It is important to know what you are getting into before booking a hotel. The reason for this is because a hotel usually costs you some money. This article will help you make a good decision about hotels. That is why you should continue reading.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. It’s your job to find them yourself. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
There are tons of online search tools that help customers find satisfactory rates they can’t find elsewhere. These sites can help you get good deals. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. Finally, they can help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.
Know when check-in time is. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Look for deals online. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. The savings can really add up nightly.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will 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. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Rather, use a web tool. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.
Working Order
Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
If you want your family to have a happy stay, call the hotel ahead and ensure that their swimming pools are available and in good working order. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. Some hotels will levy a large fine if they can determine that you smoked in a room where smoking was not allowed, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Hotels usually have a limited number of these, and you don’t want to ask at the last minute. There can be extra charges for these items, as well. Before making reservations, explain this.
What is the policy on pets? If you’re terrified pets or are allergic to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. 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. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
Arrive Early
Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. When you arrive at your hotel, you might be very thirsty. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk. Hotels are aware of this and have hiked up the price of that tempting bottled water significantly. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. You could also bring your own bottled water.
Know that you may not be able to check-in early at some hotels. 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. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Be sure you don’t take off with any items from your hotel room. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
You should know a few different ways to get great bargains at hotels by now. To really absorb this information, you may want to read these tips again. When you have the knowledge here down pat, you’ll be ready to find the best hotel room for any of your future trips.
In the event that you have to make hotel reservations while you’re on the road, stop at a tourist center or local gas station for information or a free booklet, and you may also find valuable coupons. This will save you time and money.