Going On Vacation? Check Out These Tips Before Booking Your Hotel!

Most everyone will find themselves needing to stay in a hotel room at some point. Without good research, your hotel stay could be a regrettable experience. This article is here to help! You will learn everything you need to know to have a successful trip.

You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.

TIP! Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices.

Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.

Room service is great for late meals. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.

TIP! You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.

You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.

You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.

TIP! Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business.

Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.

Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. It’s your job to find them yourself. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.

TIP! Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts.

Consider your organizational memberships. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.

Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Are linens and towels in ample supply? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.

TIP! Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.

To get the best hotel rooms, use a website online that will help with this. These sites can help you get good deals. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.

Make certain you know when your check-in time is. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.

TIP! Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms.

Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it tidy and sanitary? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.

To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.

TIP! To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance.

For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.

Book any massage appointments you make early. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.

TIP! If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Many top masseuses book by name, so plan as early as possible.

Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.

Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.

TIP! If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation.

If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, and you don’t want to miss out.

Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. 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.

TIP! Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often.

Auto Club

If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.

TIP! If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay.

Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. The savings can really add up nightly.

For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

TIP! Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room.

If you travel frequently, it is wise to enroll in hotel loyalty programs. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.

In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Use the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.

TIP! In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Rather, use a web tool.

If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.

Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.

TIP! If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be.

The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. Hotels are often happy to slash prices on impending vacancies since they will get nothing if they can’t book the room.

Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Also, people may rent a non-smoking room and smoke in it. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.

TIP! Before making a hotel reservation, learn the hotel’s policy on smoking. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel.

Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.

You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, other do not. The fee may cover the extra cleaning or it may not, it all depends on the hotel in question.

TIP! Review the pet policy at the hotel. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. This saves you a ton of money.

Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.

TIP! You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day.

Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.

If you are going to need a rollaway bed or crib, specify this when booking your room. They may not have any available. Also, these things can cost extra. Make sure these needs are discussed during the initial reservation so you don’t get any surprises.

TIP! Ask about a rollaway or crib when you book your room. Not every hotel will be able to accommodate you.

Sometimes, you will need to reserve a hotel room. Without due diligence, your hotel stay might stink. Use this article to help you become a seasoned shopper of hotel rooms. The hotel room you pick can make or break a trip.

If you are worried about your hygiene, you might want to not use the hotel’s bedspread. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove the blanket and use one you brought from home to stay safe.

TIP! No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed.