Wedding Tips: Room Blocks and Transportation

More than likely you will have some guests that are coming in from out of town. Or you and your guests may want to celebrate a little more and not drive home that night. Regardless of which takes place, one thing that will help guests with their planning is a room block in a hotel. Every hotel is different so make sure you call to get specifics details of where your planning on doing a room block.

A couple of things to ask when you call:

1.       How many rooms can you block?

2.       Is there a charge if the room isn’t filled?

3.       How long will the rooms be held in this block?

4.       Can I drop off things to be left in the room before my guest checks in? (this is of course if you plan on giving these guests a welcome basket/bag)

5.       Are there any discounts for my guests booking with you?

6.       What other amenities can my guests expect? (free wi-fi, free breakfast, gym, etc)

7.       Is there a shuttle we can use between the reception and here 

a.       Is there a fee? How long can we use the shuttle?

Another thing to keep in mind is how close will this hotel with the room block actually be to the place you are having your reception? More than likely people will be drinking, which can be dangerous if someone gets reckless. Of course we all hope that everyone will be smart, but sometimes people will let their guard down because of all the fun they’re having.

Welcome/Hangover bag for guests

One thing you can do to fight recklessness is take a look at local transportation companies. Not all will break the bank, so do your research. When you find some that you may be interested in, take a look at Groupon or LivingSocial and see if they have any promotions running. Again you can also see if the hotel where your room block is, has a shuttle that you may be able to use. I don’t think any would let you or your guests drive the shuttle, but maybe getting a driver is something you can work out with your room block.

Another option is if you are having your reception close to where your friends, family and people you know are, you may be able to “hire” someone’s kid (of legal driving age of course) to drive your guests back and forth.

There are many options with the transportation and your guests will certainly appreciate not having to worry about how to get to the hotel.

Happy Planning!