If you are like most people, you want any stay away from home to be comfortable, affordable and hassle-free. You want to be comfortable without having to spend a fortune. Below, you will find some great advice on hotels.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Consider ordering room service during your stay. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Utilize the Internet when searching for a hotel. Some websites are designed to help you find the best deals. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. 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. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Of course you want to consider price, but you should also consider the hotel’s location. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call before you book so that you know for sure. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This can add up in time!
Check your room when you arrive. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you notice any deficiencies in your room, immediately call the front desk so you can resolve these issues, or if the problems are too severe, move you to another room.
Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Ask about their pet policy. Many hotels have restrictions on the breed and size of pet allowed on the premises.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Hotels are often happy to slash prices on impending vacancies since they will get nothing if they can’t book the room.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Use your AAA discount at hotels. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. It’s possible you could save 5 percent or higher on hotels across the United States. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green standards. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It’s also a safe spot for kids and pets to sit for a bit too.
Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Instead, use the Internet. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. Take advantage of these options to keep in touch with family, friends and coworkers rather than incurring high costs by using the hotel’s phone system.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. Ask to see if any of these are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. 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.
GUests should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, other do not. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. 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. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
When booking a hotel room you want to be pleased with your choice, not disappointed. After reading this article, you should be ready for your next hotel stay. A great room is waiting for you, so go get it!
Be sure you don’t take off with any items from your hotel room. Housekeeping will notice items are missing and you could get a bill. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
