Planning A Hotel Stay? Check Out These Helpful Tips First!

You do not want to feel cheated by the hotel stay to leave you feeling fleeced. A poor experience, regardless of the reason, can ruin the entire trip for everyone involved. Avoid these problems altogether by heeding the advice presented here.

Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.

TIP! Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers.

Use websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, put your information in. You may also have other discounts through AAA or AAA.

When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.

TIP! Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership.

Consider taking advantage of room service if you want a 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.

You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.

TIP! If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill.

You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items in the hotel safe.

You can use hotel search tools on the Internet. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. 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. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.

TIP! There are tons of online search tools that help customers find satisfactory rates they can’t find elsewhere. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly.

Free Local Calls

Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Are there enough linens and towels? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.

TIP! Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Do you have enough towels and linens? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.

There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel. Amenities like a swimming pool, free local calls, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a tip that checks off as many of your desired amenities as is realistic.

Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.

TIP! Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet.

Take advantage of online when searching tools. These kinds of websites allow you to find great deals fast.

If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. 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.

TIP! If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time.

Check online for great hotel room during your next trip. It is your responsibility to find these savings. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.

TIP! If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case.

Check out your hotel room when you arrive. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mold? Are linens and towels in the room? If there are any obvious problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.

Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.

TIP! If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it.

There are three different things you should do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.

If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.

TIP! Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often.

Book your appointment as early as possible. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.

You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.

TIP! Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. There are several green hotels around.

It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They provide benefits to anyone who regularly stay in the same hotel chain frequently. You might earn a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.

How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. The prices are based partly on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will get you the best hotel rates. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.

TIP! The cost of your hotel will vary depending on when you make your reservation. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available.

The amount you pay for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you pay. Rooms prices are often priced based on their availability. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel rooms.

Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Look to the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.

TIP! Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Rather, use a web tool.

It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to find out it’s closed.

When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.

TIP! If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.

Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs.This is the few places you are least likely to find them. It is a safe place for children and kids to stay.

If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. Kids and pets can stay there as well.

TIP! Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the place where you are least likely to find them.

Check to see if a hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you do not smoke, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.

You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. It might not cover deep cleaning.

TIP! Review the pet policy at the hotel. People who are allergic to pets obviously want to avoid pet-friendly hotels.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the floor and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while others charge substantially more. The fee charged may be for any cleaning involved.

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. Not every hotel is going to come with cribs or rollaways. Hotels also charge extra for these items, sometimes. Before making reservations, explain this.

TIP! If you will require a crib or a rollaway bed during your stay, make sure you make this known at the time your reservation is made. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities.

You should understand that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in a hotel lobby. The hotel must clean up your room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you do happen to arrive early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but this should not be expected.

If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. As a result, hotels will attempt to regain some of this lost revenue by charging you a fee for leaving early.

TIP! Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure.

You have rights in the event where a hotel attempts to take advantage of you.The hotel will attempt to foist you to another hotel. If you can’t avoid this, be sure that you get a better room and your travel is paid for.

Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. Hotels sometimes overbook, which means you discover that your reservation is unavailable. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.

TIP! If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there.

Don’t open the bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. You are very likely be thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water beckoning on the mini fridge. Hotels are well aware of this and will charge more for bottled water. Sometimes it is possible to get bottled water bottle in the hotel gym. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottled water.

If you need to book a hotel on short notice while traveling, take a look at different tourist centers, rest stops or gas stations to grab free pamphlets and guides which allow you to get good discounts and find names of hotels. This way, you won’t be driving around forever looking for a place to stay.

TIP! If you’re on the road and need a place to stay, check out rest areas, gas stations and travel centers for guide books that have maps and lists of hotels in the area. You may even find discount coupons! This will give you an opportunity to book in advance and get a deal without visiting a hundred different hotels.

You can often get a free upgrade. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at your expected arrival time. Sometimes, your room is not yet clean, and the hotels give them better rooms for no extra charge.

The view from your room is important to some and is always different from one hotel to the next. If the great view doesn’t cost more, see if you can get a room with a view. Although a great view is not the most important thing when booking a hotel room, it can maximize your enjoyment. It never hurts to ask if there are rooms with better views available.

TIP! Remember that views can vary between different hotel rooms. 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.

Rest Areas

Do not pay the posted price at any hotel. You don’t have to pay so much! The hotel expects you to haggle. Ask the hotel for a better deal. Assert yourself. Different travel sites often have coupons for various hotel chains.

TIP! Don’t pay the price being advertised. Experienced travelers never actually pay the “rack rate”, or advertised rate.

If it becomes necessary to book a hotel from the road, check rest areas, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and discount offers. This way you’ll be able to call a place and reserve the room that’s right for deals.

Before leaving the hotel, leave a fair tip for the housekeeper. While there are other things during a hotel stay that do not need a tip, the housekeeper’s tip should not be missed. You probably were being messy anyway, so you should try leaving the maid a tip for their good work.

TIP! It is considered customary to tip your housekeeper when checking out of a hotel. You can often skip tipping for many other things, as the bill usually includes extra charges, however you should always tip your room service maid.

Be sure to allow the advice you read to direct you as you choose your next hotel stay. If you’re able to figure out what needs to be watched for and what to do to get good deals, your experience will go just fine. When you’re on the road and you stop at a hotel, it’s time to relax not time to be made uncomfortable and unhappy.

You should be weary of hidden fees if you are booking your hotel through an outside party. Much of the time, the quote you will be given will not match what you are actually charged. Read the fine print to learn the charges you will be charged when you book a room.

TIP! When you get a hotel booked with a site that’s third party, be careful because there are surcharges and fees that are hidden. The prices the third-party advertises won’t often include the additional charges.