U.S. Hotels
While hotels in the United States may be similar to hotels in your home country, there are some differences that you should keep in mind:
- You are not required to leave your passport with the front desk but will be asked to show proof of identity when checking into the hotel.
- You should keep your room key with you when going out of the hotel. Make sure to have it somewhere safe because there could be additional fees for losing the room key/card.
- If there is not a safe in your room then you should take all valuables with you when you leave the hotel for the day. Usually there is a safe in the lobby of the hotel that guests can use for items like a passport, jewelry or large amounts of money but it is becoming more common for hotels to keep a safe in the room for the guest’s convenience.
Extra Charges
In addition to taxes that will be added to your base room rate, there could be extra charges that come up on your final bill if you are not aware of them.
Mini-Bar
Some hotel rooms may have a small collection of snacks or beverages mostly alcoholic, kept in a small refrigerator in the room. These are NOT free and housekeeping will charge you for used products. In some cases there is even a sensor on the door of the refrigerator and if the door is open for a certain amount of time you could be charged for items in the fridge. If you know that you are not going to drink any of the items in there, it is safer to just leave it alone and don’t open the fridge door.
Room Service (ordering food to be delivered to the room from the hotel kitchen/restaurant)
Room service can be quite expensive so keep that in mind before you order anything from them, especially if they don’t list prices on the menu. Not only is the food price usually high, you are also expected to tip the hotel delivery person. We suggest instead that you order from restaurants in the city because the delivery fee is usually minimal and is often less expensive than room service or the hotel restaurant.
Pay Per View
Hotels often advertise movies or other special programming on the television in the room. While you may watch regular programming free of charge, the pay-per-view options are billed to your room.
Hotels near UCLA
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Flat Screen HDTV
- Smartphone/Tablet Docking Station
- Coffee Maker
- Hairdryer
- Iron & Ironing Board
- In-room Safe
- 100% Cotton Terry Robes
- Earth-friendly Premium Toiletries
Booking Websites
Booking a hotel can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not sure where to start. In addition to booking directly on a hotel’s official website, you can use online platforms that make it easier to compare prices, read reviews, and reserve rooms. Remember to contact the hotel afterwards to confirm that they have received your reservation.
Here are some popular, highly rated websites you can use to book your stay:
Please note that these external booking platforms are not affiliated with UCLA. The university does not endorse any specific service. We recommend that you review each platform’s terms and conditions carefully and proceed at your discretion.