Knowing how to research and book a hotel is an important skill to have. This is because staying in a hotel is something you pay for. This article will help you get your research started and will help you weed out the wrong hotels for the right one. Read on to be a savvy hotel shopper.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. 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.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. Travel websites are very helpful when seeking the best deals. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. It may equate to one whole free night.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Of course, you must think of cost; however, proximity to attractions is also very important. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. Also, take a good supply of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to clean up after your pet. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
To get the best hotel rooms, use a website online that will help with this. Travel websites are very helpful when seeking the best deals. They can also show you what the hotel’s average rates typically are, allowing you to see whether you are actually getting a good deal or not. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. This can add up on a long trip.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you find obvious problems, notify the front desk right away so the hotel can correct the problems or they can assign a different room.
If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
Know the check-in times. 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. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Old hotels will change their practices to be more green. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Take some bags to clean after your pet. 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.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
If you want a couples massage, book early. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Use the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
Now you are knowledgeable about what it takes to find and stay in a great hotel. Reread this article, if necessary, to get a complete understanding. Using the advice presented here, you are sure to find a good hotel.
See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not 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. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
