America features thousands of hotels, from luxury resorts bragging about their five stars to homely motels on the side of the road that look ancient. If you have great accommodations, your vacation will be enhanced. Bad accommodations will ruin it. You will be able to use the following information to help ensure you select the right hotel.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. This can mean a lot of savings over a full week stay.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.
You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can also show you what the hotel’s average rates typically are, allowing you to see whether you are actually getting a good deal or not. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Utilize the Internet when searching for a hotel. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is it tidy and sanitary? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call and ask before you reserve. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
If you want a couples massage, book early. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Book any massage appointments you make early. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. The savings can really add up nightly.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. There are many benefits you may be able to get. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. They even throw in free car seats at most locations if you’re a parent.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type 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.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. They may not have any available. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Before making reservations, explain this.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. 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.
Moking Rooms
Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! You may feel a bit parched shortly after checking in. That bottle of water in the mini fridge can be might tempting. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. However, to be safe, you should pack some water bottles yourself.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
Do not take any of the hotel’s linens with you when you leave. They might be lovely, but you will be charged for them. If you just fall in love with the towels or pillows, ask if you can buy them directly from the front desk of the hotel.
Smokers should always learn the smoking policy at any hotel before they book a room. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. Use a travel site that has package deals, which include hotel, flight, and rental car. In order to make sure you’re getting the best deal, make sure you do a few comparisons.
When planning for a trip, you may make a hasty hotel reservation at the first place you find. This can easily backfire and you can wind up paying a lot more for a room than you should. Staying in a dirty hotel room doesn’t lead to a great user experience, so follow the suggestions outlined above to avoid this fate.
If you are looking for a lower rate before you book a hotel, then don’t book a room during the peak season. Rates are always highest at this time. You should book a room during the off season as hotels are desperate then for their rooms to be occupied. You’re going to have a much higher chance of scoring a deal.