You have decided where to go on vacation. You just got plane tickets booked. It is now time to book that hotel room. How do you get a good deal? This article will teach you how. You’ll find the best tips to book a hotel room and enjoy your stay.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also be able to get discounts through AAA or AARP.
When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. Of course, you must think of cost; however, proximity to attractions is also very important. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. Some websites are designed to help you find the best deals. Being able to comparison shop helps you find the best value, while getting the amenities that are important to you. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. You have to look for the discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you quickly note any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
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. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Sometimes there are people that don’t know when the room will be ready and so they aren’t sure of what to do with the extra time they have since they can’t check in. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. 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.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. The prices are based partly on availability. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
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. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
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 save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Instead, you should try the Internet. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from the phone in your room.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. The bathroom is not a common place where bedbugs would be. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Using the Internet is a better option. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. Use this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your 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.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. This is where you are least likely to find bedbugs. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
Review the pet policy at the hotel. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. The smells tend to stick around. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. If you’re going to have to show up early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but don’t think that it will happen.
A great hotel is a huge part of the vacation experience. Having a lousy hotel room can ruin your whole vacation. Do not let that happen to you. Follow the tips provided here and stay at a hotel which offers all you want for the best price.
It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. This could result in a charge for early departure. By booking a room, you are preventing other potential guests from staying in the hotel. Therefore, by leaving early, you are costing the hotel extra revenue. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
