There are countless hotels across the country, ranging from small, outdated shabby motels by the road to luxurious five-star establishments. Trips with good hotel stays are good memories, whereas bad hotel stays can mean nightmares. So, to find the best hotel for your needs, continue reading.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Consider ordering room service during your stay. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
When you’re looking for the perfect hotel, there are a few different things you should always check for first. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. Finally, by using these websites, you can learn the best places and times to take a vacation.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
Inspect the room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Are the facilities operating correctly? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Call and ask before you reserve. 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.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at 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.
Pet Friendly
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. 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.
The price you are charged for your hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Whenever you can, maker your room reservation no more than a day ahead of time. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Instead, use the Internet. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. Inquiring in advance will mean more savings for you.
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
If you’ll need a rollaway or crib, make sure to mention it when booking the room. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. Sometimes, they cost extra, too. Before making reservations, explain this.
When planning for a trip, you may make a hasty hotel reservation at the first place you find. Taking this approach can lead to disaster. You really don’t want your hotel room to be dirty, so use this advice to avoid this circumstance.
Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it is absolutely necessary. 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 will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
