Staying in a hotel should be a comfortable and relaxing experience. This should be true even if you choose not to spend a ton on hotel accommodations. Below, you will find some great advice on hotels.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Hotels don’t usually advertise their lowest rates, so you may have to ask. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is your room mold and mildew free? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Are there enough linens and towels? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Some may offer discounts on hotels. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. For extended stays, this can really add up. This adds up to a night’s stay that is almost free.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Hotel Search
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
You can use hotel search tools on the Internet. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.
Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.

Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. A loyalty program offers many benefits. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. It will give you a better perspective of the city you are visiting.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
Hotel Chain
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
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 benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
In order to enhance your hotel visits, especially when traveling for work, you should consider joining membership programs that hotels provide. Examples include membership programs provided by Marriott or Choice Hotels. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. The smoke flows through the hotel and can stick to you. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. 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. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. It may be best to stay clear of hotels that accept pets if you are afraid of dogs or are allergic to pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. It does take extra effort and expense to take care of pets issues and some hotels do not take the time necessary.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you do arrive early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.
Establish what you needs are and what would be nice to have in a hotel and start looking. With what you’ve gone over in the article above, you’ll have an easier time getting a good hotel. You just need to learn how to find the best room for you.
If you’ll need a rollaway or crib, make sure you specify this when you reserve the room. The hotel may not have these items on hand. If they do, quantities may be limited. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.