Planning A Hotel Stay? Check Out These Helpful Tips First!

When you stay at any hotel, you deserve to feel like royalty and not having to do things yourself. You want to be comfortable, pay less and have fun. Read on to find out how you can get great value at fine hotels.

Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.

TIP! To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at.

Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.

Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.

TIP! Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site.

Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.

Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Look for a hotel that gives you a lot of the things you are looking for.

TIP! A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well.

Consider your organizational memberships. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.

Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.

TIP! Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online.

Search for hotel deals online. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.

Know the check-in times. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.

TIP! Know the hotel’s check-in time. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet.

Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.

Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.

TIP! If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time.

Loyalty Programs

Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.

TIP! Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel.

If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.

There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets. For easy cleanup, make sure that you have brought along an adequate number of plastic bags. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.

TIP! There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. First, find out if the hotel allows pets.

There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.

Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.

TIP! Book any massage appointments you make early. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.

You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green standards. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.

Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.

TIP! If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out.

What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.

If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.

TIP! Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay.

For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.

TIP! If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. These are much more common today than they were in the past.

Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from the phone in your room.

Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.

TIP! Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer.

Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.

To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.

TIP! 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. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room.

Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. As a result, hotels will attempt to regain some of this lost revenue by charging you a fee for leaving early.

Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Use the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.

TIP! Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Use your cell phone or the Internet.

When booking a hotel room you want to be pleased with your choice, not disappointed. So go online or start calling, and find the room that is right for you. You’ll find the perfect room if you’re patient and persistent.

Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. This is where you won’t find them. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. Not to mention a great place for your children and pets too.

TIP! If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room.