It is not easy to plan a trip. In addition to choosing where you will vacation and what you will use for transportation needs, you may also need to find a hotel to stay in. Making the wrong decisions can spoil an otherwise great vacation. Continue reading to learn helpful ideas on selecting the best decisions when it comes to booking your hotel.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.
Consider ordering room service if you want a late-night snack with your special someone. While it may cost more, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Use hotel search tools. These sites allow you to locate great deals quickly.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.
Inspect the room before unpacking your bags. Is your room mold and otherwise clean? Are there enough linens and towels in ample supply? If you notice a problem, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
Know the check-in time. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call and ask if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. Jogging around the city before you start your day will add enjoyment to your vacation. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
Do not make the assumption that each hotel welcomes pets.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Older hotels might change practices to be more green. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
There are some things you should do before taking your pet on a pet. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
If you enjoy a morning run, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. Some places provide free car seats too.
The timing for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms prices are based on availability. This can get you a great price on your room.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Instead, use the Internet. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.
Get a AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Parents with young children will probably like the complimentary car seat that’s provided for free in some locations.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
It is extremely frustrating when you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the last room they are likely to find bedbugs. It can be a safe spot for children and kids to stay.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
Check if a hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you do not smoke, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Many have designated for smokers. Ask to see if you are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, you can be charged hefty fees.
Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. So, they may charge you a fee for early departure to replace the loss in revenue.
Find out how the policy on pets is. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning that needs to be done.
Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. You may be thirsty and tired. That’s what the hotel owners had in mind when they packed the min-fridge with delicious, yet expensive, refreshments. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Look for free water in the gym or lobby. A better option to simply bring your own bottled water.
It is usually not possible to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Hotels need to get the room cleaned and prepare your room. If you’re going to have to show up early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. If you really have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.
Avoid using the bedspread. The top bedspread usually get washed between bookings. It may be a lot of invisible germs and germs. Just make sure you remove it from the bed.
It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. A lot of websites for travel will give you quite a bit of savings for you if you reserve a hotel and a rental car or flight together. In order to make sure you’re getting the best deal, make sure you do a few comparisons.
Do not take the linens with hotel towels or sheets.
If you want a hotel room upgrade, try to get one without paying anything extra. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, look at tourist centers, prices, prices and discount offers. This will help you can just call ahead and reserve the room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
If you’re on the road and need a hotel to stay in, ask others for hotel advice or check into a tourist center to look for brochures. Use that information to call a hotel and get your room all booked.
Don’t allow a bad hotel to make your trip no good. Look into everything and always plan ahead of time. You will have better options when you know how to find the best accommodations. Your hotel stay and your whole vacation will be more enjoyable. Keep all of this information in mind while planning your next trip.
The view from your room is important to some and is always different from one hotel to the next. Realize that prices can sometimes vary as well, but discuss the view you want as you’re booking the room. Your hotel experience can improve by these little things. It can’t hurt to inquire about the availability of rooms with excellent views.