Learning to book a hotel room is an useful skill to learn in life. Hotels will cost money. Use the tips in this article to choose a great hotel. That’s why you should read along!
Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Some may offer discounts on hotels. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. You can place your costly items that are small into their safe, and then you won’t have to worry about these things as you go out.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Hotels don’t usually advertise their lowest rates, so you may have to ask. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. They provide you with points for every stay. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
Try out a green vacation. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Older hotels might change practices to be more green. Talk to your travel agent about what you want to do and let them seek out a few appropriate hotels.
If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
The timing of your room booking often determines the price you pay. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. This will get you a great price on your room. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. 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.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
If you need an extra bed or crib, make sure you discuss this when making your reservation. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost. Additionally, you may need to pay an extra fee. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Early Departure
Always read a hotel’s pet policy, whether you are a pet owner or not. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
If you will require a crib or a rollaway bed during your stay, make sure you make this known at the time your reservation is made. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Therefore, as soon as you walk into your room, take the bedspread off the bed.
Don’t check out early, if possible. Some hotels charge early departure fees. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. That is why you are charged a fee.
Be prepared with a knowledge of your rights if a hotel ever tries to “walk” you. There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove the comforter from the bed.
Do not open that bottled water! After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. The mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get bottled water in the hotel gym. A better option to simply bring your own bottled water.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
Now you probably know what you can do to get a quality hotel that you can stay at. You need to make sure you read over this a second time if you’re wanting to let the tips really sink in. With this new knowledge, you can find the perfect hotel with confidence.
If you tip when the time is right, you’ll find you have a slightly more enjoyable stay at your hotel. If you order room service, you should probably tip, for example. People will respect you and treat you better if you tip them.
