Ditch Expensive Travel Agents With This Hotel Advice

Have you ever booked a hotel room? This can put a damper on your entire vacation. The following article is packed with tips on how to find a great hotel at an affordable price.

Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.

TIP! When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership.

Find great prices by checking out travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia.If you are a part of a loyalty program, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also be able to get good discounts through AAA or AARP membership.

Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

TIP! If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.

Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special meal without needing to go out. Room service can be expensive, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.

Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!

TIP! Take a look into organizations you are part of. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices.

You should put any expensive items to keep them secure.

Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. A gym, pool, free breakfast, free wireless Internet, free local calls, and all kinds of other things may be important. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.

TIP! When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination.

There are many different things to think about when choosing a hotel.Amenities like a swimming pool, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations.Try to find a hotel with what you need in it when possible.

Look for deals online. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.

TIP! 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.

Always see if you can find deals online when reserving a hotel room. This is why you to search for these hidden discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.

Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Are the facilities operating correctly? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.

TIP! Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Does the plumbing work right? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.

Check out your room when you arrive. Is the room clean and free of mold and mold? Are linens and towels in the room? If you find obvious problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.

Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.

TIP! Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify.

Be aware of the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call and ask if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.

Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Find out if the hotel allows pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. 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.

TIP! There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place.

Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many hotels offer discounts if you book more than a few months in advance. You may save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.

Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.

TIP! If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines.

If you’re a member of the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You would be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You can save 5% or even more motels and hotels in the US. This is a savings that can add up on a long trip.

If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some new buildings are certified as green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.

TIP! If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing.

Free Stays

To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.

TIP! In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings.

It is wise to look into loyalty program if you travel frequently. They provide rewards to those who stay in the same hotel chain. You might earn a free upgrade, free stays, and even free stays when you get enough points.

Is your room non-smoking or not? If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have 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. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.

TIP! See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking.

If you go to the same hotel often, ask about their membership program. These programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. They add up to free nights, free nights, show tickets, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.

TIP! Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Many have designated rooms for smokers.

If you are concerned about the environment, you should look into “green” hotels. There are many hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some new hotels were built to green standards and are certified green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly strategies to show they care. Talk with a travel agent to find the best green hotels for your needs.

Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you fear or are allergic to pets, you might want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Pet odor lingers. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. The fee may cover the cleaning, and it may not.

TIP! See what the pet policy is at the hotel. If you do not like pets, or you are allergic to them, then you should probably avoid pet-friendly hotels.

The price you are charged for your hotel room is going to affected by how early you book the room. Rooms in hotels are based on their availability. This will get you the best prices in reserving hotel room.

If you need an extra bed or crib, make sure you discuss this when making your reservation. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. There also may be an added charge for these things. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

TIP! If you will be needing a rollaway or a crib, alert the hotel to this fact when making your reservation. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities.

Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Asking about this beforehand will help to maximize your overall savings.

For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. This bedspread could be a source of germs. Remove the blanket from the bed to have peace of mind.

TIP! For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t.

Try to avoid long distance calls from your hotel rooms. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from the phone in your hotel phone.

Don’t open the bottled water! Once you check-in and start to unwind, you will probably feel very thirsty. The mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels are entirely aware of this. That’s why they fill your mini-fridge with bottled water that costs ten times as much as it does at the store. Don’t fall for it. Sometimes it is possible to get bottled water at no cost in the hotel gym. A better option to simply bring your own bottled water.

TIP! Do not open that bottled water! After you check-in you may feel tired and thirsty. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Many hotels have rooms designated rooms for smokers. Ask to see if you are a smoker. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.

You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place. Always compare the prices from multiple hotels to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

TIP! Remember that booking both your flight and hotel can often save you money. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts.

You should be aware of the hotel allows pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. The fee may cover the extra cleaning involved.

If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. One savvy way to possibly get an upgrade is to show up at the check-in time you booked exactly on the minute. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, and the hotels give them better rooms for no extra charge.

TIP! You may be able to score a free upgrade. You might be able to do this by arriving on time.

After reading this article, you will understand how to book an affordable hotel and enjoy your stay. When you know where to look, finding deals on hotel reservations is a snap. Just use these tips to guide you and start planning your next great getaway.

If it becomes necessary to book a hotel from the road, check rest areas, tourist centers and gas stations to find tourist books with maps of hotel locations, prices and discount offers. You can then call and book a room, rather than searching endlessly for places to stay.

TIP! If you’re on the road and need a place to stay, check out rest areas, gas stations and travel centers for guide books that have maps and lists of hotels in the area. You may even find discount coupons! This will help you pick up the phone to make a simple call to book a hotel, rather than having to drive to many different ones to find what you want.