You will need to book a hotel from time to time for various reasons. It’s imperative that you know what you’re doing when looking for your hotel. These tips should prove to help out quite a lot.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
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, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. 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.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. Internet access, pools, fitness centers and breakfast offered are a few other things to consider. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Check online for great hotel deals. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. Try enjoying an early jog at your new destination. This can be a great way to stay in shape while seeing some of the local scenery. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
Try out a green vacation. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Green Hotels
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. To avoid the experience of breathing in smoke during your stay, try to stay in a hotel that doesn’t allow smoking.
The price for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you book the room. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. 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.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. Take advantage of these options to keep in touch with family, friends and coworkers rather than incurring high costs by using the hotel’s phone system.
If needed, always ask about the availability of a crib or roll-away at the time you reserve the room. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Therefore, when booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about these things so that you are prepared.
If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. It is extremely frustrating for you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Avoid sleeping under the bedspread. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Simply remove it from your bed.
If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
Don’t take anything from the room when you depart. If housekeeping notices that you’ve taken towels or linens, you may be billed for those items. If you do want to take something, ask about a direct purchase when you’re checking out.
As was stated earlier, most people will stay at a hotel at some point in their lives. No matter what you need to book one for, you need to do some research so you get a great deal. The above article has provided you with great advice for finding a hotel you will love; be sure to put this advice to use!
If you book your flight alongside your hotel, then you’ll get a much better bargain deal. Many times, travel websites offer discounts for booking the hotel, flight and rental car at the same time. To get the most from this service, compare rates of several different hotels and airlines.