Have you had friends that loved their vacation, except for the hotel? The hotel in which you stay makes a big difference in how much you enjoy your vacation. You should select a hotel that is within your budget while providing terrific service. This article is going to teach you some awesome advice.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Try locating a tip that checks off as much of your wish list as is realistic.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. 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.
You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. These sites can help you get good deals. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. 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.
Know the check-in times. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
Months Ahead
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. These savings really add up.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. 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 save 50 percent or more.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Some newer hotels have been built green and are certified green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
Use your AAA discount at hotels. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. People who are AAA members receive discounts at many hotel chains. In addition, having a AAA membership will make it easier to get a rental car when it’s needed. It’s great to know that you can count on both of these things.
If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Utilize the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. Inquiring in advance will mean more savings for you.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. Hotels need this time to clean and prepare your room. 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.
It is possible to find excellent accommodations at a reasonable price with just a little common sense. Hopefully, you will make use of these great tips on finding a great hotel room. You don’t have to stay somewhere that breaks your budget to enjoy yourself. Keep in mind what you went over here so you can get a good price on a hotel that’s great too.
It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. So, they may charge you a fee for early departure to replace the loss in revenue.
