is this unspoken rule elementary, but it is also a primary sign of courtesy to your servers as well. Unless you an additional service charge is included on your total bill, you are expected to tip your servers. To be on the safe side, at least tip them ten percent. Do not be a cheapskate and tip your servers accordingly. Take note: If you can afford to dine out, you can very much afford to tip your servers.

3.) Do not ask your servers for take-home meals only to eat them at the restaurant

A common practice among parsimonious diners is to ask their servers to have their meals to go only for them to eat it at the restaurant—just so they can avoid tipping them. Some individuals might view this as a creative way to save money while dining out, but to be quite honest, this practice is incredibly miserly—not to mention rude. You might have saved your servers the hassle of cleaning up your dirty dishes by using disposable ones, but that does not mean that they are not rendering you service which you should pay them for. Apart from occupying a booth that could have been given to another paying customer; you are also subjecting them to the cleanup of the very table you have just occupied. Your refusal to tip your server speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. If you cannot tip your servers, eat at home.

4.) Get off the phone when placing an order

Regardless of whether you are placing an order at a five-star restaurant or at a fast food chain, be sure to give the server your undivided attention. In this regard, you should tell them your order face to face and get off the phone as a common courtesy. Having the server wait for you to finish your call is not only inconsiderate but incredibly disrespectful. Furthermore, you would be effectively annoying the rest of the customers queuing behind you by holding up the line. Take note: You are only one of the series of diners and patrons your server is catering to. At the very least, be thoughtful enough to give them your orders immediately when they are ready to take it.

5.) Be patient and courteous

All things considered, everything listed in this article would just boil down to being a decent human—which means being courteous and patient. If a server is busy tending to other tables, do not tap your foot impatiently while waiting to be served. That is just incredibly rude. Remember, the ratio for a server to tables is probably 1 for every 3-5 tables (or maybe even more), so be a little understanding if your server has not approached you in the last five minutes you have called their attention. More often than not, they know you have called them but are busy attending to another diner at the moment. At the very least, wait your turn; you will get tended to as well—just be patient.

 

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Hotel Hacks: Four Creative Ways to Maximize and Improve Your Stay

“The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life.”-George Bernard Shaw

Today, with the perpetual hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can be quite the challenge to find enough time to pry away from our monitors and enjoy a weekend or even a day just to ourselves. As it is highly unlikely to book a week-long sojourn on such short notice, most busy individuals would go for the alternative which is to book short trips around town or book a stay in one of the city’s prestigious and luxury hotels. However, as the prices of these hotels are seldom at affordable rates, it would be understandable why most of us would regard them as lavish expenditures we pander ourselves every once in a while. In this regard, it would be very much understandable why individuals who elect to stay in luxury hotels in lieu of extended vacations would very much want to maximize their stay. After all, it is not a treat you get to indulge yourself in every single day, so making the most out of it and improving your overall stay would not only be reasonable but cost-effective as well. However, capitalizing on one’s stay can mean a variety of things for different individuals. For some it might mean taking as many of the hotel toiletries as possible, while for the rest it would mean taking full advantage of the hotel’s free breakfast buffet by partaking the feast on an empty stomach. Whatever your techniques might be and so long as it works would be entirely up to you.

However, if you wish to explore alternatives other than simply sneaking fresh rolls into your bag from the buffet then you might want to check this list out. So, if you have a projected stay in Seda Hotel Nuvali or elsewhere anytime soon, here are some of the ways you can maximize your stay:

1.) Arrive early, stay late

One of the best ways to maximize your stay is to arrive early and stay late. In fact, this is an elementary trick if you wish to extend your time and simply enjoy yourself amidst your hotel’s room splendid offerings of luxury. This is particularly useful for individuals who are staying in a hotel only for an overnight stay—which in retrospect, can seem rather short—especially if you arrive late. If you have a loyalty card, hotels will usually grant your request based on availability. However, if you are not part of any loyalty program, just be sure to check in early and request for a late checkout. At the very least, the hotel can grant you an extra hour at the most in checking out. Just be sure to give the reception staff a head’s up about your plans.

2.) Celebrate good times

Hotels are in the industry of service and considering that the competition is rather stiff, hotels—particularly luxury ones—capitalize on providing their customers with exemplary service. In this regard, they would always put their clients’ needs on the forefront of their considerations—a priority if you may. After all, one excellent way to ensure that a client would leave a good review or come back to transact business or stay with them again is to give them a memorable service. This means that usually, hoteliers have a flair for providing their customers with surprise and delight. With this in mind, you should book your stays in line with an important occasion such as an anniversary, birthday and the like. Just think of something worth celebrating and give your hotel receptionist a head’s up. From there, you can expect your room to be laden with a gift—may that be in the form of chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne, a cheese plate or even a complimentary upgrade. Call in advance and let them know what you are celebrating. To ensure they got the message, casually mention it to the desk agent that you selected the hotel specifically for the occasion you are celebrating.

3.) Research beforehand

Before checking in, know what you can expect from your hotel and this includes what amenities you can use—especially those that you can use for free. Research in advance to avoid incidental fees and extra charges. Go to the hotel’s website beforehand and check out the perks you can avail of for free and the incidentals you have to pay for while you are there. To be sure, check with the agent you are speaking to or confirm with the receptionist once you arrive.

4.) Talk with conviction

Regardless of whether you are requesting an upgrade, lodging a complaint, asking for an extension or a room change, be sure you talk with conviction. Furthermore, you become so much more persuasive if you can speak the jargon as well. Hotel verbiage such as guest profile, occupancy, satisfaction and the like would guarantee you more results and would instantly give the staff the impression that you are a seasoned traveler who is well aware of your rights. However, this does not mean that you talk in a condescending manner. By all means, assert your rights but stay polite and courteous. Suggest a solution that you think is fair and see if this is something the hotel can work with. Remember to begin all of your requests with the person you are transacting with. If you are unhappy, escalate your complaints to the manager.

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