Have you booked a hotel room that it’s a complete dump? This is all too common and can ruin your vacation entirely. Read on to learn how to locate a great room at a great price.
Consider ordering room service during your stay. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Check online reviews prior to booking your stay. These will give you some information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What others say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you make a wise decision.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. On a multiple night stay, these savings can really add up. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your stay. While it may cost more, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
There are quite a few things you need to think over when you’re about to stay at a hotel. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Check with the organizations you belong to.Some organizations will receive discounts on hotels. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can be 10% or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. You can get some great discounts if your trip is booked several months into the future. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
There are several things to think about when booking a hotel. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. Try locating a hotel that checks off as many of your desired amenities as possible.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
Know your check-in time is. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call and ask if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many locations offer the best discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. You can expect savings up to 50 percent if you book months in advance.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Book your appointment as early as possible. The best practitioners go fast, so get in while you can.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you are a member of AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may not know that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You may save 5% on some rooms. This can add up over several nights.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
It is wise to look into loyalty program if you travel frequently. They provide benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, or other great perks.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.
If you are concerned about the environment, you can chose a “green” vacation. There are many hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified as green. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Ask your travel agent about green hotels.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.Particularly if you are getting a discount, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference.You will save by asking about such a thing in advance.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. Also, people may rent a non-smoking room and smoke in it. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
Distance Calls
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.
Don’t make long distance calls from your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from the phone in your hotel phone.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Start looking in the bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the last room they are least likely to be. It can be a safe place for children and pets.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
Check if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you do not smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room.
Stay away from the bottled water! You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may get tempted to open a bottle of water that is in the hotel’s mini-fridge. Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. If possible, bring your own bottled water.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes.A lot of places have specific rooms designated for smokers. Ask for those rooms if you are available. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, a big penalty can come along with it.
If you would like to pay less when staying at a hotel, don’t book during peak season. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. Instead, try and travel during the off season when there are lots of vacancies. You are more likely to be offered a good rate.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels sometimes have odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, other do not. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. To help you get an upgrade, arrive at the front desk at check-in time. Many times the room you booked will not be clean yet, so they may offer you a better room for no additional charge.
Not all hotel chains do offer these and those that will be able to accommodate you. Talk about these issues as you make your reservations.
You can help ensure your stay is pleasant by tipping appropriately. Usually, room service tipping is included in your bill while the bill for maid service doesn’t include a tip. When you tip well, you are treated with respect and can expect a higher level of service.
Never check out before the departure unless it’s an emergency. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure fees. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.
You should never pay the price posted at a hotel. This price, or rack rate, is usually not the best price you can get. It is just assumed that a hotel will let you haggle over a better price. When you phone to make your reservation, be sure to ask about discounts and deals. Stay strong! Travel websites are notorious for offering large discounts.
You can get some money saved if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for people who bundles things together.
You can reap some nice benefits when booking a hotel room when you are celebrating a special occasion. Hotels may throw in complimentary stuff if they know you are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary. From champagne to fruit baskets, there are many things that you might receive. However, make sure you always tell the truth about these events.
Don’t ever pay the price being advertised. Call the hotel you want to stay at and ask for a better deal. You can also locate great discounts on travel websites.
You can find the best prices by looking at websites like Travelocity and Expedia. Hotels give them deep discounts to help sell off empty rooms. At some sites you must bid. Others simply state the price.
Use special occasions to book your hotel room. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating your anniversary or something similar. You could even talk them into some free champagne bottle or a similar thing.
To save money on your hotel stay, ask the employee booking your room if you can get a discount. The clerk may not be able to lower the price, but often they can throw in a freebie or two to keep you happy. You will never know if you don’t ask so don’t be afraid to ask.
It is customary to tip the housekeeper when checking out of a hotel. You can often skip tipping for many other things, as many other amenities include a tip in their prices, however you should always tip your room service maid. You probably were a little sloppier than you generally are at home anyway, so you should try leaving the maid a tip for their good work.
You should now know how to find an excellent hotel at a great price. It’s simple to find good deals on hotel rooms when you know what you’re doing. Keep this information in mind when booking and staying at a hotel.
