Have you booked a hotel room and showed up to find that the hotel was dumpy? If you’ve been through that, you’re well aware that this can make your entire stay miserable. Although you want to stay in a nice hotel, you want to avoid breaking your budget. The following article is packed with tips on how to find a great hotel room.
Check online reviews before booking a room. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. You may also be able to get discounts through AAA or AARP.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the 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.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. While this could cost you a little more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. This is why it’s up to you to search for these discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. 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.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. 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 early, call and ask if this is okay.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. In addition, you will need numerous plastic bags and cleaning supplies so that you can make sure you clean up any messes your pet makes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
Hotel Discounts
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Even if you’re running down the city streets of roads, it will give you a new perspective of the city that you’re visiting.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. A loyalty program offers many benefits. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. There are many hotels that feature green amenities. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Rooms are priced based on availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Distance Calls
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. Members of AAA get discounts at lots of hotel chains which more than makes up the membership to AAA, plus it is easier to rent a car anywhere you go. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.
Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Rather, use a web tool. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. Put kids and pets in there, too.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Be sure to not to show up early so you don’t have to wait. Hotels need to get a room cleaned up before you get to check into it. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If they do, ask for this type of room. 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.
If you are going to need a rollaway bed or crib, specify this when booking your room. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. You can always discuss the possibilities with the hotel clerk or manager on the phone before you book your room.
Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. This can tempt you to consume bottles of water from the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this fact, and that bottle will be much more expensive than a bottle anywhere else. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. The best idea, however, is to bring your own.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Just take that blanket off the bed.
Don’t take anything from the room when you depart. If hotel staff notice that these items are missing, you may be billed for them. It’s better to ask the hotel management if you can buy new ones of your own.
Now that you have the right advice, you should be able to figure out how to find an exceptional hotel. Finding good deals is not that hard. You’ll be surprised at what you can find. Follow the tips presented here to get great accommodations.
Your hotel stay will be considerably more pleasant if you tip when appropriate. While you’ll generally find that room service tips are included in the bill, that’s not always the case. Also, maid service is rarely tipped within the bill, meaning you should tip them yourself. Tipping is just the right thing to do.
