Have you ever been dissatisfied with your hotel room? If this is the case, you’re aware of how that can make a vacation go bad. However, it doesn’t mean you should have to or you should spend too much money on a four star hotel. Keep reading to learn how you can find a decent hotel at a good price.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. These reviews can help you decide which hotel you should select.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. 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.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is it without mildew and mold? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. The savings can really add up nightly.
The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms are priced based on availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. They provide you with points for every 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.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Old hotels will change their practices to be more green. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
If you want your family to have a happy stay, call the hotel ahead and ensure that their swimming pools are available and in good 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.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. If you can, make your room reservations only a day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
Ask about a rollaway or crib when you book your room. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.
Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. Many hotels will charge a fee for early departure. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
Distance Calls
Remember that booking both your flight and hotel can often save you money. Often travel websites provide greater discounts for package deals. To get the best deal, compare the rates between several airlines and hotels.
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. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
In order to pay the lowest rate possible, don’t travel during the peak season. That’s when it costs the most. Hotels are looking to increase occupancy during off-season months and this is the ideal time to book a room. You will have a greater chance of getting a fantastic rate.
With these tips in hand, you have the power to get a nice hotel room at a good price. Just get to work to find a great room today. Remember these tips.
If an upgrade is desirable, try a strategy that might get it free. Show up exactly when you are to check in. Hotels often count on their guests being late; therefore, they will often not have their rooms ready at the set time; therefore, by showing up on time, the hotel may provide you an upgraded room at no extra cost to you.
