Have you booked a hotel room and showed up to find that the hotel was dumpy? If you have, you know a bad hotel can ruin your vacation. However, a decent hotel room should not cost an arm and a leg, either. Read these tips to improve your skills when shopping for a hotel room.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Online review websites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Of course you want to consider price, but you should also consider the hotel’s location. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Seek to locate a hotel that provides lots of attractive amenities.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
Search online tools for hotels. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. 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. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. 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. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is your room mold and mildew free? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? 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.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. 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.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
To ensure that you and your special someone get the right couples massage during your stay, book your appointment as early ahead of time as you can. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, and you don’t want to miss out.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. First, find out if the hotel allows pets. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels around the country. These savings really add up.
Book any massage appointments you make early. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
Membership Programs
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. You may find the best prices this way. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. Therefore, if you are a smoker, always ask for a room that allows smoking. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Check out the hotel’s pet policy. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. Nonetheless, if there are smokers in the hotel, you may have problems with odors. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
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 have to make sure their rooms are ready for you. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. For your health’s sake, remove the bedspread.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. When hotels overbook rooms, the one you reserved may not be available. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
Do not drink the bottled water in your room. When you get checked in you might feel thirsty and a little tired. This can tempt you to consume bottles of water from the mini-fridge. Hotels are well aware of this, and the bottled water they provide is far more costly than it is elsewhere. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Even better, bring along a few of your own bottles.
With these tips in hand, you have the power to get a nice hotel room at a good price. It is easy to find deals once you are aware of where to look. Just use these tips to guide you and start planning your next great getaway.
You can make it a lot better at your hotel if you tip at the appropriate time. Remember that room service bills include a tip; however, the person who cleans your room will not receive a tip unless you provide it. Tipping guarantees that you’re respected and well liked during your hotel stay.
