Ditch Expensive Travel Agents With This Hotel Advice

Have you ever booked a hotel only to discover that turned out to be a complete dump? This is all too common and can really ruin a trip. The information below will help you find a great hotel room.

Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.

TIP! Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay.

Use Orbitz and Expedia to find a great prices. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be eligible for other discounts through AAA and AARP.

You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. You may also be able to get discounts through AAA or AARP.

TIP! Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates.

Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your stay. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.

Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.

TIP! To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. 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.

You should put any expensive items in the safe and go about your day without worry.

Put your electronics into the room’s safe. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.

TIP! To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.

Check in on the organizations that you are a member with. Some groups provide discounts on hotel stays. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!

Use hotel search tools online. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.

TIP! Use online hotel search tools. These websites can help you quickly find great deals.

Use online search tools online. These sites can help you quickly find the best value.

When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Are the facilities operating correctly? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you find obvious problems, notify the front desk right away so the hotel can correct the problems or they can assign a different room.

TIP! Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it clean? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order.

Always look for online deals before booking your hotel room. This is why it’s up to you should always do your research well online to find these discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.

TIP! You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info.

Know the hotel’s check-in times. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call and ask if it is alright for you think you’ll be early.

Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, and you don’t want to miss out.

TIP! If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.

Do not assume that your pets are welcome at all hotels.

If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.

TIP! If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. Go for a jog every morning.

There are three different things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.

Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. A loyalty program offers many benefits. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.

TIP! If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. They offer a variety of benefits to their members.

Free Nights

If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

TIP! Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points.

If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These hotel programs usually work by letting you rack up points. They add up to free nights, free nights, show tickets, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.

TIP! Think about going on a “green” vacation. These are much more common today than they were in the past.

The cost of your hotel room is going to affected by how early you book the room. Rooms prices are typically priced according to availability. This will net you a great price when it comes to hotel rooms.

The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.

TIP! The price you are charged for your hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms.

Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on your stays. These points that can be applied toward further travels.

Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.

TIP! If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface.

Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking allowed in the hotel.If you are a nonsmoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are renting is a non-smoking room.

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. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.

TIP! Join a membership program if you travel frequently. 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.

You should be aware of the hotel allows pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.

To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. Your AAA membership will pay for itself right away in hotel and car rental discounts and availability. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.

TIP! A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily.

Never actually check out before the departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel could impose a fee for early departure. When you book a hotel room, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, so they lose money if you leave early.

Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.

TIP! If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.

Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The top bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. It can carry a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Remove the comforter from the bed to have peace of mind.

If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.

TIP! If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them.

Do not open the bottled water! You are very thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may decide to reach for that bottled water beckoning on the mini fridge. Hotels take advantage of this and will charge you a hefty fee for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Sometimes you can get bottled water bottle in the hotel gym. A better idea is to bring your own bottles.

Reviews whether or not the hotel allows 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. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.

TIP! Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

Don’t take hotel linens home.

Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. This could result in a charge for early departure. 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. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.

TIP! It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout.

Hotel Stay

You know your rights if a hotel attempts to take advantage of you. This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.

TIP! Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there.

Tipping hotel stay a more pleasant stay. Room service should get a tip, but maid service does not include tips for the maids. Tipping will ensure that the staff respects and well liked during your hotel stay.

Some hotels rooms have better views than others. 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. Such things can make your stay much more enjoyable. It never hurts to ask if there are rooms with better views available.

TIP! Remember that views can vary between different hotel rooms. If room prices are not affected by the view, try to request a room that has a better view.

Some rooms offer good views than others. If prices are the same, request for a room with a great view. A room with a view will make your vacation to another level. It won’t hurt you to ask if they can get you a room with a better views available.

If you want to get a hotel deal, ask the clerk about one. The clerk may not be able to discount the price, but he or she may be able to add some extras like a breakfast buffet or at least a continental breakfast. You won’t know if you never ask.

TIP! Inquire about deals. They may not be able to give you a better price, but they might throw in some free stuff, such as breakfast or dinner.

You should now know how to find an excellent hotel at a great price. Over time, finding great hotel bargains will become faster and easier because you’ll know where exactly to look and what you’re looking for. Just use these tips to guide you and start planning your next great getaway.

Various hotels within a single chain or brand may not be of the same quality. A good experience at a hotel in one city does not mean a hotel in the same chain in another city will give a good experience. That’s why you must individually check every hotel you stay at, even if you’ve stayed there before.

TIP! Different hotels, although they each may belong to the same chain, could be very different from one another. Just because you had a great stay at one hotel doesn’t mean the experience will repeat itself.