When planning a trip, there are many things to do. You need to pack your luggage and either gas up the car or get ready for a flight. You will also have to reserve a hotel room. The following article offers many great tips to make your hotel stay pleasant.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. Things like free breakfast can make a big difference for some families. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. It can add up to equal a free night!
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.
Take advantage of search tools online. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. Being able to comparison shop helps you find the best value, while getting the amenities that are important to you. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. Inquiring in advance will mean more savings for you.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
In order to enhance your hotel visits, especially when traveling for work, you should consider joining membership programs that hotels provide. Examples include membership programs provided by Marriott or Choice Hotels. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
Green Hotels
If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. The bathroom is not a common place where bedbugs would be. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. 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.
If you require a rollaway bed or crib at your hotel, let the person know when making a reservation. Many hotels have a limited number of these, so it is important to mention this at booking. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Remove the comforter from the bed.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even if you stipulate that your room should be non-smoking, second hand smoke can still enter your room. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. To avoid the experience of breathing in smoke during your stay, try to stay in a hotel that doesn’t allow smoking.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. When hotels overbook rooms, the one you reserved may not be available. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
Getting a relaxing and comfortable hotel room is an essential part of any trip. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big vacation with the entire family or just a business trip; your choice of hotel has a large impact on your stay. Recall the solid advice above the next time you are planning for a stay at a hotel.
Do not open that bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You may get tempted to open a bottle of water that is in the hotel’s mini-fridge. Hotels are counting on this, and they jack up the price of the water accordingly. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. Or better yet, bring your own bottled water.