Hotel Blocks- how many?

I originally wanted to block rooms at one hotel until I learned they didn't have breakfast included (lol) and there was a max number of rooms that could be booked. I ended up blocking rooms at 3 hotels, which is 25 rooms in total. The hotels are different prices and if not booked a month before the wedding date, they will be released. I was unable to book more than 10 rooms at any of the hotels I had chosen.


For a different hotel, I was unable to block rooms because they had less than 50 rooms available for my date. Overall, it was a simple process.

View Quoted Comment Awesome! So I'm not crazy for thinking to block rooms at multiple locations! Thanks.

We only blocked rooms at 1 hotel. I was going to dona 2nd, cheaper one that was also nearby, but muktiple reviews mentioned bedbugs and I could not, in good conscience, direct my guests to a hotel that has a history of bedbugs. I recommend you read some Yelp reviews before you decide on any hotel. Unless there is a major event going on at the time and you forsee all rooms being booked up, I would maybe go with the mid-tier hotel and leave it at that. A block is not a summons, and people can book at other hotels and AirBnBs if they want to. Creating multiple room blocks just makes things a bit more complicated, especially if you are trying to coordinate a shuttle or gift bags. Every wedding I have ever been to has only had 1 hotel room block despite multiple hotels in the area.

We got a curtesy block of rooms at one hotel. We've listed other options on our wedding website, but we wanted to make it easy on us and just deal with one hotel for the block. We asked for the max number of rooms we can have, which is 25, and confirmed that if all rooms were booked and we needed more, that we could add on at no extra cost to us. The hotel also gave us a generous discount since we were requesting so many rooms. Curtesy blocks are great because you reserve those rooms for your guests, but if some aren't booked by the due date, then they go back to the general public and you aren't liable for any fees/costs.

I agree with Hannah, I'd go with the hotel that has a mid price range and have all rooms blocked off there. It's less complicated to keep everyone in one spot, but if you run out of rooms, or you have guests that don't want to stay there, then there are other options available. FBIL and his wife had rooms blocked at 2 hotels and it was kind of a nightmare for them lol. Things went wrong at the 2nd hotel, and they kept having to come over and speak with the staff (they stayed in hotel #1). Their 2nd hotel was also not as nice or accommodating as hotel #1, and it would've went a lot smoother if they had everyone in one spot.

You'll want to think abou transportation as well--are you offering a shuttle from both hotels to the venue, or are you expecting everyone to drive/uber/lyft there? Logistically, how simple or difficult will it be to get everyone from both hotels to your venue and then back to the hotels? We booked at 1 hotel, but could have booked a second one that is right across the street from the hotel we chose. Unfortunately, we seem to be getting married at a prime wedding time because all the other hotels were already full (or didn't have enough rooms for a block) when we were figuring this out back in March!

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I will have a car to bring my friends from the airport to the hotel, to the venue, and back again. However, most of my guests will be driving. As far as I know I only have 1 friend that will be flying and won't be in a position to rent a car. I've told her that I will secure a car for her. I have other friends flying in from Oregon/Michigan/California/Nevada, but they're all friends too and will probably rent a car big enough for them all.

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That's great! Then it really is up to what you think will be best! As a PP mentioned, you will have to deal with the hotel(s) leading up to, and possible on your wedding day, so if you think you'll be fine (and stress free) with that closer to the wedding day, you can do multiple blocks. If you think it would be easier to just deal with 1, you can list the other hotels and a general price-range for your guests to consider. We have different groups of friends/family who will most likely find their own AirBnB's for the weekend, but it won't change anything with our courtesy block. Once the deadline rolls around, the rooms are back at the normal price and we aren't out anything for them!

I am only blocking the one hotel. The closest hotel to my venue is expensive and not every guest will want to pay that amount. Also most of my guests are getting vacation rentals with their families and making it a week long vacation so I’m only blocking 10 rooms at a hotel about 15 mins away from the venue.

Following!

I contacted 2 hotels and ended up going with a block at one. I would say one would suffice unless your wedding will be huge. You can always suggest several on your wedding website if you have one.