Improve Your Hotel Stays With This Advice

It can seem like an overwhelming experience trying to book a hotel room. Figure out your budget and the amenities you need from a hotel room.Read these tips to make booking a hotel experience.

Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. You can make a wise choice when you know what others think about a hotel.

TIP! Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay.

Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your stay. While it may cost more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.

Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

TIP! It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.

You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.

There are a number of things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay at. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.

TIP! When you’re looking for the perfect hotel, there are a few different things you should always check for first. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations.

Take advantage of tools provided online hotel searching for a hotel. These websites will help you quickly find the best value.

When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Do you need extra linens or towels? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.

TIP! When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly.

Check online for great hotel room during your next trip. This is why you to search for these hidden discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.

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.

TIP! Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet.

Know the hotel’s check-in times. 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.

Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.

TIP! Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says.

There are some things you should do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.

Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.

TIP! If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you.

Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.

If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. Jogging around the city before you start your day will add enjoyment to your vacation. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.

TIP! Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere.

If you belong to the AAA, check into your membership hotel discount. You would be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You can save 5% or more on certain hotels. This is a savings that can really add up in time!

There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These programs give you points every time you stay there. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.

TIP! If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them.

If you are a daily runner, make sure to bring your running gear with you.

Think about going on a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.

TIP! Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days.

Free Stays

Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. 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.

TIP! If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings.

It may be wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who book the same hotel regularly. You might earn a free upgrade, free stays, and even free stays when you get enough points.

Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.

TIP! In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Instead, use the Internet.

If you want to work on saving the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. There are plenty of eco-friendly hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some of the newer hotels are built with green standards in mind. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk with a travel agent to find hotels that are eco-friendly.

Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.

TIP! 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. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.

Get an AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel.Parents with young children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.

If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.

TIP! If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. This is the place where you are least likely to find them.

It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to find out it’s closed.

Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.

TIP! See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel.

Start looking in the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the last room they are least likely to find bedbugs. It is a safe spot for pets and kids to stay.

Find out how the hotel handles pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels which do not have a pet-friendly policy. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. It does take extra effort and expense to take care of pets issues and some hotels do not take the time necessary.

TIP! Know what the pet policy is before you book. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Many have rooms designated nonsmoking rooms. Ask to see if you are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, they may charge you a fine.

When reserving your room, be sure to ask for a roll-away bed or crib if you will be in need of these extra sleeping accommodations. Not all hotels supply these items, and those that do have limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.

TIP! If you need a crib, ask for it as you reserve the room. Some hotels do not have these items, and most have limited quantities.

Find out what the hotel handles pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors because the floor and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, but some do not charge much. The fee charged may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning that needs to be done.

In order to pay the lowest rate possible, don’t travel during the peak season. That is when you’ll pay the highest rates. Instead, book during off-season for the best prices. This way, your chance at getting a great rate is higher.

TIP! If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. This is when rates are highest.

You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Plan your trip right or you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Hotels need the time to clean your room cleaned up before you to check into it. If you do arrive early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.

You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. You might be able to do this by arriving on time. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, and the hotels give them better rooms for no extra charge.

TIP! If you want a hotel room upgrade, try to get one without paying anything extra. You might be able to do this by arriving on time.

Never actually check out earlier than your scheduled departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel might charge a fee for early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, if you depart early they will lose money.

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 helps you call for your room instead of driving from place to place and wishing for an awesome deal.

TIP! You can search various tourist centers for books that include hundreds of coupons for local hotel chains. This is one of the best ways to get a great deal without using the Internet, but you’ll have to use a hotel that’s in the book.

Do not open that bottled water in your hotel room. You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when you check in. You can be tempted to casually open that bottle of water calling to you from the mini-fridge. Hotels know this and will charge you a hefty fee for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Check the gym instead; they may have free water.A better idea is to bring a few of your own bottled water.

Never let a hotel charge you the advertised rates. “Rack rate” refers to the premium price and you never have to pay that if you understand a few essential tips. Hotel staff assume that clients will try to haggle over their room rates. Give them a call and ask for a deal. Don’t be afraid. Many different travel websites will also give you discounts.

TIP! Don’t ever pay the advertised prices. It is a rack rate, and you don’t need to pay it.

Don’t give into the temptation to take hotel linens from your room!

To save money on your hotel stay, ask the employee booking your room if you can get a discount. Even if you can’t get your rate reduced, you may be in for other perks, like free food and coffee. Of course you won’t know unless you ask, so make a point of doing so.

TIP! Ask the clerk at the hotel to give you a better deal. They may not be able to offer a lower price on your room, but they may provide other perks like a free breakfast.

You will be able to get a decent room rate if you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. Rates are always highest at their peak then. This will allow you a real bargain.

If you use a third-party site to book your hotel, watch out for surcharges and hidden fees. The prices the third-party advertises won’t often include the additional charges. Read the fine print when you are booking the room to completely understand the charges.

TIP! You should be weary of hidden fees if you are booking your hotel through an outside party. Often, the price you are quoted does not include these.

As you can see, getting the right hotel at the right price is definitely possible. As you plan, keep these tips in mind. You will be staying at comfortable hotel at a great price.

The quality of chain hotels may prove to be inconsistent. A good experience in one hotel from their chain doesn’t mean you’ll have a great experience at another hotel in their chain. Check the information on each hotel before you book a room.

TIP! Remember that quality among hotels within a specific chain may vary. Even if you’ve had a great experience with a certain hotel chain, it doesn’t mean you will again.