With all of the hotels available, choosing one can be hard. Research prior to booking your hotel room is essential. Figure out your budget and the amenities you can’t live without. Keep the following suggestions in mind on your way to having a great hotel stay.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Use hotel search tools online. You will typically find websites that provide deals on certain hotel chains. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. Finally, by using these websites, you can learn the best places and times to take a vacation.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. You can place your costly items that are small into their safe, and then you won’t have to worry about these things as you go out.
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. Call and ask before you reserve. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Membership Program
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Additionally, bring along a few plastic bags suitable for cleaning up after your animal. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.
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. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. 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.
Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. The price of a hotel room varies with availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Try using the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
As this article has shown, it’s quite easy to find a good hotel for a good price. Next time you need a hotel, look again to the suggestions found here. You will get to stay in a place that’s comfortable for a price that’s just right.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is the last room they are likely to be. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
