Confused About Hotels? These Tips Can Help

Staying in a hotel should be a guest; you shouldn’t have to do everything for yourself. You definitely don’t want to pay too much for a good hotel stay. Read on for some excellent tips about picking the perfect hotel.

If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.

TIP! Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.

Use websites like Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP membership.

Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.

TIP! There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Price is one, but a prime location is another.

Consider ordering room service if you want a late-night snack with your special someone. While this could cost you a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.

You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.

TIP! You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices.

You should put any expensive items to keep them secure.

If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.

TIP! One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels.

Check out your room prior to unpacking. Is your room clean and devoid of issues like mildew free?Are all the towels in the room? If you spot any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.

Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.

TIP! Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often.

Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will accept pets.

Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. They provide you with points for every stay. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.

TIP! If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them.

Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best practitioners go fast, and you don’t want to miss out.

People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Some hotels are certified to be green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.

TIP! You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays.

If you enjoy a morning run, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes.

To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.

TIP! If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.

If you care about the environment, you should look into “green” hotels. There are several green hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some hotels have been built green and are certified green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more of several eco-friendly so they can show they care. Ask your booking agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.

Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. 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. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.

TIP! Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go.

The price for any give hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. Rooms are typically priced based on their availability. This will get you a great price when it comes to hotel rooms.

Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Using the Internet is a better option. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.

TIP! Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Make use of the Internet, instead.

Get a AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Parents of small children will probably like the complimentary car set offered in a lot of locations.

Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.

TIP! Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.

Don’t make long distance in your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You will be able to stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.

Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking or non. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.

TIP! Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room.

Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes. Many hotels have rooms or wings for smokers. Ask for those rooms if any of these are a smoker.If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, a big penalty can come along with it.

It is not always possible to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.

TIP! 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.

Find out what the hotel handles pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the floor and bed linens. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.

You probably should avoid using the hotel’s bedspread for hygienic reasons. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. It may be a carrier of bacteria and germs. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.

TIP! You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not.

You should know that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible to check into your hotel early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in the lobby for hours. The hotel must clean each room needs to be cleaned after the next visitor taking it. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.

Don’t open the bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired. That bottle of water in the mini fridge can be might tempting. Hotels are well aware of this and will charge you a hefty fee for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. The best option, however, it to bring your own bottled water.

TIP! Avoid the bottled water! Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge.

Not every hotel chains do offer these and those that will be able to accommodate you. Talk about these things when you make your room.

You can save money when traveling by booking your hotel and flight together. Check travel websites to see if you qualify for these savings. Be sure to compare rates from airline to airline and hotel to hotel to get the very best deals.

TIP! Sometimes, you can save some money by bundling your flight and hotel. There are numerous travel websites that give a fair deal when you book the hotel with a rental car or flight.

Never check out before the departure unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge a fee for early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money.

Don’t book your hotel during peak periods. That is when you’ll pay the highest rates. Instead, try booking your rooms in the off season because hotels want to have as many rooms filled as possible. You will have a better chance in getting a good rate.

TIP! If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. Rates are highest during this time.

Do not open that bottled water in your hotel room. You may be thirsty and tired when you check in. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels are well aware of this and charge you a hefty fee for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Check out the hotel gym instead; they offer it for free. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottles.

If you are looking for an upgrade, try scoring one without having to pay a dime. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at the time when you are supposed to check in. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.

TIP! You can actually get a room upgrade without paying a dime. One savvy way to possibly get an upgrade is to show up at the check-in time you booked exactly on the minute.

You can often save money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for people who bundles things together.

If you must find a hotel while traveling, check gas stations, tourist stops and rest centers to get a free guide book with information about local hotels. These often have good discount coupons included. This will allow you to book a room with a phone call instead of traveling from hotel to hotel trying to find a room.

TIP! You can search various tourist centers for books that include hundreds of coupons for local hotel chains. This is one of the best ways to get a great deal without using the Internet, but you’ll have to use a hotel that’s in the book.

In order for you to be happy with the hotel rooms you pay for, you must not be setting yourself up for disappointment. Use these tips, and have a great stay. If you get the right room, then you’ll be able to know that you’re doing well with all of this.

Never pay the full advertised price for a hotel room. Experienced travelers never actually pay the “rack rate”, or advertised rate. Hotels expect you to haggle. When you phone to make your reservation, be sure to ask about discounts and deals. Take the initiative to get a better price. Visit travel websites to enjoy some excellent discount rates.

TIP! Don’t settle for the advertised price when booking a hotel. “Rack rate” refers to the premium price and you never have to pay that if you understand a few essential tips.