You should feel like a guest when you stay at a hotel. You want to be comfortable, pay less and have fun. These tips will help you find a cheap hotel.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
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 particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. While this could cost you a little more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have an adequate number of towels? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Know when check-in time is. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. After a week has gone by it will add up to a free night almost!
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
Search for hotel deals online. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels around the country. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
Ask when you’re able to check into the room. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
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 masseuses are booked well in advance.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. This can add up on a long trip.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. Whenever you can, maker your room reservation no more than a day ahead of time. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Use the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. Take advantage of these options to keep in touch with family, friends and coworkers rather than incurring high costs by using the hotel’s phone system.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Smokers often don’t care that their room is non-smoking, too. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
If you are going to need a rollaway or crib, ask for this when making your reservation. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. There also may be an added charge for these things. Make sure these needs are discussed during the initial reservation so you don’t get any surprises.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. 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. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. Hotels often charge early departure fees. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. That is why you are charged a fee.
If you’re going to need to get a crib or a rollaway, you need to let the people at the hotel know before you arrive. Hotels don’t typically have a lot of these, so be sure to ask in advance. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
Don’t open that bottles water! You may be thirsty and tired. You might want to open the bottled water they left you. Hotels are well aware of this, and the bottled water they provide is far more costly than it is elsewhere. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. An even better option is to pack your own bottled water for when you arrive.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. This might mean the bedspread is carrying bacteria, germs, or bedbugs. Just make sure you remove the bedspread.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. 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 do want to take something, ask about a direct purchase when you’re checking out.
You can save quite a bit on your next vacation when you choose to bundle your hotel room and flight. Travel booking sites often provide significant discounts for combining your room and flight and perhaps even a rental car. Be sure to compare rates from airline to airline and hotel to hotel to get the very best deals.
If you wish to have a good experience with a hotel room, you need to be sure you’re not going to be disappointed. These tips are sure to help you get a better hotel for a bargain. By being informed, you will be able to select the best hotel room for you.
Try your best to score a free upgrade during your hotel stay. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Your room may not be ready, so the hotel could offer to switch you to something more expensive as a result.
