Hotels come in all shapes and sizes. The price and the services provided can really vary. When planning a vacation, look for the best hotel you can afford. Keep reading to find out all you need to know.
Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. It may equate to one whole free night.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. 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. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
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, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to bring some bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste. 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.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. The savings can really add up nightly.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. This can add up in time!
If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. 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. Even if you have to run down roads or the streets in the city, you can learn a lot more about the city when you get finished.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.
If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. 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’ll end up with a great deal this way. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. Asking about this beforehand will help to maximize your savings.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Phone Calls
If needed, always ask about the availability of a crib or roll-away at the time you reserve the room. Some hotels do not have these items, and most have limited quantities. Hotels also charge extra for these items, sometimes. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.
For hygienic reasons, it might be best to avoid the provided bedspread in your room. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Pull it off for peace of mind.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. The hotel will then “walk” you, or send you out to another hotel. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many have designated rooms for smokers. So be sure to request one of these rooms. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this fact, and that bottle will be much more expensive than a bottle anywhere else. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. If possible, bring your own bottled water.
When making your reservation for a room, specify when you need a roll-out bed or crib. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost. There also may be an added charge for these things. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
If you need to book a hotel room while already traveling, check gas stations or rest areas for free pamphlets containing maps of the area and information about local services. This way you can just call ahead to book a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
A big part of taking a vacation is selecting the right hotel to stay in. Make your choice a smart one by using the right research. After all, your money and time is worth a lot to you. If you use these tips, your future stay will be amazing.
Some rooms in a hotel have a nicer view than other rooms. Request a room with a great view if you can. A room with a view can take your vacation to another level. It is always smart to find out if you can get a room with a nice view.
