People do make mistakes; it's unfortunate but inevitable that some of these mistakes will disturb your vacation. Rather than letting a problem take over your holiday, do what you can to fix it and move on. Don't allow your trip to be marred by trivial quarrels that explode out of control.

Talk to the Right Person

Always try to speak with the most senior staff member to discuss your complaint. Don't waste your time and energy talking to someone who has no authority to arrange a solution. If your hotel shower is broken, for instance, complaining to the maid is probably pointless. The maid will call a manager, not a plumber; you might as well call the manager yourself. And a busy maid might not speak with the manager until hours later, while you and your family get more and more impatient.

Focus on the Solution, Not on Blame

Angry tirades often reduce your chance of getting assistance. Instead, keep your cool and try to calmly explain exactly what went wrong and how you propose that it be fixed. The adage "You'll get more bees with honey than with vinegar" should be your mantra.

Many people become obsessed with assigning blame for the problem rather than focusing on possible solutions. Worrying about who was at fault is generally a waste of energy, and it derails the discussion away from the ultimate goal of finding a solution. Rather than making a hotel manager defensive by accusing her of idiotically losing your reservation, for example, try to get her on your side so that you can work toward a solution together. You'll almost certainly get a more cooperative and prompt response.

Stay Flexible

It's amazing how people are sometimes so dead-set on a specific solution that they fail to recognize an even better deal when it is offered to them. Don't reject alternative solutions out-of-hand; try to remain open enough that you can at least briefly consider multiple possibilities. Moving your whole family to the jointly-owned hotel next door might initially seem like a real hassle, but it might be worth it if you got a luxury suite with a panoramic view.

Consider Leaving If You Are Still Not Happy

If all negotiations fail and no acceptable solutions have been offered or implemented, you might consider giving up and moving on to greener pastures: change hotels, get off the cruise ship at the next port, or re-book your flight. By refusing to accept the problem, you will strengthen your case for a refund once you get home.