Have you had trouble finding the right hotel accommodations in the past? Well, you got lucky. This is because the information here will give you all the basics. Keep reading to find out more.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. Price is one factor, however you may also need your hotel to be close to a particular destination. Internet access, pools, fitness centers and breakfast offered are a few other things to consider. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. 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 can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Are there enough of the right linens? 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.
When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Things like free breakfast can make a big difference for some families. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
Know your check-in time in advance. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may not have known that, but it’s true. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
When can you check in? If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Jogging around the city before you start your day will add enjoyment to your vacation. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. 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.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. Additionally, bring along a few plastic bags suitable for cleaning up after your animal. 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.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
Hotel Discounts
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels around the country. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
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. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Older hotels might change practices to be more green. Talk to a travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. It’s also a safe spot for kids and pets to sit for a bit too.
Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Utilize the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
Let the hotel know if you will be needing a crib or a rollaway bed. Not every hotel features these options, and the ones that do only have a few. There also may be an added charge for these things. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. The bedspread isn’t washed often, while the sheets are. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Remove the blanket and use one you brought from home to stay safe.
If you will need a crib or rollaway, be sure to specify this fact when you make your reservation. Some hotels have these in short supply. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. They might try and send you to a different hotel. Try to avoid this scenario if you can, but if it becomes necessary to secure alternate accommodations, be sure that the room is at least comparable to the one at the hotel you booked, and get compensation for your travel expenses.
Don’t pilfer the hotel towels or linens. This may be tempting, but it’s easy for the hotel to find out and bill you for the items. If you like the linens so much, you should ask about purchasing them.
After reading this article, you should understand how to book a room and enjoy your stay. It isn’t too difficult to get, especially with these tips. Just use your time wisely and make smart decisions to ensure things go your way.
You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. Arrive right at your check-in time. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, and the hotels give them better rooms for no extra charge.
