Have you ever reserved a hotel room, only to find that it was shabby and run-down? If you have, you understand how this situation can ruin your vacation. However, you aren’t going to have to pay way too much on a hotel that’s nice, either. For information of finding a good hotel at a decent price, continue reading.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. Finally, they can also help you figure out when you want to go on your vacation and what you want to do there.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It may equate to one whole free night.
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. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is it tidy and sanitary? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. It will give you a better perspective of the city you are visiting.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. Rewards can include free hotel stays, upgrades and late check-out times if you save up enough points.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
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. Go for a jog every morning. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. The prices are based partly on availability. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, you can ask if it’s possible to do so early, but this should not be expected.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
If you are going to need a rollaway bed or crib, specify this when booking your room. Not all hotel chains do offer these and those that will often have a very limited supply. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.
When you look for bed bugs, start in the bathroom. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you are not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Smokers often don’t care that their room is non-smoking, too. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. So be sure to request one of these rooms. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! You may be thirsty and tired. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels are aware of this, that bottle of water will be much more expensive than if you bought it elsewhere. Look for free water in the gym or lobby. Pack a couple bottles of water.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, you can ask if it’s possible to do so early, but this should not be expected.
Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. Keeping linens, a robe or some similar item will likely not go unnoticed. You will be issued a bill for the items taken. If you actually like the hotel’s stuff, ask if there is a way to purchase the items.
If you are a parent who needs a roll-away or a crib in their hotel room, then you’ll need to call prior to making your reservation and find out if they are available. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Make sure these needs are discussed during the initial reservation so you don’t get any surprises.
Book your flight and hotel at the same time to save money. A lot of websites for travel will give you quite a bit of savings for you if you reserve a hotel and a rental car or flight together. Then, compare rates for several airlines and hotels for the best price.
After having read through this helpful information, you are ready to book that nice hotel room that still fits your budget. It is easy to get great value in hotel accommodations when you have good information. Use these tips to ensure your stay is a good one.
You can get a cheaper price on a nice hotel if you book during their slow times of the year. This is the highest time for rates. You should book a room during the off season as hotels are desperate then for their rooms to be occupied. You can get a better rate during this time.