Have you ever booked a bad hotel room that turned out to be a complete dump? This can ruin a trip. Read on to learn some valuable tips that will help you find a great room at a good price.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Check for online reviews prior to booking your stay. These provide you some information about people’s recent experiences at that certain hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can ensure you make an informed decision.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
Check online for great hotel deals. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
There are several things to think about when booking a hotel. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Try to find a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
Check your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room clean and devoid of mold and mold? Are linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you find obvious problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
Know your check-in time is. 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.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
There are three things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. 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’re a member of the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You might be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You could save 5% or even 10% on nationwide hotels. It’s a savings that really adds up fast.
If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, pack your GPS and running clothes.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
It may be wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They offer rewards to guests who stays at a hotel chain frequently. You can often earn free upgrades, an allowance to check out late, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are many hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some newer hotels have been built green and are built in a way that they get certified as green. Some older inns just select one or more eco-friendly so they can show environmental awareness. A good travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Older hotels might change practices to be more green. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.Particularly if you are getting a discount, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference.Asking these things before you to save more.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.
Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements when traveling. Parents of small children will appreciate the car set offered in a lot of locations.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is the place where you are least likely to have bedbugs. It is a safe place for children and kids.
Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Instead, you should try the Internet. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
Check if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, you may want to find a different hotel. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is the place where you are least likely to find them. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
Some hotels do not offer these amenities at all. Talk about these things when you reserve your room.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Never actually check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it’s an emergency. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure fee. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.
If you book a room during a heavy occupancy period, don’t be surprised if you have a mandatory stay of a few days or more. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. When you make your reservation, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, so they lose money if you leave early. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
After reading this article, you will understand how to book an affordable hotel and enjoy your stay. When you know how to look for a hotel reservation deal, it’s quite easy. Use these tips to ensure your stay is a good one.
Be sure you don’t take off with any items from your hotel room. Housekeeping will notice items are missing and you could get a bill. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.