Hotels run the gamut when it comes to quality. Amenities and price points can be very different, depending on which hotel you choose. Before you book your hotel stay, do what you can to find a great one that is budget friendly for the sake of your vacation. Below you will find some solid tips for finding a wonderful hotel that is right for you.
Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. Online review websites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
What groups are you a member of? There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. This can also net you a free hotel night.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. It may equate to one whole free night.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. Price is one, but a prime location is another. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.
Take advantage of search tools online. It is possible to find good deals fast when using sites such as these. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. In addition, these tools can help you determine the best time to go on vacation and the things that you can do there.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members are given many discounts and booking privileges on hotel rooms and rental vehicles. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Look to the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. The more points you get, the more free stays you can use for vacations.
If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. Not to mention a great place for your children and pets too.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels 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. Also, people may rent a non-smoking room and smoke in it. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is where you won’t find them. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Some have rooms for smokers. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you are afraid of pets or have allergies to them, you should probably avoid booking at pet friendly hotels. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
Always review the policy of whether or not the hotel allows pets. When you are scared of animals or allergic, you won’t want to stay at pet-friendly hotels. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
Let the hotel know if you will be needing a crib or a rollaway bed. Some hotels do not provide these things, and the ones that do usually have limited quantities. They may charge extra for this. Before making reservations, explain this.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. 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. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.
Whatever you do, don’t open the bottled water. You may be thirsty and tired. The bottled water inside the mini fridge may tempt you. Hotels are counting on this, and they jack up the price of the water accordingly. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Pack a couple bottles of water.
Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk. The hotel is counting on this, and as a result, they mark up the prices on the bottled water. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. The best idea, however, is to bring your own.
A good hotel and wonderful service are part of the fun of taking a vacation. Look carefully at the options that are available to you. You want to get the best value for your money. Apply the tips outlined here for a great hotel experience.
If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and incredible discounts. This way, you won’t be driving around forever looking for a place to stay.