Getting The Most From Your Hotel Stay – Some Tips For Travelers

Are you often overwhelmed when searching for bargain hotel rooms? It is hard to sift through all the choices available in hotel rooms. You don’t need to worry any longer. This article can advise you on how to find the best hotel that you and your family will enjoy.

Take a look into organizations you are part of. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. Some discounts can be over ten percent! You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. It can add up to equal a free night!

TIP! Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations.

Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.

Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. 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. 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.

TIP! Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready.

Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.

Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.

TIP! Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts.

Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.

There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Take some bags to clean after your pet. 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.

TIP! Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel.

Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.

To make sure that you get a couple’s massage when you’re staying somewhere, get your appointment booked as early as you are able to. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.

TIP! If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time.

Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.

Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Try enjoying an early jog at your new destination. This can be a great way to stay in shape while seeing some of the local scenery. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.

TIP! Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning.

There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. Ask for a corner room so that your pets’ noise doesn’t bother anyone else.

If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.

TIP! For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently.

If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. It really is a savings that adds up over time.

If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.

TIP! If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain.

If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.

You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.

TIP! Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. There are many hotels that feature green amenities.

Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.

How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. A late booking when the hotel is slow often results in a bargain. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.

TIP! The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms.

If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.

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. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.

TIP! If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.

Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements while you travel. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.

Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.

TIP! Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead.

Phone Calls

Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.

TIP! Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more.

Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.

Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.

TIP! If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke.

Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.

Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.

TIP! Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.

When making your reservation for a room, specify when you need a roll-out bed or crib. Not all hotels supply these items, and those that do have limited quantities. There also may be an added charge for these things. You can always discuss the possibilities with the hotel clerk or manager on the phone before you book your room.

TIP! When reserving your room, be sure to ask for a roll-away bed or crib if you will be in need of these extra sleeping accommodations. Such items usually have a limited amount of such extras.

When making your reservation, make sure to specify if you need a rollaway or a crib. Most hotels only have so many of these items to go around, and some hotels may not have any at all. On occasion, these services may require an additional charge. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.

Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure. When you make your reservation, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, so they lose money if you leave early. Make sure you understand that you might be charged for an early departure.

TIP! It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. You may be charged a fee if you do.

Now that you have read this article, you have a good grasp on finding the right hotel. Take the time to research the situation and provide yourself with the time you need to make the right decision. Once you have the information you need on price and amenities, you will be well armed to select a great room for your stay.

If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. They generally will wash the blankets and sheets that are under the bedspread, but the main bedspread may not be washed. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.

TIP! Avoid using the hotel bedspread. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be.