Finding a good hotel can either make or break an entire vacation. Read on to find out how to find the perfect hotel.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great deal. If you are a member of a loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA and AARP.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.
Be aware of the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
Check with any membership programs for deals. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many locations offer discounts if you book a month or two ahead of time. You may even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a pet. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
If you have a AAA membership, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You might be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You may save 5% or even 10% on your hotel stays. It’s a savings that really adds up fast.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Is it without mildew and mold? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Are there enough of the right linens? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, look into their frequent stay membership programs. These hotel programs usually work by letting you points for each stay.These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, and much more.
Know the check-in times. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of “green” hotels is steadily growing.Some of the newer hotels are built in mind. Some older inns just select one or more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk to a travel agent to find green hotels.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you pay. Rooms are priced according to availability. This will get you the best prices in reserving hotel room.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.
Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents of small children will appreciate the car set offered in some locations.
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
Distance Calls
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel phone.Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.You can stay connected with work or family without the high cost of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.

It is extremely frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. The hotel may even offer Skype calls via Wi-Fi. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Find out what the hotel handles pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors because the floor and bed linens. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with 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. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge you a fee for your early departure fee. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you’re scared of pets or are allergic, you might want to stay away from pet-friendly hotels. Not to mention, you’ll definitely notice unwanted smells in the floor or in the linens if you don’t own a pet yourself. Most hotels charge a pet fee; however, sometimes this is negligible. The fee may cover the cleaning, and it may not.
You know your rights if a hotel needs to “walk” you. The hotel will attempt to foist you to another hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if must go to another hotel, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
Don’t give into the temptation to take linens from your room!
If you are worried about your hygiene, you might want to not use the hotel’s bedspread. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.
You can get some money saved if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for people who bundles things together.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
Try to get a hotel upgrade without paying for it.You can be sure of this by checking in exactly at your hotel booking. Often the room you have reserved will still be dirty, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.
If you must secure a room when you are driving to a location, visit a rest stop in the state you are going to. Pick up a few tourist brochures which should have hotel information and possibly even discounts. This will give you the opportunity to call for a room, instead of driving around for hours trying to get the best deal.
If you need to book a hotel on short notice while traveling, you can find some helpful information at welcome centers, rest stops or gas stations to grab free pamphlets and guides which allow you to get good discounts and find names of hotels. This will help you time and get a deal without visiting a hundred different hotels.
Inform the hotel if you are staying for a special occasion. Complimentary items may be offered if you are traveling for an anniversary or a birthday. You might be able to wrangle a free bottle of champagne or something similar. Don’t lie about it, though, that would be wrong.
Some hotels rooms have better view than others.If the prices are the same, always go for a room with the best view. These small features can enhance your stay better. It never hurts to ask if you can get a room with a nice view.
To get great prices, use websites like Travelocity or Expedia. These sites help hotels sell a lot of rooms, and they offer discounts that can’t be found elsewhere. You may have to bid on some of them, and others may not include the hotel’s name until you book a room.
You can always avoid paying an advertised price posted at a hotel. Contact the hotel and see what kind of specials they are running. You may also be able to locate discounts on the various travel websites out there.
It is a custom to tip your housekeepers when you leave your hotel room. While there are other things during a hotel stay that do not need a tip, the housekeeper’s tip should not be missed. The person who cleans hotel rooms encounters many challenges in his or her job, so don’t forget the tip!
Book hotel travel during a special occasions. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating your anniversary or something similar. They may offer you a gift such as free champagne.
Hotel chains may not offer consistent quality. Just because you had a great experience in one location, that doesn’t mean that the hotel in another location is just as good. It is a good idea to check on individual hotel reviews prior to your stay so that you know the level of quality will be the same.
Check out online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find good deals. Some may require you to bid, while others may withhold the actual price until you commit to buy, so be aware of that.
A lot of hotel Internet sites and paper literature use software to make their hotel images look better. For example, the beautiful pool on the website may only be a tiny sized kiddie pool. Be sure you get a realistic picture of the hotel in your mind that you plan on booking a room with.
As you read in the above article, depending on the hotel costs, it can really cut into the amount of money you had available to do other things. Take the information that you learned here to locate a hotel that is affordable, and one that offers a peaceful sleep. Keep these tips in mind when you plan on booking your next hotel.