You have chosen your vacation destination. You just got plane tickets booked. Next, you have to find an excellent hotel. But, how you do get the best value for your money? Read on to learn the steps you should take to do just that. These tips will ensure you make a great choice.
Check online reviews before booking a room. 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.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you need extra linens or towels? If you notice any deficiencies in your room, immediately call the front desk so you can resolve these issues, or if the problems are too severe, move you to another room.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Additionally, bring along a few plastic bags suitable for cleaning up after your animal. 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.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.
For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Search for hotel deals online. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. 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.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms are priced based on availability. If you can, make your room reservations only a day in advance. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. In this way, you will get good rates. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.
If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. 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. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
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. In addition, parents may enjoy the benefit of having free car seats provided.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. It is extremely frustrating for you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Your vacation will be enhanced by your choice of an excellent hotel. If a hotel is terrible, it can make your trip go bad. Don’t get stuck in a horrible hotel room. Use the tips in the article to help you find the right hotel with the amenities that you want.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. If the hotel you are staying at does not incorporate much of an extra fee, the cleaning service might not be up to par.