There are many things you should remember when planning your vacation. You need to get transportation and pick just the right destination. Additionally, you must plan for accommodations and that’s not always easy. In this article, we offer sound advice for booking good accommodations.
Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! For extended stays, this can really add up. Within a week’s time, you are basically getting a free night’s stay.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Things like free breakfast can make a big difference for some families. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Are the facilities operating correctly? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Does the plumbing work right? Are there enough of the right linens? This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
To benefit from the best prices at hotels, start planning your trips several weeks or even months in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
Hotel Discounts
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
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, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These programs give you points every time you stay there. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
The timing of your room booking often determines the price you pay. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. If it’s possible, your room should be booked around a day in advance or more. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you are allergic to animals, you should probably avoid staying in hotels that allow people to bring their pets. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Try using the Internet, instead. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
If you smoke, you should understand the hotel’s policy about smoking before you book a room. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
Ask for a roll away bed or crib when you are reserving your room, not when you arrive. Not every hotel is going to come with cribs or rollaways. Also, these things can cost extra. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
GUests should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. There may be an extra fee to have a pet stay. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
Avoid sleeping under the bedspread. Sheets and blankets are washed regularly, while bedspreads usually aren’t. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Just get that blanket off of the bed.
It’s not too difficult to find an affordable, comfortable hotel whereever you are going. Armed with this useful information you now know exactly what to look for. Make your reservations, and you will have a wonderful stay. You will have lots of great vacation stories to share when you return.
Don’t drink the water! Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. Finding a cold bottle of water in the little refrigerator may present a temptation. Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. Simply, bring your own bottled water.
