To ensure that your next vacation goes off without a hitch, there are quite a few things you have to keep in mind. You need to pick out where you’re going and what your transportation will be. Where will you stay? Which hotel is best? The following article offers advice that can help.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
Take advantage of search tools online. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. Finally, by using these websites, you can learn the best places and times to take a vacation.
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These sites can help you get good deals. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
Deals Online
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are linens and towels in ample supply? 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.
Always look for deals online when reserving a hotel room. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. You can get some great discounts if your trip is booked several months into the future. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Does the plumbing work right? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
If you’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This will get you a great price on your room. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
Book massages as early as possible. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. Members of AAA receive many travel benefits including reduced hotel rates and lower car rental rates. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.
If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. 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.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. Also, people may rent a non-smoking room and smoke in it. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Check out the hotel’s pet policy. 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. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more. Hotels usually need to get the room cleaned and ready before you check in. If you happen to show up early just ask if your room was prepared early, but they’re most likely going to say no.
It’s not too difficult to find an affordable, comfortable hotel whereever you are going. You’re better prepared now by knowing exactly what it is you’re looking for. You can now book your hotel room knowing that you will have a fabulous time. You will have lots of great vacation stories to share when you return.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. That’s why they will charge you a fee for early departure.
