Have you ever heard people talk about having an awesome vacation, but they say they stayed in a horrible hotel room? Where you’re going to sleep plays into how well your vacation is going to go. You naturally want to stay in an affordable establishment with great service. Read on to learn how.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. These offer feedback from those who have recently stayed at the hotel you are considering booking. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Additionally, there may be other price breaks for you through various organizations, like AAA or other exclusive clubs.
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. 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.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. After a week has gone by it will add up to a free night almost!
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Know the check-in times. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Jogging around the city before you start your day will add enjoyment to your vacation. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. You may find the best prices this way. A room that’s empty loses money for the hotel; so, they usually cut the price.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Green Hotels
You should be aware whether or not the hotel permits guests to have pets in the rooms. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. Pet odor lingers. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. If you do arrive early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.
The cost of your hotel will vary depending on when you make your reservation. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. If it’s possible, your room should be booked around a day in advance or more. You may find the best prices this way. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
If you’ll need a rollaway or crib, make sure you specify this when you reserve the room. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. While the staff may have washed the sheets prior to your stay, the comforter is not always washed. It can carry a lot of germs. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
Allow Pets
Know your personal rights when any hotel tries to “walk” you. When hotels overbook rooms, the one you reserved may not be available. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Look into the hotel policy with regard to pets. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. It might not cover deep cleaning.
Don’t take linens from your room! Housekeeping keeps track of linens. Ask if you can buy the linens from the hotel if you like them a lot.
It is not always possible to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you’re going to have to show up early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but don’t think that it will happen.
It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. Many times, travel websites offer discounts for booking the hotel, flight and rental car at the same time. Compare quotes between hotels and airlines.
You have the power to make great reservations, even within a tight budget, once you are enlightened on to do it. The advice and ideas of this article should provide you what you need to know. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Keep in mind all that you learned here and you will reserve a great room at an affordable hotel.
If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. Try booking a room when it’s harder for hotels to fill rooms, like during the off-season. You’ll typically find that the rates you get will be good.
