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Hotel Room Service: A User's Guide

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Don't
It's best not to order anything that needs to be piping hot to taste good. Skip the chowder; go for gazpacho.

Do
Picture your order sitting around for 20 minutes, since it might take that long to reach you. A baked potato, not french fries; mac and cheese, not risotto.

Don't
Try not to phone for breakfast at peak time (think rush hour traffic). Order the night before.

Do
Ask what's in the salad; otherwise you never know what you're going to get. And avoid sogginess by getting the dressing on the side.

Don't
Never assume basic items aren't available just because they're not trendy enough to make it onto the menu. Listed or not, burgers, Caesar salads and grilled salmon are often the most popular requests.

Do
Be specific about what you want. Have the person taking your order repeat it back to you, and check your tray while the server waits.

Don't
You needn't tip twice. A hefty service charge is almost always included.