When you plan a vacation, there are many details that require your attention. First, you must chose where you will go. Then, you need to plan on how you will be arriving there. The hardest part of all is deciding on a nice hotel, even when you don’t know much about the area. The following tips should help you make an informed choice.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. It may equate to one whole free night.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. 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 find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Use online search tools for hotels. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you quickly note any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. 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’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.
Take your GPS watch with you on vacation and some running clothes. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should skip on your daily running regimen. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. They provide you with points for every stay. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
It’s not too difficult to find an affordable, comfortable hotel whereever you are going. Everything will work out well when you are aware of what to look out for. The right room can make or break a vacation or trip away. This will make your vacation stories much more pleasant.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
