Hotel Secrets Straight From The Travel Experts

Most people have been burned by bad hotels in low-quality hotels.It can prove to be a costly error that nobody wants to repeat.

To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. Online review websites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.

TIP! Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel.

Check for online reviews prior to booking your stay. These will give you with first-hand information from people that have stayed at each hotel. What others say will help you in coming to the right decision.

Room service is great for late meals. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.

TIP! Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. 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.

Consider ordering room service during your special someone. While it may cost more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.

Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.

TIP! Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

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

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.

TIP! There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Of course, you must think of cost; however, proximity to attractions is also very important.

There are things to think about when choosing a hotel to stay in. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try locating a hotel that offers as much of your desired amenities as is realistic.

Utilize the Internet when searching for a hotel. 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. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.

TIP! You can use hotel search tools on the Internet. These websites can help you quickly find great deals.

Take advantage of search tools provided online when searching for a hotel. These websites can help you quickly find great deals quickly.

Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!

TIP! Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time.

Plan your trip as far in advance for the best rates. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a month or two ahead of time. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the price down by half!

Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. In addition, get specifics with regard to the pet policy, because only particular breeds or sizes of pets may be permitted at the hotel.

TIP! If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet.

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

Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. These savings can really add up if you travel often.

TIP! If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you.

There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a pet. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.

If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.

TIP! If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often.

Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best professionals are often in high demand, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.

There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

TIP! If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay.

If preserving the environment is of interest to you, a green vacation is something to look into. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels is steadily growing. Some newer hotels have been built green standards in mind. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of several eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Talk to your travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.

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. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.

TIP! Try out a green vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there.

The price for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you book it. Rooms are often priced according to availability. This will usually ensure that you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms.

To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.

TIP! If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.

Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.If you are getting a very low price on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You save more by asking about this beforehand.

One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. Some places provide free car seats too.

TIP! Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily.

Join a membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. These programs allow you to collect points can be applied toward further travels.

Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.

TIP! Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Utilize the Internet, instead.

Don’t call long distance calls from your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This can be a ton of fees.

Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. You probably won’t find any in there. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.

TIP! If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. This is the last room they are likely to be.

Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is usually one of the few places you won’t find them. It is also a temporary haven for pets and kids to stay.

Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.

TIP! If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel.

Check to see if your prospective hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.

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. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. There also may be an added charge for these things. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.

TIP! When seeking reservations, don’t forget to ask for a crib or cot if you need one. Some hotels don’t have them, and others have a limited amount.

You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not always possible. Plan your trip right or you want to wait in a hotel lobby. Hotels usually need this time to clean and ready before you check in. If you do happen to arrive early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but don’t expect that request to be honored.

Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. 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. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.

TIP! Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it is absolutely necessary. Many hotels will charge a fee for early departure.

Don’t decide you need new linens from your hotel room.

If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. This bedspread is where you would find the bacteria and germs. Take the bedspread off of the bed.

TIP! If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. They generally will wash the blankets and sheets that are under the bedspread, but the main bedspread may not be washed.

You can get some money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings when you book more than one service at the same time.

You can save quite a bit on your next vacation when you choose to bundle your hotel room and flight. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Be sure to compare rates from airline to airline and hotel to hotel to get the very best deals.

TIP! You can get some money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. It is not unusual for travel websites to provide large savings when a hotel is booked along with a rental car or a flight.

You will be able to get a decent room rate if you book during peak tourist seasons.Rates are always highest at their peak then. You should get a discount is much better price.

You should never pay the price posted at a hotel. A savvy traveler knows not to pay this “rack rate.” As a matter of fact, you can haggle the hotel down in price in most cases. Ask the hotel for a better deal. Take charge and be assertive. Many travel websites also have significant discounts available.

TIP! The price that the hotel advertises is usually not something you should pay. That is called the “rack rate” and savvy travelers never pay that much.

Rest Areas

Online travel websites often compare the best prices for different hotel chains, helping you find the best possible deals. Because they help hotels fill their rooms, they can usually give you discounts that you won’t get anywhere else. You may be required to bid on some, while others provide a price and star rating without showing the name unless you buy, so make sure you are aware of that.

TIP! You can find the best prices by looking at websites like Travelocity and Expedia. Hotels offer these sites special discounts because of the high volume of rooms that are booked this way.

If you need to book a room while driving, check rest areas, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, maps and great discounts. This way you’ll be able to call ahead and reserve the room instead of driving around looking for deals.

Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that it’s a good idea to leave a tip for a housekeeper at the end of a hotel stay. Most other people that work there do not need a tip, but the maid is an exception. Unless you were very obsessively clean and made your own bed every day, please don’t forget to do this.

TIP! Tipping the housekeeper at a hotel is a routine practice. Most other people that work there do not need a tip, but the maid is an exception.

Tipping the staff will ensure that you have a welcome practice at most hotels. Room service includes a tip in the bill, but maid service shouldn’t. Tipping guarantees that you’re respected and well liked while at the hotel.

If you use a third-party site to book your hotel, watch out for surcharges and hidden fees. Frequently, the price that is displayed to you is not the net price. The only way to be sure what you are going to pay is to read the fine print.

TIP! Watch out for hidden fees if you are using a site other than that of the hotel’s to make your reservations. There are times when the price you are quoted does not show the extra charges.

Don’t ever pay the rate advertised. Contact the hotel to see if there is a promotion currently taking place. You may also be able to locate great discounts by using travel websites out there.

Hotel chains may not offer consistent quality. If you had a good experience with the chain in one city, that does not guarantee a good experience in another city. It is the best idea to check individual hotels so there are no surprises upon arrival.

TIP! Remember that quality among hotels within a specific chain may vary. While you may have enjoyed your stay in one place, the next place may not be the same.

Nobody wants to stay in a terrible hotel room. A greatly discounted price is no bargain if your hotel is a mess. The quickest way to ruin a trip is to stay in a substandard hotel. So planning ahead and using the tips above is surest way to ensure a pleasant stay. Once you find one that you want to stay at, you can then research what discounts you can use that will really make it a great deal.

TIP!