Finding The Best Hotels For Great Prices

Staying in a hotel should be a guest; you shouldn’t have to do everything for yourself. You want a good hotel stay. Read on for some excellent information about booking the ideal hotel.

Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.

TIP! Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. These offer feedback from those who have recently stayed at the hotel you are considering booking.

Check for online hotel reviews before making any reservations. This lets you know what others’ experiences in each hotel. What others say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Try to get a room that fits your needs, then start shopping by price.

TIP! When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. Of course you want to consider price, but you should also consider the hotel’s location.

Check with the organizations you belong to.Some may offer you discounts on hotel rooms. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can be 10% or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!

Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Are there enough linens and towels? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.

TIP! Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold.

Use hotel search tools. These websites allow you get great deals fast.

To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.

TIP! You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices.

Search for hotel deals in hotels online before making reservations.This is why it’s up to you should look for discounts yourself. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

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. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.

TIP! If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel.

Check out your hotel room ahead of unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold and clean? Are linens and towels in the room? If you find obvious problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.

For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels around the country. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.

TIP! Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking.

Book your appointment as early as possible. The best professionals are often in high demand, and you don’t want to miss out.

Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. 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.

TIP! If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear.

If you belong to AAA, look into hotel discounts included. You would be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You may save 5% or even more on hotels all over the country. This can add up over several nights.

If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.

TIP! If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These are similar to frequent flyer programs.

If preserving the environment is of interest to you, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels that feature green amenities. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in a way that they get certified green. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of several eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Talk to a travel agent to find hotels that are eco-friendly.

To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.

TIP! If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.

The price of a hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms prices are based on availability. This gives you to get a great price on a hotel room.

Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.

TIP! When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle.

Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.If the rooms are cheap, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking these things before you to save more.

If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. 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.

TIP! To keep the kids in your family happy when you are on the road, call ahead and make sure that the pools in each hotel are in working order. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.

Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is probably not where you won’t find them. It is a safe spot for children and pets.

Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.

TIP! See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms.

Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes. A lot of hotels have specific rooms designated for people who smoke. Ask to see if you are a smoker. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, you can be charged hefty fees.

Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.

TIP! If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Some have smoking rooms.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may cover the cost of the extra cleaning involved.

You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior 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.

TIP! You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more.

Do not open that bottled water in your hotel room. You are very likely be thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels know this and charge more for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Check the hotel gym instead; they offer it for free. A better idea is to bring a few of your own bottled water.

If you book a room during a heavy occupancy period, don’t be surprised if you have a mandatory stay of a few days or more. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. As a result, hotels will attempt to regain some of this lost revenue by charging you a fee for leaving early.

TIP! Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. Some hotels charge early departure fees.

Do not give in to the hotel’s linens with you when you check out of the hotel.

To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. Most hotels only wash the sheets on the bed; however, the bedspread is normally not washed. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Take the bedspread off of the bed.

TIP! If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy.

You can get some money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time.Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book both your flight and hotel.

Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You might want to open the bottled water they left you. Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water. Sometimes you can get a free water bottle in the hotel gym. If not, hit a convenience store and save some money.

TIP! Do not open that bottled water! You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you.

You can get better hotel rates when you don’t book during tourist season. Rates are always highest at their peak then. This will allow you a better chance of actually getting a discounted rate.

Booking your flight and hotel at the same time may save some travel expenses. Check travel websites to see if you qualify for these savings. Compare the rates from different websites to find the best deals.

TIP! Save money by booking your flight and hotel at the same time. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place.

You can actually get a room upgrade without being charged for one. You can be sure of this by being on time to accept your expected arrival time. Often the room you have reserved will still be dirty, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.

Some rooms will have better views than others. If you do not have to pay more for a room with a good view, ask for one. These are the little things that make your trip more enjoyable without costing you any money. It’s a simple thing to ask whether there are rooms available where the view is better.

TIP! The view from your room is important to some and is always different from one hotel to the next. Not all rooms with a good view cost extra, so if you can score a room for the same price with a nice view, then make sure you ask for it when you are booking.

If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, check rest areas, gas stations and tourist centers for complimentary tourists books which contain hotel prices, and great discounts. This way you an opportunity to book a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.

Do not pay the posted price at any hotel. This price, or rack rate, is usually not the best price you can get. As a matter of fact, you can haggle the hotel down in price in most cases. Contact the hotel and see if there is a promotion currently taking place. Don’t be afraid. Different travel sites often have coupons for various hotel chains.

TIP! Don’t pay the price that’s advertised when you’re booking a hotel. It is a rack rate, and you don’t need to pay it.

Some rooms offer good views than others. If the view quality does not impact the price of the room, ask for a room with a good view. These little things can make your stay better. It can’t hurt to inquire about the availability of rooms with better views available.

Check out online sites like Expedia to find good deals. Because they help hotels fill their rooms, they can usually give you discounts that you won’t get anywhere else. For some, you must bid, but others provide you with a price but withhold the name of the hotel until you commit to purchase, so beware.

TIP! Check online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find great prices. Hotels give them deep discounts to help sell off empty rooms.

You can always avoid paying an advertised price that hotels advertise to its guests. Call the hotel you want to stay at and ask for a better deal. You can find great discounts on travel websites.

It is a custom to tip your housekeepers when you leave your hotel room. You can usually skip tipping for other things, as your bill is likely to incorporate extra fees, but your maid needs a tip. Unless you made sure your room was spick and span every single day, remember to tip your maid.

TIP! Remember to leave a tip for the housekeeper before you leave your hotel room. You can justify not tipping other services as the bill usually includes these extras, but it is customary to tip room service maids.

Check out online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find great prices. You may have to place a bid, depending on the hotel and the website.

When you want to get a great hotel at a great price, the clerk can be asked for a better deal. They may not be able to give you a better price, but they might throw in some free stuff, such as breakfast or dinner. It can’t hurt to ask and it might really pay off.

TIP! When calling to make reservations, ask the desk clerk about any current promotions. The clerk may not be able to lower the price, but often they can throw in a freebie or two to keep you happy.

If you want to find a hotel that you will really enjoy, you need to know what to look for. The information that you read here will help you to find the perfect hotel room. By being informed, you will be able to select the best hotel room for you.

If you use a third-party site to book your hotel, watch out for surcharges and hidden fees. Many times the quotes you are given do not reflect all of the charges. Be sure you take the time to read all the fine print prior to making a reservation so that you know exactly what you will be charged.

TIP! If you use a third-party site to book your hotel, identify any hidden fees or surcharges. Most quotes don’t reflect such charges.