Have you ever been dissatisfied with your hotel only to discover that it’s a disaster? This is all too common and can ruin your vacation entirely. Read on to learn some valuable tips that will help you find a good hotel at a good price.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Use Orbitz or Expedia for great prices. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. You may also be eligible for other discounts through AAA or AARP.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
You can stash your expensive items in the hotel safe.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. You may save ten percent or more. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. It can add up to equal a free night!
Use hotel search tools for hotels. These kinds of websites allow you to find great deals quickly.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Look for a hotel that gives you a lot of the things you are looking for.
Always look for online deals before booking your hotel room. It is your responsibility to find these savings. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have enough towels and linens? If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
Plan your trip as far in advance for the best rates. Many locations offer the best discounts if you book more than a month or two ahead of time. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent if you book months in advance.
Know when check-in time is. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will welcome your pet.
You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
There are some things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a trip. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.
To make sure that you get a couple’s massage when you’re staying somewhere, get your appointment booked as early as you are able to. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.
If you are a member of AAA, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You may not know that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You may be able to save upwards of five percent on hotels all over the country. It’s a way to save money that can add up over the nights.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They have benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. You might earn a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms are priced based on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
Hotel Restaurants
In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These hotel programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If you are getting a very low price on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You will save the most money when you ask about such a thing in advance.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Get an AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel.Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the complimentary car seat provided in some locations.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
It is extremely frustrating when you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to find out it’s closed.
If you require a rollaway bed or crib at your hotel, let the person know when making a reservation. Most hotels will supply these items on request, but they do have a limited supply. Some hotels will include an additional fee if you want to rent these items during your stay. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
Check if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. That can make it rife with germs and bacteria and who knows what. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
Find out how the policy on pets is. These hotels sometimes have odors sinking into the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee may cover totally or partially the extra cleaning involved.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. Occasionally, a hotel overbooks and your booked room is unavailable. They might try and send you to a different hotel. Try to avoid this if you can, but if not, make sure that you are given a room that is equal to or better than the one you booked. They should also provide you with transportation to get to the other hotel.
You should understand that early hotel check ins are not usually possible. Plan your trip right or you don’t want to wait. The room prior to the last guest leaves. If you do arrive early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Don’t get that bottled water and open it! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Nonetheless, it is better to bring along a water filtration pitcher and reusable water bottle and filter your own water.
Some hotels do not offer these amenities at all. Talk about these things when you reserve your reservations.
Don’t decide you need new linens as you are sitting in your hotel room. It seems like a common thing people try to get away with, but the hotel will know when you do this and may charge you later for the missing items. If you really are in love with their linens, see if that hotel is willing to sell them to you.
Never actually check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it is absolutely necessary. Some hotels charge early departure.When you make your reservation, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, if you depart early they will lose money.
You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Be sure and compare the rates on different sites, as some will offer better deals than others.
Don’t open the water! You will likely be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You may decide to reach for that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels know this and have hiked up the price of that tempting bottled water. Check if the gym instead; they may have free water. A better option to simply bring your own bottles.
Don’t book your trip during peak season if you are looking to get a good price. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. Book when the hotel is empty for the best deals. You’re going to have a much higher chance of scoring a deal.
Having read this article completely, you now know how to find the perfect hotel without overpaying. When you know how to look for a hotel reservation deal, it’s quite easy. Keep this information in mind when booking and staying at a hotel.
If you must secure a room when you are driving to a location, visit a rest stop in the state you are going to. Pick up a few tourist brochures which should have hotel information and possibly even discounts. This will help you call ahead and reserve the room that’s right for you.