There are so many factors to consider when choosing a hotel that doing so can seem overwhelming. So doing some research before doing anything else is important. Set your budget, list what accommodations you want and begin planning. Remember the following advice as you conduct your search.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Know your check-in time in advance. 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.
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. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
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 great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Take some bags to clean after your pet. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
Pet Makes
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. 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. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. The savings can really add up nightly.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Rather, use a web tool. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Resist the temptation to indulge in your hotel’s bottled water! You may arrive at your destination exhausted and thirsty. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk. Hotels are aware of this fact, and that bottle will be much more expensive than a bottle anywhere else. You might be able to get bottled water in the hotel gym. Better yet, bring some bottles with you.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.
Don’t steal the linens from the hotel. No matter how much you love them, housekeeping will note missing linens and the hotel is likely to bill you for them. If you like the linens so much, you should ask about purchasing them.
Check to see if the hotel allows pets. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. Some hotels may charge you extra for pets, and some may not charge at all, or the fees are lower. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
For a cheaper room, don’t book during a busy tourist season. This is when you get charged high rates. Instead, try and travel during the off season when there are lots of vacancies. You will have a greater chance of getting a fantastic rate.
If you will have children during your hotel stay that need a crib, you must bring this up when you are booking the room. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. They may charge extra for this. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
If you are looking for an upgrade, try scoring one without having to pay a dime. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at the time when you are supposed to check in. Because many of the rooms may not be cleaned yet, you may score a better room.
Do not open that bottled water! After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this and have hiked up the price of that tempting bottled water significantly. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. However, to be safe, you should pack some water bottles yourself.
If you’re on the road and need a place to stay, check out rest areas, gas stations and travel centers for guide books that have maps and lists of hotels in the area. You may even find discount coupons! So you can call ahead and get a room, rather than driving all around and hoping to find a good deal.
As you can tell, you can ensure booking a good hotel room by following the correct tips. So, when you are planing your next hotel stay, remember these tips and do your research. You’ll be comfortable and won’t overspend.
Some rooms in a hotel have a nicer view than other rooms. If room prices are not affected by the view, try to request a room that has a better view. A room with a view can take your vacation to another level. So inquire about the little niceties like a good view, or a room that is has special features.