Travel / Outdoors

Q. I'm going on a cruise with my best friend. We booked an inside cabin months ago because it was the cheapest option. I've done a decent amount of research since then (yes, I know, I should have done it earlier), and I am sure I'd hate being in a windowless room for a week. I'd get claustrophobic. I called the cruise line and learned we could upgrade to a cabin with a balcony for a reasonable extra charge. What can I do? I'd rather not go than stay in that cabin, but I know she can't afford the upgrade.

A. Well, since you know you should have done your research before you booked, I won't lecture you about that. But let this be a lesson to everyone else: Make sure you understand what you're getting before you book a trip. The cheapest option is not a good deal if it will make you miserable.

But since it is your fault, you have three options: Deal with the windowless room, pay the entire cost of the upgrade yourself or stay home. If you choose to stay home, you still have to pay for half the inside cabin, and your friendship might be ruined. You're the one who needs the balcony; ergo, you should foot the bill.

Pets in hotel rooms

Q. If you have pets in your hotel room, should you tip housekeeping extra? We are relocating and need to drive from our old home to our new one with our two cats. We will stop overnight in a pet-friendly hotel. I've never done this before, though. Do you need to tip extra even if you're paying a "pet fee"on top of the regular room rate?

A. It depends on how much of a mess your cats make. If, when you leave, the room doesn't look or smell worse than it would have without the cats there, then I don't think you necessarily need to tip extra. If, however, your cats made an enormous mess, you should leave a bigger tip.