Hotel receptionist handing keys to man

Why You Should Call Your European Hotel A Few Days Before Checking In

By Nicole Cord-Cruz

VACATIONS

If you book a hotel in Europe, travel expert Rick Steves strongly advises to call and reconfirm your reservation before you pack your bags — unless you enjoy sleeping in lobbies.
Steves says, "Always email or call to reconfirm your room reservation a few days in advance. This gives you time to improvise in the unlikely event that something has gone wrong."
For smaller, mom-and-pop places, he even recommends calling on the day of your arrival to confirm your check-in time, regardless of whether you'll be on the dot or not.
Steves also says to save the email confirmation. "It can come in handy on the off chance the hotel loses track of your reservation (or the details of your room request)," he noted.