Going On Vacation? Check Out These Tips Before Booking Your Hotel!

Finding the perfect hotel can either make or break an entire vacation. You can go broke staying at a pricy hotel and you won’t have money for fun things. Read on to find out how you can locate affordable, high quality hotels.

Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.

TIP! Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia.

Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. What others say will help you make a wise decision.

Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.

TIP! Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.

Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.

Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.

TIP! Consider your organizational memberships. Some may offer discounts on hotels.

Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.

Take advantage of search tools online. These websites can help you quickly find great deals. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.

TIP! Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These websites will help you find good deals quickly.

When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have enough towels and 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.

Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.

TIP! Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online.

If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.

Book massages as early as possible. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.

TIP! If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.

If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.

One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. The savings can really add up nightly.

TIP! If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels.

If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.

Try out a green vacation. There are many hotels that feature green amenities. Some hotels are certified to be green. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.

TIP! If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays.

Being a AAA member has many advantages when it comes to booking a hotel room. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.

The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price rooms based on availability. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.

TIP! The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available.

When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.

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 you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.

TIP! You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer.

Moking Rooms

Being a AAA member has many advantages when it comes to booking a hotel room. AAA members are given many discounts and booking privileges on hotel rooms and rental vehicles. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.

TIP! Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars.

Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.

Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Instead, use the Internet. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.

TIP! Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls.

Check out the hotel’s pet policy. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. There may be an extra fee to have a pet stay. It might not cover deep cleaning.

If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. This room is usually free from bugs. Stow you suitcases and other items here and then take a good look at the rest of your room. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.

TIP! Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room.

If you need a crib, ask for it as you reserve the room. Some hotels don’t offer these amenities at all. Sometimes, they cost extra, too. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.

Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.

TIP! Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room.

For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Just get that blanket off of the bed.

If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels will levy a large fine if they can determine that you smoked in a room where smoking was not allowed, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.

TIP! Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms.

Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk. Hotels know this very well, and that bottled water is exponentially more expensive than it should be. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. An even better option is to pack your own bottled water for when you arrive.

You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Pet odor lingers. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.

TIP! Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

Do not take the linens with you when you check out of the hotel. If housekeeping notices that you’ve taken towels or linens, you may be billed for those items. If you like the linens so much, you should ask about purchasing them.

It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Make your plans accordingly if you do not want to spend hours waiting in the lobby. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.

TIP! You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually 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.

Think about bundling your flight and hotel together. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place. To make sure you are getting the best price through this service, compare the rates of different airlines and hotels.

If you require extra amenities like a roll away bed, you want to mention this while making your reservation. Some hotels have these in short supply. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Discuss your needs at the time of booking.

TIP! If you will be needing a rollaway or a crib, alert the hotel to this fact when making your reservation. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities.

Staying the wrong hotel room can wind up costing you a lot of money that could have been better spent on your vacation. Put these tips to use in order to find an affordable, but comfortable hotel. Read this article when you start making travel arrangements.

If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. Sheets and blankets are washed regularly, while bedspreads usually aren’t. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.

TIP! If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not.