If you are going on a trip, you have to plan well before leaving. Your preparations include packing, purchasing plane tickets or gassing up the car. Remember, you must reserve accommodations, too. For advice that can help, keep reading.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. For extended stays, this can really add up. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. 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. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. This is why it’s up to you to search for these discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. You have to look for the discounts. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. Many top masseuses book by name, so plan as early as possible.
When can you check in? If you are early, your room may not be ready. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. Try enjoying an early jog at your new destination. This can be a great way to stay in shape while seeing some of the local scenery. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
Not every hotel allows pets. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. 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.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. The price of a hotel room varies with availability. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Rooms are priced based on availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. A late booking when the hotel is slow often results in a bargain. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
Being a AAA member has many advantages when it comes to booking a hotel room. AAA members are given many discounts and booking privileges on hotel rooms and rental vehicles. It is definitely worth looking into.
To keep the kids in your family happy when you are on the road, call ahead and make sure that the pools in each hotel are in working order. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. Use this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is the place where you are least likely to find them. Stow you suitcases and other items here and then take a good look at the rest of your room. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
One of the most important things during your vacation is your hotel room. No matter why you are traveling, staying at a good hotel makes the whole trip more enjoyable. Keep in mind all that you learned from this article the next time that you place a hotel reservation.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.