Your hotel is a big part of your travel experience. It can really make or break a vacation. Because hotels are expensive, it is important to know what you are doing. These tips will help you find the best value.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. 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.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. Being able to comparison shop helps you find the best value, while getting the amenities that are important to you. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Try locating a tip that checks off as much of your wish list as is realistic.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.
Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call them ahead of time to see if they are even if the website they’re on says yes. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Find out if the hotel allows pets. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Many top masseuses book by name, so plan as early as possible.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Rooms are priced based on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
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. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. Not to mention a great place for your children and pets too.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
Know what the pet policy is before you book. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Extra fees are sometimes imposed by hotels for guests who bring pets, but sometimes the fee is not too high. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. Hotels often charge early departure 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. So, in leaving early you risk being charged a fee for early departure.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Just take that blanket off the bed.
Whenever possible, do not check out prior to the scheduled date of your departure. This could result in a charge for early departure. By booking a room, you are preventing other potential guests from staying in the hotel. Therefore, by leaving early, you are costing the hotel extra revenue. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. If you do choose to move, be sure that you get a better room and your travel is paid for.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Just make sure you remove the bedspread.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel together. A lot of travel online sites feature serious savings for anyone who bundles things together. You can make the most of this deal by comparing rates across several websites.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. This should only be a last resort and the other accommodations should be just as good or better and your trip there should be paid for as well.
You can actually get a room upgrade without paying a dime. One savvy way to possibly get an upgrade is to show up at the check-in time you booked exactly on the minute. If you arrive early or in a timely manner, your room may not be ready for you yet; however, this can mean a discount on your rate.
Clearly, doing your homework can assist you in finding a good hotel at a great price. You need to know where too look and what are the best times to book to ensure you receive a great room. So keep the above suggestions in mind so you ensure you find the perfect hotel that will fit all your needs.
Tipping for maid service and room service can improve the quality of your trip. Remember that room service bills include a tip; however, the person who cleans your room will not receive a tip unless you provide it. If you tip, you’ll be respected by the staff.