There are lots of hotels out there. The quality of services and prices vary widely. When you’re trying to go on a vacation, you want a great room at a price that doesn’t break your budget. Keep reading to learn about finding great hotels.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
Use Orbitz or Expedia for great deal. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, use that info when checking rates. You may also be able to get good discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA or AARP membership.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
There are things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Amenities like a swimming pool, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a tip that checks off as many of your wish list as possible.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
Take advantage of tools provided online hotel searching tools. These websites will help you get good deals.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
Inspect the room before unpacking your bags. Is it without mildew and mold and clean? Are linens and towels that you’re going to need? If there are any obvious problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
Know your check-in time is. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you to arrive before check-in.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will be pet friendly.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.
It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel chain frequently. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, free stays, or other great perks.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
Join a loyalty program if you travel frequently. These programs allow you to collect points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some newer hotels have been built green and are certified green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
Don’t make any long distance in your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a ton of money.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
It can prove rather frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking allowed in the hotel.If you’re not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are not supposed to smoke in.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes. Many have rooms designated nonsmoking rooms. Ask for those rooms if any of these are a smoker.Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Instead, you should try the Internet. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
It is not possible to check-in early. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in a hotel lobby. Hotels have to make sure rooms are ready for you. If you do happen to arrive early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but this should not be expected.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
Some hotels do not offer these amenities at all. Talk about these things when you reserve your room.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.
Do not open the bottled water in your room. You will likely be thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels are well aware of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Check the gym instead; they may have free water.A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottled water.
If you have to get a rollaway or a crib, you need to let them know when you’re making the reservation. Some hotels do not provide these things, and the ones that do usually have limited quantities. They may charge extra for this. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
Don’t take any of the hotel towels or linens.
Do not take anything from the hotel. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. If you do want to take something, ask about a direct purchase when you’re checking out.
You can save money by not booking a decent room rate if you book during tourist season. This is the time that hotel rates are highest. You chance of getting a much greater.
If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Because many of the rooms may not be cleaned yet, you may score a better room.
A large part of having a great vacation is choosing the right hotel. Research each hotel carefully. Bang for your buck is key. By choosing to follow what you’ve just learned, you are making sure that you are going to have a positive experience.
If you’re on the road and need a place to stay, check out rest areas, gas stations and travel centers for guide books that have maps and lists of hotels in the area. You may even find discount coupons! You can now make a call to book a room rather than having to drive around to find one.