Almost everyone has had the nightmare experience of booking a bad hotel. This can be expensive and unpleasant, so you need to avoid it if you can. Below are some great tips to help make sure that you book a budget friendly hotel that’s great for your need.
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. 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.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. These discounts are often neglected; however, they can save you upwards of ten percent. These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. After a week has gone by it will add up to a free night almost!
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. For extended stays, this can really add up. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
Search online tools for hotels. Use these websites to your advantage! They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. Finally, they can also help you figure out when you want to go on your vacation and what you want to do there.
You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
Use hotel search tools online. You will typically find websites that provide deals on certain hotel chains. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
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.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
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. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. This will get you the best hotel rates. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. It is definitely worth looking into.
If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. The smoke flows through the hotel and can stick to you. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If they do, ask for this type of room. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. If the hotel you are staying at does not incorporate much of an extra fee, the cleaning service might not be up to par.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
No body sets out to make a reservation at a bad hotel on purpose. Big discounts can’t beat a poor experience. Your experience will be poor and your trip totally ruined. Be sure to do the right things when planning out your hotel experience. Once you find a great hotel, enjoy!
If you’ll need a rollaway or crib, make sure to mention it when booking the room. Your hotel may not have these things or may have only a few, so it is smart to reserve in advance. Sometimes, they cost extra, too. Make sure these needs are discussed during the initial reservation so you don’t get any surprises.