There are so many factors to consider when choosing a hotel that doing so can seem overwhelming. This is why researching beforehand is essential. Begin by outlining your price range and a few different requirements you have for your ideal hotel room. Keep what you’re about to read here in your mind to have a stay that’s great.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. 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.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. Within a week’s time, you are basically getting a free night’s stay.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Do they offer hotel discounts? You may save ten percent or more. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. This adds up to a night’s stay that is almost free.
When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. Price is one, but a prime location is another. A pool, a gym, a restaurant, free breakfast, free local calls and free Wi-Fi are other amenities that may be important to you. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Internet access, pools, fitness centers and breakfast offered are a few other things to consider. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Are the facilities operating correctly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. If you’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Take some bags to clean after your pet. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. There are many hotels that feature green amenities. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. Some places provide free car seats too.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. 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. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. The smells tend to stick around. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
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. Also, pet friendly hotels may have lingering odors that have been absorbed by carpeting or linens. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, you can ask if it’s possible to do so early, but this should not be expected.
If you are going to need a rollaway or crib, ask for this when making your reservation. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. There can be extra charges for these items, as well. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. An early departure charge may be added to your bill if you leave sooner. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
As you can see, it is possible to find a terrific hotel at a great price. Use these tips to your advantage. You will be able to find the perfect hotel room at an excellent price.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.
