Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky

Reviewed by Nancy

Do you stay in hotels? Whether the answer is that you visit hotels constantly, or that you only find yourself in a hotel every few years, you might want to have a look at Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky.

A veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr. Tomsky has written a memoir of disgruntled customers, outrageous circumstances, unreasonable managers and head spinning advice as to how to successfully negotiate the hotel landscape.

Mr. Thomsky, who has worked in luxury hotels in New Orleans and New York, provides the answers to many questions that have long been swirling around in my head.

For example: When you stay in a hotel, is your room likely to be scrutinized by hotel employees when you are not present? Oh, yes, definitely!

When you arrive at your newly assigned room and the room card works once, but then refuses to work again, is this just an accident or is something sinister afoot? Oh, Baby! It’s no accident, believe me. Review in your mind the interaction you had with the desk clerk. Was it pleasant? Were you nice? Was the clerk nice? Or did said clerk seem to be in a malevolent mood?

Do the valet parking employees abuse your car when out of your sight? Well, I’ve always liked to park my own car anyway.

Are the drinking glasses in the room cleaned properly? Is it really okay to use them? Our author suggests that you use the plastic glasses instead of the glass glasses. (There is a good reason for this.)

If you book your room on the internet will you be likely to get one of the desirable rooms in the hotel or will you end up next to the ice machine or the elevator?  Well, do you enjoy the convenience of being near the ice machine or the elevator? Then go ahead and use the internet.

Is it wise to tip the desk clerk upon check-in? You bet!

Become a savvy traveler able to impress and awe desk clerks and bellhops the world over.  Get the best deals, the best service and the best rooms. And always, always remember: those desk clerks and bell hops might not make very much money; they might not enjoy prestigious occupations; they likely work really terrible hours; AND they have the power to make your hotel visit nice or miserable.