A hotel turns your overall vacation experience. Read on to find out how to find an affordable place to stay with great hotel for a good price.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Check online reviews prior to booking a room. These sites will allow you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotel rooms using online and check out some of the travel sites. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be able to get good discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.
Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a special someone. While it may cost more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
Use online hotel search tools. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
Check the organizations that you are a member of. Some groups provide members with discounts on hotel rooms. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is it without mildew and mold? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
Use online hotel search tools online. These websites will help you quickly find good deals quickly.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.
Check your hotel room when you arrive. Is the room free of mildew and mold? Are linens and towels that you’re going to need? 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.
Book any massage appointments you make early. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many locations offer discounts if you book a few months in advance. You can expect savings up to 50 percent if you book months in advance.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
If you have a AAA membership, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You might be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You could save 5% or even 10% on hotels all over the country. This is a savings that can add up in time!
If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
If you are a daily runner, pack your GPS and running clothes.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
Hotel Restaurants
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. They can amount to show tickets, discounts at hotel restaurants, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel perks when you travel. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car set offered in some locations.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Try using the Internet, instead. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. This saves you a ton of money.
Try not to make long distance calling in hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This can be a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is where you are least likely to find bedbugs. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
It is extremely frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
What is the policy on pets? If you dislike or are allergic to pets, you should avoid hotels allowing them. Not to mention, you’ll definitely notice unwanted smells in the floor or in the linens if you don’t own a pet yourself. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
Start looking in the bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs in a hotel. This is the place least likely to find bedbugs. It is a safe place for children and kids.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Check if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. Some hotels charge early departure fees. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
Not every hotel chains do offer these and those that will often have a very limited supply. Talk about these things when you reserve your reservations.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.
Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it’s an emergency. The hotel may charge you an early departure. If you check out too early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room.
If an upgrade is desirable, try a strategy that might get it free. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at the time when you are supposed to check in. Many times the room you booked will not be clean yet, so they may offer you a better room for no additional charge.
Do not drink the bottled water!You may be thirsty when you check in. The bottled water inside the mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels know this and have hiked up the price of that tempting bottled water significantly. Sometimes it is possible to get a free water bottle in the hotel gym. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottles.
If you tip when the time is right, you’ll find you have a slightly more enjoyable stay at your hotel. For instance, room service usually includes the tip; however, the bill for maid service doesn’t. The tips you give to the staff ensures you are respected and liked.
You may be able to receive an upgrade without paying a dime. You have a better chance of this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.
Never let a hotel charge you the advertised rates. This price, or rack rate, is usually not the best price you can get. Hotels expect you to haggle. Call the hotel you want to stay at and ask about deals. Be courageous. There also many websites that offer great discounts.
You may find that tipping at a hotel stay might be more pleasurable. Room service charges usually include a tip in the bill, while you are supposed to tip your maid before you leave. Tipping will be attending to your stay better.
If you are traveling due to a special occasion, be sure to let the hotel management know. They may give you a little perk for your birthday, anniversary or graduation. They might even give you a complimentary bottle of bubbly. Be sure to tell the truth because lying is wrong.
Some hotel rooms offer good views while others do not. If the view quality does not impact the price of the room, ask for one. These types of things can enhance your hotel experience. It never hurts to ask the hotel for rooms with better views.
To find affordable hotel prices, check out sites such as Travelocity and Expedia. Because they help hotels fill their rooms, they can usually give you discounts that you won’t get anywhere else. You may have to bid on the price, depending on the hotel and the website.
As we said before, if you stay at a motel which is to costly, you end up having very little money to spend on excursions and other adventures. Therefore, book the best hotel by utilizing the excellent tactics provided above. Refer back to this article when you make your next round of travel plans.
At the end of your hotel stay, normally you should leave a tip for the housekeeper. Tips for other things can be skipped as they are generally added into the bill, but housekeeping and cleaning services should be tipped. You should especially leave a tip if you were a slob.