Practically everyone has a story to tell about a bad hotel experience. It’s a costly error that can ruin your trip. So, read this article to learn how you can get the best value on the perfect hotel for you.
Check online reviews before booking a room. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.
Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If you quickly note any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. You may save 50 percent or more.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. You can get some great discounts if your trip is booked several months into the future. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. For easy cleanup, make sure that you have brought along an adequate number of plastic bags. When you make a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
If you would like to treat your partner to a massage, be sure to make the appointment far in advance. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. A loyalty program offers many benefits. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
Green Hotels
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. Members of AAA receive many travel benefits including reduced hotel rates and lower car rental rates. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. There are several green hotels around. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Using the Internet is a better option. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use 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.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. 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. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Make your plans accordingly if you do not want to spend hours waiting in the lobby. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
When making your reservation, make sure to specify if you need a rollaway or a crib. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
No one looks to stay in a bad hotel. Even getting a complete refund doesn’t erase the trouble of having an unpleasant or uncomfortable stay at a substandard hotel. Your trip is going to go bad no matter what. So using the guidelines from above is the best way to find the right hotel. Once you find the right hotel, work on getting the best price.
Avoid the bottled water! You may arrive at your destination exhausted and thirsty. You may get tempted to open a bottle of water that is in the hotel’s mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this; therefore, their bottled water prices are very expensive. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. Better yet, bring some bottles with you.
