The U.S. has thousands of hotels that range in prices, sizes, and features. Picking a good hotel helps make your trip memorable in a good way, but a bad hotel choice does exactly the opposite. For tips on finding and staying at a great hotel, read the information below.
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. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Check for online reviews before making any reservations. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. 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. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Do you have enough towels and linens? If you find obvious problems, notify the front desk right away so the hotel can correct the problems or they can assign a different room.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Some newer hotels have been built green and are certified green. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
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 the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. The savings can really add up nightly.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your 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.
Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
Environmentally Friendly
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. You can still get a room that’s non-smoking, but the smoke can flow in the air and get on all your clothes. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities. There can be extra charges for these items, as well. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. Hotels have to make sure their rooms are ready for you. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Just take that blanket off the bed.
When making your reservation for a room, specify when you need a roll-out bed or crib. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. This is when a hotel is overbooked and they have no accommodations for you. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
Stay away from the bottled water! When you arrive at your hotel, you might be very thirsty. As a result, you likely want to purchase that bottle of water you see sitting on the counter. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. Or better yet, bring a few of your own bottles.
If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
When traveling, booking your flight and hotel together will save you money. Many travel websites will offer a significant discount if you book a hotel room as well as a rental car or flight. For best results, do a rate comparison of various carriers and hotels.
Don’t drink the bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this, that bottle of water will be much more expensive than if you bought it elsewhere. You might find that there is free water offered in the hotel gym, however. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.
You may be able to receive an upgrade without being charged for one. An excellent method of achieving an upgrade is simply showing up for your room right on time. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
Some people take the first reservation they can find when searching for a hotel. This leaves them disappointed most of the time. You sure don’t want to sleep in a bad hotel room, so keep reading to find out about getting a good one.
If you need to book a hotel on short notice while traveling, take a look at different tourist centers, rest stops or gas stations to grab free pamphlets and guides which allow you to get good discounts and find names of hotels. This way you can just call ahead to book a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.