You know just what your ideal vacation will be. You have gotten excellent deals on plane tickets. Now, you need to find a hotel. But, how do you find the best deal? This is the article for you. In this article, we offer valuable tips to help you make a good choice.
Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Consider ordering room service during your stay. 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.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you are early, your room may not be ready. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Some may offer discounts on hotels. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Of course, you must think of cost; however, proximity to attractions is also very important. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? 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.
If you would like to treat your partner to a massage, be sure to make the appointment far in advance. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
When can you check in? If you are early, your room may not be ready. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
Loyalty Programs
Book any massage appointments you make early. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. Some places provide free car seats too.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that 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.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.
Avoid using the hotel bedspread. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. That can make it rife with germs and bacteria and who knows what. Therefore, as soon as you walk into your room, take the bedspread off the bed.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
One of the most important aspects of planning a trip is getting the right hotel. A poor hotel room can ruin a great vacation. Make sure that doesn’t happen on your vacation. Use the advice here to find the hotel you want.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. As a result, hotels will attempt to regain some of this lost revenue by charging you a fee for leaving early.
