Your hotel can make a difference in the type of vacation experience. You have to know what’s important to search for and what really isn’t important when you’re looking for the right hotel so that your trip is not ruined. These tips will get you the best value.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Use Orbitz or Expedia for great prices. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP.
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a special meal without needing to go out. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. A gym, pool, free breakfast, free wireless Internet, free local calls, and all kinds of other things may be important. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
There are several things to think about when choosing a hotel. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Try locating a hotel that checks off as many of your desired amenities as possible.
Look for deals online. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a few months in advance. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the price down by half!
Know when check-in time is. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will be pet friendly.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.
There are three different things you should do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. You may not have known that, but it’s true. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
Spa Deals
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These hotel programs usually work by letting you rack up points. They can amount to show tickets, discounts at hotel restaurants, spa deals, spa deals and a whole lot more.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
The amount you pay for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you pay. Rooms are often priced based on their availability. This gives you the best hotel room.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. 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. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If the rooms are cheap, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking before anything happens will allow you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.
Don’t make any long distance in your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from your hotel phone.
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
It is extremely frustrating for you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. You can inquire about checking in early, but do not expect that you’re going to be able to do it.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is where you will find them. It’s also safe for pets and kids you may have.
To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Take the bedspread off of the bed.
Find out what the hotel handles pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors because the carpet and bed linens.Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, but some do not charge much. The fee may cover the extra cleaning involved.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. In such cases, the hotel “walks” you, or sends you to another hotel. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. It may be a lot of bacteria and germs. Just make sure you remove the bed to have peace of mind.
Do not take the linens with you when you check out of the hotel. Housekeeping will generally notice when something like pillows, towels or washcloths are missing, which may lead to the hotel charging you for the missing items. If you find you really like these items, then ask the hotel if you could purchase them instead.
You can often save money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings when you book more than one service at the same time.
You may be able to score a free upgrade. Show up at the exact time you’re scheduled for check in. Hotels often count on their guests being late; therefore, they will often not have their rooms ready at the set time; therefore, by showing up on time, the hotel may provide you an upgraded room at no extra cost to you.
Try to get a hotel upgrade without paying for it.You can be sure of this by being on time.If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.
In the event that you have to make hotel reservations while you’re on the road, stop at a tourist center or local gas station for information or a free booklet, and you may also find valuable coupons. This will save you time and money.
Rest Areas
Sometimes, a hotel room will have a view that’s great when compared to others. If room prices are not affected by the view, try to request a room that has a better view. This can make your stay better. It doesn’t hurt to ask if a better view is available.
If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, check out rest areas or gas stations to find tourist books which will have maps, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and discount offers. This will give you can just call ahead to book in advance and get a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
The price that the hotel advertises is usually not something you should pay. The posted price is known at the “rack rate”. People in the know don’t pay it. However, hotels are aware that informed travelers will never pay this rate; therefore, they will have to compromise. Ask the hotel for a better deal. Being bold is a good idea. Many travel websites also have significant discounts available.
Clearly, doing your homework can assist you in finding a good hotel at a great price. You’ve got to learn what to be looking for and when you should be booking. Keep these tricks and tips in mind and a great hotel is going to be in your future.
You can find some great prices by checking the online websites of Expedia or Travelocity. These sites help to sell lots of hotel reservations, so hotels will inform them of any discounts that may not be offered elsewhere. Some sites need you to bid on a room, while others may withhold the actual price until you commit to buy, so watch out for that.