A hotel stay should make you feel relaxed an satisfied, not unhappy and ripped off. A bad hotel experience always leaves a bad memory. Rather than experiencing these problems, use the following advice to enjoy the next time you stay in a hotel.
When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
Check online for great hotel deals. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is your room mold and mildew free? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will 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.
Room service is great for late meals. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Inspect the room before unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. In this way, you will get good rates. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Instead, you should try the Internet. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the last room they are likely to be. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
Find out what the policy on pets is. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. Some hotels only allow pets in certain rooms and charge more for the room because they do extra cleaning to ensure it is up to standards after each guest. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.
To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. They generally will wash the blankets and sheets that are under the bedspread, but the main bedspread may not be washed. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
If you will need a crib or rollaway, be sure to specify this fact when you make your reservation. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
Don’t take anything from the room when you depart. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. It’s better to ask the hotel management if you can buy new ones of your own.
If you want a better hotel experience, apply what you have learned here. You will have a much better experience if you use these tips to help you book a great hotel. A good hotel should relax and please you, and you don’t have to settle for anything less.
You can get lower hotel rates by booking during off season. Hotels usually know in advance when they expect high occupancy due to the season or events in town so they can help you choose a time when rates and occupancy are lowest. Instead, try book your rooms during the off-peak season when hotels are trying to fill up their rooms. You’re going to have a much higher chance of scoring a deal.